Serving Memphis, Cordova, Germantown & Collierville TN
With its moderate climate, Memphis is a popular destination for termites. These voracious insects can start swarming as early as February, due to the temperate weather. When it comes to termite control, prevention is the best strategy. It’s better to take steps now to deter them from your home, than it is to wait and have to deal with an infestation. That’s why your termite control professionals at AAA Termite & Pest compiled this list of seven tips to help prevent termites in your Memphis home.
Tip 1: Watch for loose wood
Termites work around the clock – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – in their underground colonies. Their appetite matches their industriousness. Any wood and wood-type products are on the menu for them to devour, and any type of wood will do, whether that’s a tree in the forest or the wooden beams that comprise the structure of your home. Any wood that makes contact with the ground on your property is fair game, even if the wood is supposedly chemically resistant.
Tip 2: Areas of moisture
Leaking pipes or appliances, condensation, areas of poor drainage or poorly ventilated spaces … they all can lead to the accumulation of moisture. Combine wood and moisture and you’ve got a delicacy for termites, as they specifically like to dine on the cellulose that comprises wood; the higher the moisture rate, the more cellulose for them to feast.
Tip 3: Say farewell to foam
No matter what type of home you have or what your home is made of, foam board insulation attracts termites. If that insulation is covered with an exterior wall solution, it merely provides a shield for termites to do their work and chow down on your insulation.
Tip 4: Ensure you have a solid foundation
Any crack in your foundation, no matter how small it might be, is like a flashing welcome sign for termites. These insects naturally forage underground for food sources such as dead trees or any other organic matter that contains cellulose. As part of this foraging, if they find a crack in your foundation, they’re going to enter your home as part of their search for good.
Tip 5: Clean up construction debris
When we talk about cleaning up wood on the ground, that includes wood waste such as sawdust. Moreover, certain construction crews might bury wood debris and foundation forms, but by doing so, you’re just creating a four-course meal for any termites in the area.
Tip 6: Check your mulch
No matter whether your mulch is treated, stained, colored or plain, any variety of wood mulch can become a food source for termites. To protect your garden plants while also protecting your home from termites, make sure any mulch is placed at least 15-20 inches away from the foundation of your home.
Tip 7: Invest in professional termite control
The average repair costs for a home infested by termites reach thousands of dollars. By comparison, hiring the services of a pest control company to provide termite control is quite a deal. Our team of pest control technicians has the expertise and training to detect signs of termites that go unnoticed by the regular homeowner. We offer inspections, preventive measures and also can treat termites if they infest your home.
To find out more about termite control or any of our other services, schedule a consultation with one of our pest control technicians today. Just call (901) 737-7878 or visit our website.