Why White Ants Love Wood: Top Termite Prevention Tips

Termites are a common household pest that can wreak tremendous amounts of damage to the structural integrity of your home in a short amount of time. Every year in Australia, termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk of having a termite infestation. Read on to learn lots more. 

Preventative Tips to Reduce a Termite Infestation

You want your home to stay termite free all year round, and there are several easy things you can do to ensure these pests stay away including: 

• If you have wet wood, you're inviting white ants or termites. White ants love wet wood as it stimulates their development cycle and their appetites. The wood in your home doesn't have to be excessively wet either, and even a home with high humidity is fair game. You'll want to ensure that your home is well ventilated and that air flows through. As for the humidity, you can purchase a dehumidifier to get rid of the excess moisture in the air. In turn, this can dry out the wood.
• Keep any wood you're storing away from your home. A woodpile presents an easy feeding opportunity for termites. The wood is usually dead or dying, and it is usually damper than the wood that makes up your home because it's impossible to control the weather conditions. Unfortunately, they'll eventually move on from snacking on the woodpile, and if your home is close, they'll move right in. To prevent this, move any wood you're storing a good distance from your home. Additionally, never leave wood under your home or close to your home's foundation.

• Make sure your foundation isn't directly on the ground. Ideally, every part of your foundation should be off of the ground. If it sits directly on the ground, this makes it easier for termites to get at it. It also increases the dampness levels as the soil can stay damp for a long time, and this can seep into the foundation. You want to isolate your foundation with concrete or cement. This will help deter termites, and it can help to decrease the dampness levels. 

Preventative Tips to Stop a Termite Infestation

Once you have a termite infestation, you want to put a stop to it as soon as possible. This can help to negate the damage they're able to do to your home, and a few tips include: 

• Schedule routine termite inspections with a professional. While you can look for signs of termites on your own, a professional knows exactly what they're looking for and where they should look. It is a good idea to schedule regular termite inspections at least every year. The company you choose should ideally be a local company so they understand how the local species of termites behave and where they like to nest. 

• Perform routine maintenance on your home's exterior. If you regularly check and touch up your home's exterior, you're making it harder for termites to get inside. You want to make sure you fill cracks and crevices and spread preventative pesticides around your foundation. You can even apply a coat of gloss paint to act as a white ant deterrent.

• Repair any leaks and check your plumbing fixtures. If your plumbing fixtures leak, they're putting moisture into the air and the environment. This increases how damp the wood in your home is. It increases the humidity levels as well. You want to repair any leaks and perform routine checks on your plumbing fixtures. This helps to ensure everything is dry, in good condition, and leak free.

The last thing you want to do is become another statistic for residential termite damage in Australia. By taking several small preventative measures and learning about termites, you're on your way to preventing an infestation. Keep your home safe and your foundation strong by preventing termite damage.