The Most Effective Way To Protect Your Streator Property From Termites

Subterranean termites are insects that live in the ground. These insects tunnel long distances underneath the ground and can enter your yard from a property adjacent to yours. In your yard, these insects will search for sources of food. You are probably aware that a primary food source for termites is wood. But you may not know the extent of their desire to find and consume wood. Termite workers never sleep. They can slow down and become dormant, due to cold temperatures or some other undesirable condition, but during the warm months, they never slow down. Termite workers feed on wood and share their fluids with other termites in their colony. The more food the workers provide, the more offspring a queen will produce. The only limit to their ability to grow their colonies and damage your home is available food sources. One way you can protect your home is to make it harder for termites to find food. That is where we are going to start our discussion today.

Remove Food Sources

You can protect your Streator property from termite damage by reducing food sources, but you would be amazed at how many things termites can feed on. We could give a long list of examples, but here are a few that will give you an idea of what you're up against.

Termites can feed on stumps, logs, trees with heart rot, and other natural sources of wood in your yard.
Termites can break down dead leaves.
Termites feed on wood that is buried in the ground, or sitting on top of the ground.
Termites feed on the wooden posts of fences and exterior structures.
Termites can eat any objects that have cellulose, such as clothing, cardboard, and some vegetables. They've been found feeding on stacked boxes and clothing stored in garages.
Termites can eat the wood of your home. While they prefer wood that has been softened and decayed by water, they're also able to feed on sound timbers.

It can be difficult to get rid of all their food sources, but reducing food can have an impact. Inspect your yard and consider any objects that could be a source of food for termites. Eliminate wood-to-soil contact, especially around your home. Keep your yard free of organic materials such as leaves and sticks.

Address Moisture

Subterranean termites need a lot of moisture to survive. Worker termites have thin skin that must stay moist. If the ground around your home stays damp, not only will it moisten the wood of your home and begin the process of wood decay, but it can also create damp conditions that are attractive to worker termites. Both are bad. Here are some tips for reducing moisture:

Clean your gutters.
Repair damaged gutters, splash blocks, and downspouts.
Repair leaking plumbing.
Remove unnecessary vegetation from your landscaping.
Water your plants early in the morning.
Trim bushes and shrubs.
Limit sprinkler usage.
Seal Your Exterior

Entry points that are low to the ground can be exploited by subterranean termites. This allows them to get into your home and find desirable wood sources on the interior. Do a detailed inspection of your foundation walls and fill in any cracks, gaps, or holes. This won't ensure complete protection, but it will go a long way toward deterring worker termites.

Routine Inspections

There are a few signs termites can give you. It is vital to schedule routine inspections to search for these signs. Don't wait until the signs are obvious. If you do, it is likely to be too late to prevent extensive damage.

Termites create shelter tubes on foundation walls. Look for these in dark, secluded locations. They will be made of a mud substance. The pattern may look like an upside-down lightning bolt.
Tap on support beams. If a thick timber sounds hollow, that is a strong indication that there are tunnels inside.
Look for changes to wood. If you begin to see deterioration at the bottoms of your exterior window or door frames, termites could be to blame. Inspect the damage and look for the presence of dirt or mud. Subterranean termites bring soil up into their tunnels.
Termite workers may be uncovered if you inspect wood sources that have not been removed from your yard, such as cutting into a stump or turning over boards that are lying on the ground.

The Most Effective Way To Protect Your Home

As always, we want to remind you that the best way to protect your property from termite damage is to invest in professional termite control. This is where we can help. Reach out to Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators anytime to schedule a visit with one of our termite control specialists.