If you own a home, you need to know that a termite infestation will literally eat away your investment if left unchecked. These tiny insects can destroy a building’s structural timber, and can cause ceilings or floors to collapse over time. The best way to control termites is to prevent them from infesting your home in the first place. Below is a beginner’s guide on how to stop termites from invading your home and destroying your investment.

Block Access to Food Sources

Termites feed on cellulose in wood. This may include the timber inside your home, your porch or deck, piles of firewood, wood sheds or even dead tree stumps left on your property. Below are a few of the ways that you can block access to food sources in and around your home: Seal off any chips, crack or holes on the exterior of the foundation where any utilities and pipes enter the home.

• Less trafficked areas of the home, such as basements, attics or crawl spaces should be kept ventilated and free of moisture.
• Repair any water leaks in and around the home, including faucets, water pipes and AC units.
• Store your firewood a minimum of 20 feet away from the home and at least 5 inches off the ground.
• Make routine inspections to the exterior of your home for any signs of mud shelter tubes, cracked, chipped or bubbling paint surrounding door frames and windows, and termite mazes.
• Place mulch and other cellulose-containing landscaping materials at least a foot and a half away from the foundation of your home.

Know the Signs of an Infestation

It is important to always be on the lookout for some common signs of a termite infestation, including:

• Any wood that sounds hollow when tapped or crumbles easily
• Bubbling, cracking or peeling paint, especially around doors, windows or other entry points to the home
• Loose floor tiles
• Buckling or sagging floors
• Discolored or sagging ceilings
• Mud tubes or mazes on walls or the foundation of the home
• Swarms of winged insects in or outside of your home
• Piles of wood-colored termite droppings or silver-colored wings

If you suspect a termite problem in your home, contact a pest control professional right away to perform an inspection and provide treatment options. For more information on how to stop termites from infesting your home, or to receive a FREE termite inspection and treatment estimate from ACTION Termite Control, call (877) 556-4131 today.