For being such little insects, termites can cause a whole lot of damage, and they spread rapidly when given a readily available food source. So as soon as you find signs of termite activity in your home, it’s crucial you take immediate action before the problem gets out of hand.
In some cases, this might involve calling in a team of professional exterminators right off the bat. Professionals will be able to recommend the best way to kill termites in Bartlesville, OK that will fit the needs of your situation and resolve the issue quickly.
But in other cases, you might be able to handle the problem yourself. Here’s an overview of the best way to kill termites and rid yourself of a pesky problem that could cause major structural damage if left unchecked:
- Seal up cracks and holes: Once or twice a year, you should perform a visual inspection around the exterior of your home. If you spot any holes or cracks, seal those up with caulk to make it more difficult for pests to get inside. While you’ll never find every single crack and crevice in your home, you can at least take care of the noticeable ones to make it harder for pests to access your house.
- Be smart with mulch: Try to keep mulch at least 15 inches away from your foundation. This can be difficult if you have garden beds that run right up against your house, but keep in mind that damp wood is highly attractive to termites, so it’s best to leave a bit of a buffer around your house so you don’t inadvertently draw those termites to your home.
- Store firewood away from the home: All firewood (and any other type of wood) you’re storing outside on your property should be kept at least 20 feet away from your house, and should be at least five inches off the ground. Build a special rack to hold your firewood up off the ground, and make sure you cover it with a tarp so it does not get affected by rain and snow.
- Ventilate: Your attic, basement or crawl space should be dry and well ventilated at all times. Run dehumidifiers when necessary, and add ventilation as needed.
- Divert water: Do everything you can to keep water from pooling around your foundation. This will help you to avoid water damage, as well as to prevent termites from seeking out the moisture near your home. You can do this by aiming downspouts toward strategic locations, and by creating slight slopes away from your home for water runoff.
- Inspect exterior wood: Keep an eye on door frames, windows, boards, fascia, decks and any other exterior wood for signs of damage or trouble with termites.
- Use the proper products: If you get to the point where you need to spray, it’s probably better to have a professional do it, but you can also find products you can spray both to kill existing colonies and to prevent new ones from forming.
Knowing how to kill termites in Bartlesville, OK is ultimately not as beneficial as having the number of a good pest control company. For reliable pest control service, reach out to Excellence Pest Control today.