How to Effectively Prevent Termite Infestations (DIY Termite Treatments)
The thought of having a termite problem in your home is downright frightening. However, this is something that does not need to be as traumatic as you may have initially feared.
There are actually a number of DIY termite treatments that you can make on your own. Also, there are various tips you can follow to help reduce the chances of termites becoming an issue, and being aware of them should help quite considerably.
Tips to Prevent a Termite Infestation
The first thing to do is a regular check of your foundations for any signs of damage. The aim here is to catch the problem at the earliest stage possible before they can get a firm hold in your home.
Next, you have to check your ventilation for leaks. You must avoid a build-up of moisture because termites love those conditions.
Make sure that your attic or basement has more than adequate ventilation, and you will have less chance of termites coming into your home.
As they love wood, it's wise to move any wood pile further away from your home. This way they will be less tempted just to cross the path into your house. This includes wood for fires as well as mulch piles. Also, if you are buying wood for anything then try to get treated wood. Termites hate any wood that has had chemicals added to it.
Signs You Have a Termite Infestation
Being aware of signs of a termite issue in your home is also important. There are several things to look out for.
Wood can eventually sound hollow after termites have spent their time eating away at the inside. If you simply tap on the wood then you are going to hear something that resembles an echo which is a sure-fire sign that something is wrong.
Next, if the item in question has been painted, then you may see the paint has bubbled and cracked. This is caused by the termites getting closer to the surface from the inside. You could also see that walls are cracking in ways that are just not normal which is also caused by them eating away the insides.
Finally, you should also check for mud tubes on the outside of your home. This will provide you with evidence of what is their road network to get around your home.
DIY Termite Treatments
So, let's say at this point you have discovered that you indeed have a termite issue, and want to deal with it. Thankfully, there are some DIY termite treatments that can be effective.
#### #1. Heat Treatment
First, one of the most effective DIY termite treatments is heat treatment. Termites hate heat, so if you have an issue in your home, then warm that room up as high as you can.
You want to aim for 120 degrees F. Do this for at least half an hour, and the termites will not be able to cope resulting in them dying.
#### #2. Termite Foam
You should also consider using a termite foam. When the problem is inside your home, apply the foam to voids in the wall, as well as other areas where termites are active. Just make sure pets or children can't get to it though.
For problems outside of your home, consider stakes that are designed to kill those termites that are foraging. Also, they will pop out of the ground alerting you to where there's an issue.
#### #3. Termite Spray
Perhaps the key method is to use a spray solution that comes in concentrated form. This generally contains Bifenthrin, and it will not only kill them but also help to keep termites away.
Termites are active throughout the entire year, so you need to be on your guard all the time. Do regular checks, and do not cut corners because discovering a problem before it gets too big is the best solution.