How to Get Rid of Termites

Want to know how to get rid of termites? Once termites find the wood in your home, it can be difficult to get rid of them. The best defense against termites is to keep them from coming in the first place. Barring that, you may well have to consider call in an exterminator.

How To Get Rid Of Termites Safely

Termites live in colonies like ants. Unlike ants, termites tend to stay in the dark, making them hard to detect. Termites can quickly cause serious damage to your home, which may require the services of a structural engineer to correct. Read on to see how can you avoid termite troubles:

• A two-by-four of prevention. The best way to deal with termites is to not have to deal with termites. Prevention includes avoid any situations where wood from your home comes into direct contact with the ground. This is particularly important around decks and porches. Also, keep firewood and landscaping mulch away from the base of your home. Finally, if you have a crawlspace, make sure it is well ventilated-excess humidity is an open invitation for termites.
• A stake through the heart. Most home centers sell a do-it-yourself kit that contains bait and poison filled stakes. These stakes are driven into the ground every 8 to 10 feet around the perimeter of your home. Termites, drawn to the bait, collect some of the poison-laced bait and carry it back to the colony. This type of system works well in areas of known infestation-say, if a house in your neighborhood has had a termite infestation.
• The big guns. If you have reason to believe your home is already infested with termites, call a professional exterminator immediately. Swarms of winged termites in the home or mud tube trails around your foundation are two strong signs. Once termites have invaded your home, they can be very difficult to remove. An exterminator will be able to destroy the termite colony before it destroys your home.