Many homes have welcome mats. They serve a couple of functions. First, they provide a safe surface to clean off the muck from shoes, and second, they encourage guests to step into your home. Did you realize that you may be creating another kind of welcome mat that encourages some unwanted guests to not only arrive but to take up residence? Termites love wood, and when you keep wood near your foundation, you might as well tell them to come on in and start devouring your floor joists, wall studs, and rafters. With some simple action steps and regular termite inspections of your San Mateo home, you can ensure that the only guests coming to visit are the ones you invite in!
What Makes Your Home Attractive to Termites?
Unbeknownst to most of us, we send clear signals to bugs and pests that our home is their home. We may forget to wipe up crumbs, leading to mice doing it for us. As for termites, they prefer crumbs of a different sort – wood. Here are the different ways you may end up attracting these wood-boring bugs to your home:
- Keeping Firewood Stacked Near Your House: Having a small fire outside offers a relaxing way to spend the evening. However, the pile of firewood stacked near your foundation attracts termites. Instead, it is a good idea to move their primary food source about 20 feet away from any structures. You may want to use a concrete slab or metal stand to keep the wood off the ground.
- Allowing Debris to Clog Your Gutters: Allowing gunk to build up in your gutters causes many issues. For example, it doesn’t allow water to drain away from your house. Big clogs result in water pouring over the side of your gutters and leaving your foundation wet – a perfect condition for subterranean termites. It’s a good idea to keep your gutters clean and ensure they divert water away from your home.
- Leaving Rotting Wood in Your Yard: Termites love damp, decaying wood. They eat on this stuff almost 24/7. Once they consume any of this yummy goodness in your yard, they will look for other sources, which can include your home. Keep them at bay with the regular removal of dead wood around your property.
- Spreading Mulch around the Foundations of Structures: Mulch can be a beautiful way to enhance your landscaping look. Unfortunately, it is also a tempting buffet for wood-eating pests.
Timely Termite Inspection and Control Keeps Your Home Safe
Ensure that you only have the guests you want in your home by making your house a pest-free zone with help from Times Up Termite. Our professionals will come in and conduct a thorough termite inspection in San Mateo. Then, they will provide you a report with the conditions of your home and options to make and keep your home pest-free. We have a variety of possibilities, including the eco-friendly, reduced-risk pesticide, Altriset. This option is great for your home if you have children, pets, or pregnant moms. Contact us today to eradicate your uninvited wood-eating guests.
Call 510-568-7200 to speak with our team of experienced, licensed professionals at Times Up Termite, Inc. You can also contact us online to request a free termite inspection in San Mateo.