Louisville Property Owner’s Complete Guide To Effective Termite Control

You probably already know how destructive termites can be, but do you know just how common they really are? Often, people don’t even know they have a termite infestation until it’s too late, as the early signs are easy to miss unless you get lucky or know what to look for. To make sure you’re not caught flat-footed, here is some helpful information about how to properly defend against a termite infestation with pest control services in Louisville.

Termites: Knowing Your Enemy

Termites are insects that, like ants, form complex colonies below ground. They use a caste system of workers, soldiers and reproductive alates to survive and thrive in massive numbers. Unlike most ants, termites chew through wood and can cause direct structural damage to your property. Millions of dollars in property are lost to termites every year, and that’s largely because they often go unnoticed. Termites spend their entire lives underground or within the dark voids of walls, so you won’t spot them crawling around like other invasive pests. By the time your property shows the signs of termite damage, it means a colony has already taken hold and will be nearly impossible to eliminate without professional means. 

What Attracts Termites?

Because a termite infestation can be so hard to detect, the best way to control termites is through early prevention and by knowing what attracts them to come near. Termite populations almost always start outdoors and then grow large enough to encroach inside of structures.

As such, it’s important to know what they look for in their territory: 

• Moisture: Many species of termite specifically eat damp woods, meaning areas with abundant moisture can lead to favorable conditions for termites.
• Soil contact: Since they build their tunnels in dirt, any place where soil touches wood acts as an easy meal for termites.
• Wood access: It seems obvious, but no consideration should be overlooked when it comes to proper pest prevention. Stored wood piles or yard debris often attract termite populations. 

Termite Prevention For Your Property 

Knowing what attracts termites in Louisville won’t do you much good unless you address those factors.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent termites from being attracted or gaining access to your property: 

• Crack sealing: Termites can’t chew through rock or hard plaster, but they don’t need to in order to get at interior woods if cracks and holes provide them with an easy way in. No space should be considered too small for a termite to squeeze through when making exterior repairs. 
• Landscaping: In addition to keeping soil beds set back from walls, you should also keep tree limbs and bushes trimmed well away, too, since they provide thoroughfares for termites to access a structure.
• Moisture control: Since they are attracted to areas with pooling water, termites will attack walls or rooms that lack proper ventilation or plumbing. Maintain these areas to stay on top of moisture control. 
• Inspections: The only way to make sure you don’t have a termite infestation is by having a trained pair of eyes inspect your property. Contact your local pest professionals for more information on termite control in Louisville.

The Best Protection From Action Pest

Once a termite population starts, it quickly grows into a damaging and destructive problem. Because you don’t want to be late on properly addressing the things that attract them, it’s important to start right away on a thorough inspection of your property. At Action Pest Control, we know all the places to look for termites or potential problem spots around your property. Not only can our thorough sweeps give you a needed all-clear, it can alert you to an existing termite problem before it becomes costly. 

Get started today on protecting your Louisville home from termites, by contacting Action Pest Pest Control.