Feb 28, 2018, 15:20 PM by Fred Speer

Termites have an almost insatiable hunger to eat the wood in your home. They consume wood, flooring, and even wallpaper non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To put this in perspective, it’s estimated that an established subterranean termite colony could consume an amount of wood equivalent to one cup of sawdust in as little as two hours. Just imagine the damage that could be done over time, if left undetected?

The Clark Man has seen the wicked and costly destruction that termites can cause to homes, and he does not want your home to suffer from the same fate.

Based on his years of experience protecting California homes from termites, the Clark Man can pull from memory some helpful tips to help you keep these destructive pests from threatening your biggest investment.

While these tips cannot guarantee that termites won’t find the wood in and around your home attractive, they can help lessen the risk.

1. Fill in cracks on your foundation’s masonry or concrete and caulk around door and window frames; eliminate easy access points to your home.
2. Try and maintain an 18-inch gap between the soil and wood siding, posts, or other exposed wood on your home.
3. Eliminate excess moisture on the interior and exterior of your home, because termites are attracted to moisture. Adjust irrigation systems so they don’t sprinkle stucco or wood siding when watering your lawn, and fix broken sprinkler heads and leaky faucets.
4. Remove wet leaves and debris from your gutters, because they provide moisture and harborage for termites and other pests.
5. Keep firewood off the ground and away from your home.
6. Remove old tree stumps and roots around and beneath your home.
7. Avoid planting trees and shrubs too close to the house, and go easy on the mulch. Branches and limbs provide an easy pathway for termites, and mulch provides a conveniently close spot to hide.

Another key element in protecting your home from termites is to have it inspected by a licensed termite inspector on a regular basis – every three years at the minimum, but annually if possible.

Getting a regular termite inspection will help identify conditions that encourage termite activity, and if termites are found, receiving an early diagnosis and taking corrective action sooner rather than later can help prevent more expensive treatments and costly repairs down the road.

If you think termites might be threatening your home, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com to schedule a no-obligation termite inspection of your home.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.