As spring comes up on us our not so friendly visitors could make their presence known. March is typically the time of year here in the mid-Atlantic that you’ll see swarms of termites or carpenter ants.

Termites can damage your home.

Don't let termites or other wood eating pests destroy your "castle."

It pays to know what you’ve got on your hands and how to deal with it. In doing a little research I found that there are several types of carpenter ants, only one of which can actually do damage to your home. There are pictures online of the various pests that can do damage to your home, so taking a few minutes to find out what you’re actually seeing is worth the time. The article also stated that if you see swarms outside the house it is nothing to be alarmed about. However, if you see swarms in your home it may be time for a pest control service to take a look.

I also did some research to see what natural termite control was available and was surprised to find almost nothing on it. The little I did find needed to be used on the wood before it was used. I didn’t see anything that could help a homeowner who has an infestation in the finished part of their home.

Here’s a list  5 things you can do to help protect your home:

  1. Repair plumbing leaks, including leaky faucets, air conditioning units and water pipes promptly.
  2. Keep gutters clear and have them divert water away from your home’s foundation.
  3. Do not store wood items in crawl space or directly next to your home.
  4. Trim bushes and trees away from home’s foundation.
  5. Repair or replace damaged siding and roof shingles to prevent leaks and easy termite entry.
  6. Having your home inspected regularly is probably a good idea, also.