There are many non chemical, environment friendly ways to help prevent termites from infesting our homes. These methods is more focused on preventive measures than dealing with termites by eradicating them with pesticides that can be quite harsh on the environment in some ways or the other. These methods can also be used outdoors as well as indoors to avoid colonies from growing and invading your home. These methods aim to protect our health, environment and also help us cut down costs in termite control and prevention.
Your Options
You can first apply termite control in your backyard as termites prefer humid and warm areas; they tend to live in backyards to breed. But this may not be applicable for all, as some areas have colder climates. Securing a termite free outdoor environment you can use termite resistant woods for decks, sheds and the like. Another option is to treat concrete and stone foundation with water resistant sealers to prevent termites from investing your backyard.
Another option is to use Orange oil which is derived from orange peels and serves as a natural toxic termite killer that has been proven to prevent termite infestation.
Pay Attention
As a part of a do it yourself termite control method, you should learn to keep a watchful eye on your yard or other areas of the house. You should also have heaps of compost, wood stacks and leaf piles anywhere your home. As termites survive in warm and moist areas in order to get food, so even any size of flower beds planted anywhere near a building or house structure is risk for termite infestation. This is why flower beds should be structured a few feet away from the house to make a space that will then acts a barrier from termites.
Where to Look
Other areas prone to termite infestation are basements, attics, kitchens and even bathrooms that tend to become humid and moist making them a suitable termite breeding ground. Even stored paperwork, documents, books and even old carpets are food sources for termites so you should watch out for these when stored away in attics and basements.
Remember that termites are experts in making earth tunnels allowing them to enter your home in many areas possible. As these do it yourself methods are mainly for prevention, it is another matter when there is already an infestation. At this point you may to resolve into using toxic substances to completely kill termites. Other ways to eradicate termites is by using termite baits that can slowly but surely kill a colony of termites as the chemicals are distributed throughout the colony. Liquid termite treatments are also used that are sprayed around the house to effectively repel termites as well as borate termite treatments at is supplied directly to the woodwork of the home. Other methods involve electrocution and fumigation.
It is up to you to decide on what methods to use when it comes to termite prevention and control depending on cost and effectiveness.
