Older homes attract us with their charm and also with the older techniques that hold them firm, which modern construction lacks to a great extent. However, older homes also come with risks and challenges, especially with a termite infestation. These tiny creatures cause major damage to the property, and this risk increases in older homes where they easily get moisture due to leaks or improper drainage systems.
If you are living in one such older house and want to get rid of termites, then you are at the right place. In this article, we will discuss how to reduce termite risks in older homes. You can learn more about it in this article.
Why Older Houses are Vulnerable to Termite Infestation?
Various factors attract termites in older houses. The first factor would be the construction material. If there are old wooden beams, then the wooden structures will be weak over time, and therefore, they will be susceptible to termite attack. This old wood becomes soft and makes it easy for them to decay, and therefore, termites find it easy to attack such wooden elements.
They live in environments where there is moisture to a great extent. Older homes have more moisture areas, such as leaky roofs, plumbing issues, and also poor drainage systems. These factors can be a welcoming characteristic for termites, and therefore, we can see more termite infestations in older houses.
In addition to this, there are also other factors, such as cracks and gaps, that make it easy for termites to enter the older houses. It provides easy access for termites because older houses might have structural shifts, which might lead to the creation of tiny openings and thus inviting termites with these openings.
Where Can You Find Termites in Older Houses?
If you want to protect your house from termites, then you must be aware of the areas in which termites are generally found. There are foundation and crawl spaces where you can find the mud tubes and also any crack gaps.
Wooden furniture is another place where you can see these creatures. So, you should see the wooden beams, floorings, and walls, which might be the major places to find such tiny creatures in the house. You can also find them in the attic and on the roofs if there are any signs of water damage or leaks. There can be plumbing issues in your old house, and it can also lead to termite risks in your residence; therefore, you need to keep an eye on these activities.
How to Reduce Termite Risks in Older Homes?
As the residence becomes old, you have to take care of it more because it becomes vulnerable to termite attacks. Therefore, in such cases, you should opt for barrier treatments, which is a non-toxic way to deal with the termites. You can install physical barriers in your residence to stop the influx of termites.
You should also see to it that no moisture in the house or walls can help termites spread their empire. So, you should fix plumbing issues, leaks, and other such problems. It would be better to use some dehumidifiers that will keep your house dry and safe from these pests.
In addition to this, you must also keep a safe distance between soil and wooden furniture so that there is less room for termite penetration in your house. You must also seal the gaps, cracks, and other such holes in the house so that you are safe from termites. However, if you are still facing the problem of termite infestation, then it would be better to get help from an expert pest control company.
