How to Prevent Termite Infestation in Your Gutters?
by Dijital Karma on Mar 22, 2022
Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Nature rejuvenates, animals come out of their hibernation, and flowers bloom like never before. While we make plans for the upcoming summer and enjoy a delicious cup of homemade lemonade in our backyard with our family, we should not forget to tend to our home's maintenance for the sake of our property's integrity as well. Because as much as we cherish the blossoming of this beautiful season, nature can have other plans prepared for us in the form of pests infestations.
Among the usual pests, damage from termites is the most significant to your home's foundation. They are elusive pests that can form vast colonies in a clandestine manner before showing significant signs of infestation. While these pests are not known to spread diseases, their presence can be costly to your home. Their natural diet of timber consumption spells a nightmare for homeowners that want to keep their property intact. Just alone in the US, the termite problem costs damages more than $5 billion every year to American citizens. If unattended to, a termite-infested gutter or wood infested with termite will require a total replacement as your gutters, roof, rafters, decking, and trusses will end up getting damaged in a way beyond redemption.
Common signs of termite and bug infestations are not easy to detect at first due to them living inside the enclosed areas, such as the inner parts of your gutters and below your roof shingles. The best signs of active termite infestation come in the form of discolored drywalls, peeled paints, pinpoint holes in the drywall, damaged wood roofs, and hollow-sounding wood. A lot of people ask questions like "How to check for termites?", "How much termite damage is too much?", "What to do if your house has termites?" and "How much damage can termites do in a week?". We always give the same answer. While it is best to reach out to professional pest control services if you have an ongoing infestation, we recommend that you prevent them from beginning in the first place. For this reason, we prepared this brief guide for you to prevent termite infestation in your gutters and roofs!
Preemptive Solutions to Termite Infestation
The first step in preventing pest infestations begins by detecting locations prone to the infestation and taking measures beforehand. As termites work from the inside out, it may be difficult to see a sign of infestation until they have done the damage. However, you can take these preemptive solutions to prevent them from taking root and breeding in the first place.
Examine Your Gutters at the Beginning of New Seasons
If the region you live in is prone to pest and insect infestations, it is best to assume that you are at the risk of an infestation during wet seasons. But fret not! Always make sure to check the outer perimeters of your house during a change of seasons. Taking this action will not only ensure that you are protected against termites but also allow you to keep tabs on your house's overall situation and act accordingly. This also means that you can be on guard all the time by simply examining your gutters and rooftops for any sign of pest and termite infestation.
Remove Debris from Your Gutters in Regular Periods
Clogged gutters are the main reason for termite infestation when it comes gutters. When you allow your gutters to clog, water may not flow in the right direction, which can create damp zones within your gutter protection systems. These zones are an ideal breeding ground for termites and a large variety of other pests. They are highly prone to termite or water damage. The moisture within these areas provides sufficient breeding grounds for termites, and they will multiply very quickly. Afterward, the termites will reach out for cracks on your exterior wall to enter your home and begin munching away at your foundation. Debris and wet zones create ideal breeding grounds for termites, so keeping these areas in your roof clean and debris-free is best. That is why it is vital that you remove debris from your gutters on a regular basis. The same can be said for your rooftops if you have any stops that remain damp after adverse weather conditions.
Treat Your Gutters and Roofs with All Purpose Bug Sprays
It is best to use all-purpose bug sprays on every tight nook and cranny during seasonal shifts to preventing bugs and termites from festering about. You can either purchase a spraying kit and bug spray from your local hardware store or contact professionals for regular treatment. There are mainly four types of termiticides: Liquid-soil termiticides, termite baits, building materials with termiticides, and wood treatments. We suggest using liquid-soil termiticides for spraying and termite baits for your lawn. Liquid-soil termiticides last for a long time and can keep your home safe for up to five years. When applying this treatment, you could also dig a trench around your home's perimeter, and it would last longer. However, this still doesn't guarantee that termites entering your home can find small gaps in your barrier. Thus, it is recommended for you to check your home for termites every year. If you are experienced with this process and know that your region has the problem of termite infestation regularly, then you can opt to DIY.
Install Debris-Free Gutter Guards
Consider installing debris-free gutter guards for your home. This is one of the best possible solutions you can bring to the table to not only prevent termite infestations but also other types of pests growing out of control, such as insects like bees, ants, roaches, and animals like raccoons, squirrels, and even snakes! Clogging is the number one reason for termite infestation, and this is caused mainly by debris that gets stuck in your unprotected gutters or gutter guards that are made of flimsy materials. The best way to ensure that your gutter protection system is safe and sound is to install debris-free metal gutter guards. Micro-mesh gutter guards perfectly fill this purpose. Gutter guard installation only keeps pests out of your gutters but also prevents the formation of even the smallest amount of debris by keeping out the tiniest bit of them in the form of dirt, pine needles, and pollen.
At Art of Gutter, we strive to provide you with the best quality gutter materials for your family home or venue. Our high-tech and innovative gutter guards are durable, efficient, and reliable. Whether you are looking for a debris-proof white flat micromesh gutter guard or a luxurious and long-lasting 6-inch copper gutter guard, we have you covered. You can check out our online store for 5 inches and 6-inch gutter guards that fit into existing and new roofs for any structure. We additionally produce custom size gutter guards according to your needs. Feel free to contact us anytime through our website for more information regarding the best gutter guards in the US!
This is the end of our blog post for "How to Prevent Pest Infestation in Your Gutters?"! If you are interested in learning more information regarding gutters, gutter cleaning, and gutter protection products, you can check our other blogs such as "Types of Gutter Guards", "When You Should Be Using Half -Round gutters vs. K-style Gutters for Your Home", & "How to Install Half Round Gutters".
We're sure you'll find more information in regards to gutters and home care with our future blog posts as well. Until next time, be safe and in good vibes!
