Ahhh, springtime! Glorious, wonderful springtime! A time to go barefoot for the first time in the cool grass; a time to throw open windows and doors, and to marvel at the blossoms on the trees and freshly blooming flowers; a time to relish in the warmth of the sun, and to think about termites eating the house …

Does one of these things seem out of place? Of course it does. Who wants to think about termites eating their house in spring? If you would like to have peace of mind and not be worried about termites this spring (which is when termites spread and become more active) then perhaps the following list of termite prevention tips will help.

• Keep your home dry. Termites are attracted to moisture; they need it to thrive. So you can deter them by using fans or dehumidifiers in your home, fixing water leaks, and keeping the area around the outside of your house as dry as possible.

• Make sure to clear out any clogged gutters and direct all runoff water well away from your home. Putting a strip of crushed rock around your foundation will help as well.

• Repair any leaky faucets, water pipes, and exterior AC units.

• Repair fascia, soffits, and rotted roof shingles.

• Replace weather-stripping and loose mortar around basement foundations and windows.

• Store firewood and any other wooden materials well away from your home and up off the ground.

If you do all these things, you may be safe from a termite infestation, but you cannot be certain unless a termite inspection is performed. Termites are known as “silent destroyers” for a reason. They can eat away at the interior of a structure for years without being seen or detected. If you are fortunate enough to have these wood-destroying insects leave a sign, it will most likely be one of these:

• Mud tubes. Subterranean termites build these pencil-width tubes, usually on foundation walls, to get from the soil to the wood of your home.

• Wood damage. This may only be seen if you are doing a construction project, since termite damage tends to remain hidden within your walls.

• Termite swarmers. When a termite colony matures it produces swarmers, or winged termites. These swarmers take flight and, for a very brief period, may be seen on the insides of windows (if the infestation is within your walls).

• Discarded wings. If you miss the swarmers, you may see the wings they leave behind. You may find these wings in spider webs or on window sills.

If you need help with termite prevention and protection, Schendel Pest Services is more than equipped to take care of this issue for you. Make springtime safer with help from Schendel.