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5 Ways to Prevent Termites in Your Home

When it comes to owning and maintaining a home, one of the most important things to look for is termites. Termites cost homeowners thousands of dollars every year in treatment and repairs. Protect your house and your property by taking steps to prevent termites in your home.

Five Things You Can Do to Prevent Termites in Your Home

Aim Your Sprinkler Heads Away

Make sure your lawn sprinkler system is always pointed away from the foundation of your home. Many species of subterranean termites require moisture. If a sprinkler is pointed towards your home, you are creating the perfect environment for termites.

Crawl Space Maintenance

Crawl spaces should be properly maintained to prevent termites in your home. A good vapor barrier and proper ventilation will keep moisture away from the subfloor and floor joists. Should moisture reach these areas, it leads to damp areas that are perfect for termites to feed on the wood under your home.

Prevent Termites by Maintaining Shrubbery

Another method of preventing termites in your home is to keep any shrubbery trimmed. Allow at least one foot of space between bushes and the exterior of your home. This allows better air flow so that damp areas close to the home will dry out more quickly in the sun.

Don’t Use Mulch

Rather than spreading wood mulch in garden beds next to your home’s foundation, find an alternative like rubber mulch or pine needles. Termites find these materials less appealing than mulch. Surrounding the foundation with gravel is also an option.

Exterior Home Maintenance

Prevent termites in your home by taking the time to conduct proper maintenance on exterior areas such as windows and wooden siding. Repainting when necessary and sealing the wood helps protect the home from termites and other wood-destroying insects.

Prevent costly damage by catching termites early. Dooley Home Inspection offers termite and wood-destroying insect inspections. To request an inspection, contact us.

What is Included in Your Limited Septic Inspection

 

septic inspection graphic

I do an operating inspection, which examines the accessible and visible parts of the system such as the tank lids, cleanout ports, control box, pumps, effluent level inside the tank. I determine whether it is functioning as intended or it needs further evaluation and repair by a licensed septic installer. I produce a report of the system’s current condition that determines whether, in my opinion, the system’s operation is acceptable or unacceptable. I do not address the life expectancy or the code compliance with all state or county ordinances. I do not excavate to locate lids or tanks. If a more comprehensive inspection is desired, additional testing can be done by a septic specialist.

Summary of Common System Problems I Have Encountered:
  • Leaky Tank
  • Broken Pump or Broken Lines
  • Surfacing Sewage
  • Clogged Pipes
  • Location of Field Lines Too Close to Water Well Head

System Research is another service that I can provide as part of your Limited Septic Inspection. We should gather local permits, the county soil survey, a homeowner interview, land survey that shows the location of tanks and lines.

Things I Try to Check and Report on During the Inspection:
  • Type of System (Aerobic, Conventional, Pressure Dos)
  • Note of any Grey Water Systems (Laundry)
  • Effluent Level in tanks
  • Signs of cracks in tank, lid or baffles
  • Evaluation of absorption area or field lines

I disclaim any warranty, either expressed or implied, arising from the inspection of the onsite wastewater treatment system or the report. My evaluation does not ascertain the impact the system is having on the groundwater.

 

Jonathan Dooley Shaking Hands with Client

Text Jonathan anytime to schedule!

We offer a full scope of Residential, Commercial and New Construction services to South Texas including; Brenham TX, La Grange, El Campo, Sealy, Schulenburg, Rosenburg, Wallis, Bastrop, Bay City, Fulshear, Hempstead, Needville, Fayettville, Hallettsville, Columbus, New Ulm, Wharton, Flatonia, Giddings, Shiner, Edna, Yoakum, Cypress, Round Top, Gonzales, Hockley, Magnolia, Sugar Land

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Email

jonathan@dooleyinspections.com

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