How to prevent termites from entering the house?

How to prevent termites from entering the house?

Prevention requires attention to construction, environment, and routine maintenance. Prevention is much easier than dealing with an infestation after it occurs.

Prevention during renovation

• Treat wood used in renovation with termite protection (apply anti-termite chemicals or use pressure-treated wood).
• Before installing wooden flooring, spray a dinotefuran-containing household insecticide on the subfloor to create an anti-termite layer. Dinotefuran has no repellent effect, so termites will not avoid treated areas.
• Pre-install anti-termite powder in corners and around pipe entries.
• Wooden structures should not contact the ground directly; install moisture barriers or anti-termite pads between foundations and wood members.

Environmental management

• Do not stack wood, cardboard, or tree roots around the house — these are termite food sources and harborage. Termites forage up to 50 meters from the colony.
• Keep indoors dry and ventilated; fix leaks promptly. Termites are sensitive to humidity; wood with moisture content above 20% is at risk.
• Keep outdoor drains clear to prevent water from seeping into the foundation.
• Install fine mesh over foundation vents to block termite entry.
• Keep shrubs and vines away from exterior walls; termites may climb plants to reach wood structures.

Regular inspection

• Inspect wooden structural components annually in spring (April-May), paying special attention to door frame bottoms, baseboards, and floor edges.
• Look for mud lines (shelter tubes) or small holes on wood surfaces.
• Focus on damp areas like basements and bathrooms.

Chemical protection

If termite mud tubes or swarm holes are found outdoors, spray dinotefuran-containing household insecticide on surrounding soil and foundations as a barrier. Reapply around doors and windows every 2-4 weeks to maintain an effective protective film.