Termites do more than $5 billion dollars in damage to American homes and businesses each year, according to the National Pest Management Association. It's enough to scare any property owner. The good news is that there are several things you can do to help prevent a colony of these wood-eating insects from invading your home or business.

How to prevent termites

1. Keep mulch away from the edge of your foundation. Termites thrive on moisture and organic material like shredded or chipped wood commonly used as mulch in landscaping beds. To help keep termites from entering your home, it's a good idea to keep organic mulch at least six inches away from the base of your home. You can fill in this gap with tall perennials or shrubs.

2. Clean up any moisture problems promptly. Moisture problems can also lead to termite activity. If you have a leaking pipe, drain or other water issue, make sure to have it repaired quickly. Pools of water and dampness can not only compromise your indoor air quality, but can be enticing to termites.

3. Keep your roof drainage system well-maintained. In addition to dealing with any indoor water problems, it's important to keep your roof drainage system in good working order. That means keeping your gutters cleaned out and the water in your drain pipes flowing freely. When your gutters are clogged, rain water and melting snow gets dumped right at the edge of your foundation where it can draw termites into your home.

4. Avoid stacking wood against your home. If you have a wood-burning stove, it can be tempting to stack wood near your home where you can easily reach it. However, like mulch, having this organic material so close to your foundation is an open invitation to termites.

5. Get rid of dead tree limbs and stumps. Dead tree limbs and tree stumps can also draw termites. Be sure to inspect your property at least twice a year and remove any dead tree parts.

6. Don't store old magazines or newspapers in your attic. Newspaper, too, is organic matter and can be attractive to termites. Throw those old newspapers away rather than trying to save them.

If you find you do have a termite problem, despite your best efforts to prevent these bugs from invading your home, it's time to call a professional termite control company. Getting rid of these bugs permanently requires special equipment and training. It's not a good DIY project. Visit a site like http://cavanaughspest.com for more information.