Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

In the midst of another drought, we all need to be conscious of our water usage, and aware of local water restrictions. Municipal water suppliers are issuing tighter water use restrictions, which, for violators, could result in a fine for homeowners. After the drought of 2002, OWASA (Orange Water and Sewer Authority), the public, non-profit water and sewer agency serving the Carrboro-Chapel Hill community, implemented year-round water conservation standards, which residents should make sure they are familiar with.

This year’s drought is having a major impact on consumers, businesses, agriculture, and recreation. Click here for some articles detailing how the drought is affecting our state.

What can you do? Reduce your water usage, both indoors and outdoors. Here are some ideas and suggestions from OWASA to conserve your water usage year round. Some of the basics are to take shorter showers, regularly check for leaks, and consider installing shower heads and toilets that use less water.

For more information on water conservation tips and ideas, please contact local Realtor Wilma Gunnesch at 919-951-1944, or visit our website at www.GreatTriangleHomes.com.

Termites need food, moisture and shelter. If you remove their food source and make your home unappealing to them, you can help prevent an infestation.

First, don’t feed them.

• It is important to keep your gutters clean. Wet leaves provide moisture and food for the pests, and since the gutters are attached to your home, it’s an easy point of entry. Clogged gutters can also contribute to moisture problems by soaking wood off the roof and fascia boards. Wood piles and construction debris, boards left touching the ground or fences without proper ground clearance can all be food sources. Cardboard is also a favorite food of termites and damp cardboard around or under a house could provide an ideal opportunity for termites.
• If you are building a deck, make concrete barriers part of your plan and be sure to use borate-treated, pressurized wood. The USDA’s Forest Service has a bulletin on subterranean termites with helpful hints on construction practices. Your contractor may also have suggestions for preventing termite infestations. Stucco facades extending near or into the soil surface provide a haven for termites, allowing them to move into a home undetected.

Second, remove any sources of moisture.

• Your air conditioner tank should be at least four inches from your house. Check it regularly, and make sure the condensate is not draining towards your house.
• Make sure your dryer is vented away from the house — the warm air is moisture-saturated from dried clothes, and can attract termites. Washers should drain away from the house, too.
• Check for leaky faucets and pipes. Make fixing them a priority.
• Flat roofs are a bad idea; they harbor moisture and invite infestation.
• Summer sprinkler play is fun for kids, but make sure the faucet is turned off –tightly — after the water games are finished. Insulation around pipes should not extend all the way from the house to the soil. After cold spells are over, the insulation should be removed or at least have a gap large enough to allow homeowners to detect termites.

Next, don’t give them easy access to shelter.

• Keep vines, flower gardens and storage containers away from your house. Make a garden path if you must have them close by. Their roots feed the termites, and the leaves give the termites the moisture and shade they crave. Also, you won’t be able to see the clay tubes the termites make to sneak into your home.
• Check your house for stains, holes and other infestation signs. Wings on your window sill, particularly inside the house, are a sign that you need to have your home checked; don’t just hope the problem will go away.

When it’s time for treatment

• It’s best to call a professional pest control company when you have an infestation. They have the equipment and expertise necessary to do the job thoroughly. They can also check your home for potential access points. The same is true for treating infested trees in your yard. Although new chemical treatments will be available soon for trees, a professional can provide more intensive treatments.
• After treatment, check your home for termites regularly. There’s even discussion about making five-year treatments a standard part of prevention.

Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service

For more information on pest control for your home, contact local Realtor Wilma Gunnesch at 919-951-1944.