What attracts termites to the house?
Termites can eat holes not only in your home, but also in your wallet. These pests can cause significant damage to your home, and repairs are frequently costly.
While all termites are attracted to wood, they have different preferences. Damp wood and dry wood termites, as their names suggest, prefer moist or dry woods. Subterranean termites require moist soil to thrive and will infest any wood that comes into contact with the ground. Subterranean termites will also build mud tubes to transport themselves from the soil to the wood. Mud tubes, in essence, serve as a "link" for termites to use in order to protect themselves from dehydration and to gain access to wood that may be located above ground. Homeowners may unknowingly bring termites into their homes by using firewood or untreated lumber.
Termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in building exteriors, in addition to wood inside the home. Various combinations of these factors attract various species. Furthermore, geographical location influences how likely homeowners are to deal with infestations. Southern residents are more likely to experience termite activity due to the warm weather and consistent humidity. Homeowners frequently make a concerted effort to complete seasonal projects around the house in order to keep pests out.
Moisture
Moisture issues are created by leaking pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow, all of which attract termites. In humid environments, damp wood and subterranean termites thrive. While damp wood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites cannot survive without adequate moisture.
Wood that has come into contact with the foundations of a house
Because some species, such as subterranean termites, need to move through wood or soil to get inside houses, having wood touching the foundation of a building makes it vulnerable to infestation. Mulch, overgrown shrubs, and firewood placed too close to homes are just a few examples of wood that allows termites to gain access to structural wood.
Cracks in the Exteriors of Buildings
Termites can enter a home through any crack or fissure in the foundation or any gap in the siding. Subterranean species construct mud tubes in these flaws and use them to move indoors. Furthermore, cracks around windows and doors allow swarmer termites of all species to enter and establish colonies.
Some people mistakenly believe that termite activity is hampered by cold winter temperatures. Termites entering homes have nothing to do with winter or cold weather. Let's go over some of the conditions that may attract termites to your home, as well as the signs of a termite infestation and the steps you can take to make your home less susceptible to termites.
Termites consume wood and cellulose materials such as lumber, firewood, newspapers, and other cellulose materials. Store such materials away from areas where termites can easily access them, such as the foundation. Remove any decayed lumber or firewood that termites prefer to sound wood.
Termites prefer moist, undisturbed environments, such as crawl spaces, which are warm and dark. Reduce moisture in crawl spaces by having your home inspected and evaluated for moisture sources and solutions.
Moisture: Termites are attracted to moisture, and the soil on which your foundation is built usually has plenty of it. Repair any leaking faucets or pipes to keep the soil next to your home's foundation as dry as possible. With properly functioning gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks, you can divert excess water away from your foundation. Use lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems to keep water from accumulating near your foundation.
Termites can infest tree stumps, stored lumber or firewood, cardboard boxes, untreated fence posts, and buried scrap wood. Inspect your porches and other structural or foundation wood for termite damage. The following are the most common signs of infestation:
Wood damage discovered beneath and behind surfaces such as walls and floors. Cracks in the veneer or maze-like tunneling in wood are examples of this. In addition, look for small holes in drywall or plaster walls that could indicate termite activity.
Discarded wings have been discovered near closed windows, doors, and other entry points.
Mud tubes the size of a pencil can be found wherever the ground meets your house or near any other potential food sources, such as trees or sheds.
What you can do to help prevent a termite infestation
While houses do not actively attract termites, when termites find them, they are quick to enter. You'll need to take precautions to avoid an infestation in your home. Termite infestations are typically discovered after they have progressed to a severe level. Replace damaged wood and take the necessary steps to correct the termite-attracting conditions listed above to help prevent an infestation.
The use of pesticides, which should be handled by a licensed pest control professional, is a more permanent solution to termite prevention. Schedule an inspection with a1 pestmasters professional today if you suspect a termite invasion or are looking for ways to prevent one.
Termite Varieties
Damp wood, dry wood, and subterranean termites are the three most common types of home-invading termites.
The majority of damp wood and dry wood termites live inside the woods they consume, whereas subterranean termites live underground and travel to and from the wood they consume back to their underground colony. Subterranean species are also more likely to congregate in large groups.
How to Get Rid of Termites
Homeowners can look for termite-friendly conditions around their homes. Checking for high levels of moisture and reducing humidity in the home, as well as treating and covering any exposed wood in contact with the soil, all help to avoid encounters. Examining building exteriors for broken window screens, leaky plumbing lines, and cracked shingles and fascia boards aids in limiting termite access. However, because DIY kits often do not work on large populations, contacting pest control experts is the best and most efficient way to effectively treat termite infestations and prevent further activity.
Termites are a destructive pest that cannot be eliminated through do-it-yourself methods. Termites, in fact, cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. If you are concerned that you may have attracted a termite infestation on your property, contact a licensed pest professional for a thorough inspection.