4 Things You Did That Lead to a Termite Problem

If you’ve spent any time reading our blog, you know that there are plenty of things you can do to attract pests such as cockroaches, ants and mice. These little creatures feed on your food remnants, and failing to store food properly or keep a clean home can cause them to invade the premises. But termites don’t share your food source; instead, they want to literally eat you out of house and home, to borrow an old phrase. They will feast on any wood they can get access to. Considering most of your home is made of wood, isn’t it just bad luck that leads to termites?

Surprisingly, there’s a little more to it than that. There are actually many things you could have done that contributed to termite issues. Here are four of the most common:

You didn’t dispose of that old tree stump

If you’ve ever cut down a tree in your yard, you know what a pain it is to get rid of the stump. Unless you have it professionally done, it’s quite a task to undertake. However, a leftover stump is very attractive to termites. And with all those termites hanging out in your yard, it’s only a matter of time before they start to wander over to your home.

You don’t have a barrier around the perimeter

Termites travel around via soil and grass, so if you any part of your foundation or exterior walls are touching dirt, that’s a perfect pathway for termites to use. Make sure you have a barrier of at least a few feet between your home and any vegetation or soil (this has the added benefit of discouraging other pests as well).

You store wood too close to your home

Would you keep an open trash can near your home? Of course not. That’s an open invitation for critters to come feast. Piles of firewood or other discarded lumber are similar sources of nourishment for termites. Keep firewood inside the garage and off the ground if you can, and dispose of old tree branches and other wood.

You ignored the signs of termites

A termite infestation can be devastating, but it doesn’t grow overnight. You’ll see signs of the presence of termites, but you have to know what to look for (because you probably won’t spot the termites themselves). Termites swarm when they start a new nest, and once they’ve finished they’ll discard their wings in noticeable piles. You should also look for mud tubes on the exterior walls of your home – these little pathways are made of saliva, mud and fecal matter and offer protection to traveling termites.