The conditions that bring termites in a house are often easy to overlook. These insects are always searching for food, shelter, and moisture. If your property provides any of these, it may be at higher risk of an infestation. Because they remain hidden for most of their lives, termites may cause extensive damage to homes before you realize they have infested.
Wood is the main thing termites need to survive, but it isn’t the only factor. Certain conditions around your property can make your home even more attractive to these pests:
Not all termites thrive in the same environment. Each species has its own needs and habits, which determine where they are most likely to be found in and around your home:
Subterranean termites live in soil and need constant moisture. They often infest wood that is touching the ground, such as decks, porches, or sill plates, and travel back and forth through mud tubes.
Drywood termites live inside dry, untreated wood and don’t require contact with soil. They can be found in attic beams, furniture, or wooden flooring.
Dampwood termites prefer moist, decaying wood. They are often found in leaky roof areas, basements, or water-damaged flooring.
If you’re wondering where termites come from, these pests often enter homes through direct contact with soil or through mud tubes they construct for protection. These tunnels keep them from drying out and allow colonies to spread without being seen. Termites may also be introduced accidentally when homeowners bring in firewood, untreated lumber, or infested furniture. Some drywood termite species can also infest your home by flying in.
There are a few things you can do to make their property less inviting to termites. Keeping wood and mulch away from the foundation, fixing leaks, improving drainage, and ensuring good ventilation in crawlspaces and attics all help reduce risk. Sealing cracks around windows, doors, and siding, as well as storing firewood at least twenty feet from your home, can also make a difference.
These steps are useful for prevention, but once termites are active inside your home, professional pest control is the only reliable way to get rid of them. Because termites live underground or inside wood, infestations are often difficult to detect and nearly impossible to eliminate without expert treatment.
Learn more about how to save your home from termite damage.
At Ehrlich, our trained technicians know exactly what attracts termites to your home, and where to look for early warning signs. If we find activity, we’ll recommend a treatment plan tailored to your home and explain your options clearly before work begins.
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