5 Termite Infestation Hot Spots in Your Home

In order to put a stop to a termite infestation hot spots before it causes too much damage, the first thing you need to do is find the little critters. But do you know where to look?

For many homeowners, the answer would be no. As important as it is to prevent termite infestations, people often don't know where to start. To help you with termite control, let's take a look at this infographics about five termite infestation hot spots to watch out for:   Termite Infestation Hot Spots in Your Home, Infographic

Hot Spot #1: In your basement

Finding termites in your basement is a rather common occurrence. The reasons for this are questionable, but for the most part, it's likely to be due to certain termites' subterranean existence. Basements are often easy for the termites to reach, and there's plenty of wood down there to keep them happy.  

Hot Spot #2: Under your foundation

Subterranean termites live in the ground. As they try to reach the wood in your home, they will often burrow beneath its foundation in search of the tasty treats. This process can take a while, so it isn't uncommon to discover termites under your house. Even if you only find a few, this could indicate the beginnings of a termite infestation.  

Hot Spot #3: Along the perimeter of your home

The area around your house can be a big hot spot for termites. What many people don't realize is that termites don't travel in the same way as ants and other insects. Instead, they need some type of conveyance system. Very often, termites will build mud tubes as a way to get around. In addition to being able to quickly reach other areas of your home, these tubes allow them convenient access to water.  

Hot Spot #4: Inside your firewood

Many homes across the United States continue to use firewood as a heating source. In some areas, people still chop down their own firewood, but most purchase the wood already pre-cut. Regardless of how you obtain it, the fact remains that termites are going to seek out it out. Termites know when wood is close by and it doesn't take long for them to find it. Termite infestations occur when the insects are drawn toward your house. Since firewood is out in the open, it becomes a great target for sustenance. Termites are known to send scouts to find the best sources of wood, and if they find your firewood, they will "report back" to the rest of their brethren. Of course, your firewood doesn't consist of a large area of wood. This means that they'll continue searching, and if your home is nearby, they can easily transition over. The first thing you'll want to do is make sure that the firewood is not stacked directly against your home. Instead, provide a healthy amount of space between your house and the wood. If the firewood is touching your house or even close to it, termites will instinctively move to the larger, enclosed area. That being said, distance is only one element when it comes to keeping termites from migrating from your firewood to your home. One of the best ways to store wood is to keep it off the ground. All you need to do is suspend a platform between two cement blocks and place the firewood on top of that. Not only will this keep the wood dry, but since termites live in the ground, they won't be able to access it.  

Hot Spot #5: The walls of your home

Like many pests, termites can slip inside the walls of your home without being noticed. Once this happens, it's very likely that you will hear them shuffling around inside as they eat your wood and spread out to other areas of your home. If you hear something that could indicate termites, knock on the wood and see if it's been hollowed out. Read more facts about termites.

---

Related Articles:

Back To Blog