How Do Termites Get Into Your House? Your Guide To Termite-Free Living

Nobody likes dealing with termites in their home. A termite colony can cause several damages and problems and it can be difficult to eliminate them once they’ve infested the area. It’s important to understand how termites can get into your house so you can create customized solutions that help control their population. 

So what are the different ways termites get into your house? Termites can enter your house through different entry points, such as cracks, gaps, mud tubes, and ground tubes. Once they enter, factors like food, shelter, and moisture attract them to stay and breed in your home. 

Entry Points of Termites

Termites are small insects, so they can easily enter your house through tiny spaces or areas that lead them inside. Homeowners may overlook these factors, causing termite colonies to enter and an infestation to occur. Some of the entry points of termites include the following: 

1) Cracks and Gaps

One of the first things that termites seek when they try to enter a home is a crack or gap in the foundation wall. This way of entry is more common for drywood termites. They locate these crevices in the house’s construction, build nests, and then seal themselves inside. Remember that termites are tiny insects and they can fit into cracks that are as small as 1/32 of an inch. 

Common entry points that fall under this category include vents that aren’t sealed properly and cracks around doorways or windowsills. Damages in the house’s construction or foundation can also lead to a termite infestation. 

2) Mud Tubes

To gain access inside your home, termites follow underground foraging tunnels called exploratory tubes. Once termites find their way inside, these tubes will serve as their access to the outdoors. 

Mud tubes are small pieces of soil and wood that are usually built by subterranean termites to help them survive and move around. Additionally, these tunnel-like structures also protect the termites from other external factors such as predators and dry environments. 

3) Drop Tubes

Termites also build drop tubes, which are free-hanging mud tubes that extend from the ground upwards to other wood structures. Aside from being an entry point, drop tubes also serve as access to more food sources. You can identify these ground tubes since they look like stalagmites that hang from the ceiling of caves. 

4) Other Points of Entry

Aside from mud tubes and drop tubes, termites can also enter your home when you bring in termite-infested furniture or objects. Additionally, wood-to-ground contact is another way that these pests can find their way indoors. 

What Attracts Termites Into Your Home

One of the main reasons why termites stay and breed inside your home is because it provides them with the things they need to survive. Without these following factors, termites will just leave and find other places to live in.  

1) Shelter

Termites are insects that live in the ground or inside the wood they’re feeding on, making them a difficult pest to eliminate once they have infested your home. And unlike other insects such as mosquitoes, termites don’t die or hibernate during the winter. Instead, a termite colony stays active throughout the colder seasons, so they can still find their way indoors. 

2) Food

Cellulose is a termite’s main source of food since they receive their nutrients from this organic fiber. This is often found in materials like wood, paper, or cardboard. To help their colonies survive and live, termites devour any food source that provides them with cellulose. 

3) Moisture

Termites, specifically dampwood termites and subterranean termites, prefer places that are dark and moist. Attics and basements are two areas of the house that termites usually infest since it provides them with these living conditions. 

The soil in the home’s foundation also provides termites a great place to stay and breed in because of its moisture. Additionally, water leaks, damaged plumbing, and clogged gutters also create moisture that can attract termites. 

How to Prevent Termites From Entering Your Home

Here are some tips on how to keep termites away from your home and prevent them from causing further damage:

• Seal gaps and cracks: You need to regularly inspect your home for small cracks or gaps in the walls. Repair damages in your property’s construction, roof, basement, or attic.
• Eliminate moisture: Since termites find shelter in places with moisture, it’s essential to reduce the amount of moisture inside your house. You can place plastic sheeting in crawl spaces or use a dehumidifier.
• Check your furniture: Another way to ensure that termites don’t enter your home is to always check wooden furniture or objects that you bring indoors. If you often use firewood or mulch, place the firewood at least 20 feet away from indoors or keep mulch at least 15 inches away from the foundation. 

Termite Control at Pinnacle Pest Control

Though there are many ways to control the population of termites in your home, and one of the most effective methods to eliminate pests is to ask the help of professionals. Here at Pinnacle Pest Control, we provide professional pest control services to remove termites and other pests. 

Our team uses the latest tools and technology in pest control to ensure all the pests in your home are gone and will never return. We guarantee excellent service every time so you don’t have to worry about termites and the damage they’ll cause. Call us or visit our website to learn more about Pinnacle Pest Control and the services we offer.

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