What Attracts Termites to My House in Georgia?

Several things are known or suspected to attract termites to certain properties, including moisture problems, rotting wood, ventilation issues, and wood in contact with soil.

All termites are attracted to wood, but each one has specific preferences that influence the types of materials or structures they infest. Knowing the things that may make your property appealing to termites can help you prevent infestations:

Improper drainage or leaky pipes causing excess moisture near or in your property
Firewood, rotten wood, or decaying lumber stored in or near your home
Wood or wood foundations that are in direct contact with soil
Airflow or ventilation issues causing excess humidity inside of a home
Mulch or unattended-to landscaping is kept too close to the foundation of the property

How Did I Get Termites?

Animals and insects rarely invade homes without cause. Pests are all alike in that they follow their natural instincts to find the ideal conditions for survival. It is no different in the case of termites. By learning more about what attracts them to homes, you can help guard yours against an infestation!

Dampness: Subterranean termites require moisture to survive and to digest their food, so any unattended-to leaks or sources standing water in or around your home make for the perfect environment.
Cellulose: Termites seek out cellulose, which is a main component of wood and plants. If your home has any wood-based structural component exposed to the ground, termites will be drawn to it.
Warmth: Mud tubes built by termites are used to trap in moisture and heat. Termites are also found more often in warm, damp climates across the nation.

Finding the Source of Termite Infestations

Realizing you have termites in your home is always a worst-case-scenario for any homeowner, but learning how they got there in the first place is crucial to prevent future infestations. The biggest contributing factor to termite infestations is weather; when temperatures are just right, swarming termites will seek out a new habitat to build a new colony. If your home has any of the previously mentioned factors, it’s important to either remove the source of what may attract termites or otherwise stay vigilant about prevention methods and inspections.

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