Followers of this blog are used to discussions about the importance of drying water damage quickly to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. This post discusses an additional reason to get water damage dried – and keep it dry: termites!
Believe it or not, termites are attracted to certain odors produce by indoor mold growth that might make your home seem especially yummy to them. From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense: the mold that eats the wood in your home makes the wood tastier, easier to penetrate and digest, and provides key nutrients to a termite diet. The softening and tunneling of termites increases the area and ability for molds to spread and endure. Therefore, the same moisture sources that cause fungal wood decay can encourage termite infestation.
Just like mold, in order to survive termites have to maintain contact with a moisture source, like leaky plumbing, roofs, air conditioning condensers or poorly maintained gutters that don’t drain away from the home’s foundation. A dry environment in your home’s basement, crawl space or attic not only inhibits the growth of mold, but stops termites because they are extremely vulnerable to dehydration.
So the key to curtail the proliferation of both these threats is moisture control!
However, knowing if you have termites before they show themselves in a swarm is difficult.
First, termite damage can appear similar to water damage with the same outward signs that include buckled wood, swollen floors and drooping ceilings.
Second, termite infestations can produce an odor similar to mildew or mold.
And, third, when they do make their appearance, termites are often mistaken for flying ants.
If your home has experienced damage from a recent water loss that might not have been dried completely, and/or there is evidence of mold damage it’s important to hire a trained pest control professional to assess whether your home has termite damage.
So, in addition to making sure your home or office building is dried completely after water damage, here are 5 additional tips to preventing a termite infestation:
water damage in a basement crawl space needs to be dried to prevent growth of mold and infestation by termites
2. While you’re cleaning out the crawl space, decrease humidity by clearing the vents of dirt and debris. And, if you need additional moisture reduction, give us a call. We can help you further reduce moisture in the crawl space by laying down polyethylene vapor barrier.
PuroClean technicians installing a vapor barrier in a crawl space
3. Keep any wood attached to the outside of your home at least 12 inches off the ground. If possible, remove any wood siding that’s in contact with the ground and decorative wood latticework, wooden doors or window frames that come in contact with the ground.
4. Stop those leaks! – both indoors and outdoors. Termites and mold both need moisture to survive. Clean gutters, blocked downspouts and remove anything that doesn’t allow water to flow away from the house’s foundation. Make sure that outdoor faucets aren’t dripping and creating wet spots adjacent to the house. And indoors, check bathroom and kitchen cabinets often for leaks under the sink.
5. Mulch around the base of your home can be a huge termite attractor for 2 reasons. First because the wood chips provide the cellulose food that termites love, but more often because when it’s piled against the walls of your home it won’t let water drain. So if you feel you absolutely must use mulch to protect your plants, don’t let mulch mound up against your home’s foundation.
If you suspect you have a problem with termites, and if you need help finding a reputable exterminator, give us a call at 877-750-7876! We know several licensed professional exterminators in our Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey area we would be happy to refer to you.
