how do termites get into your house

Knowing how do termites get into your house silently is very important as you know, termites are quiet destroyers and can destroy your house even if you don’t realise it. This information will help you to prevent the destruction caused by the termite. Termites commonly enter homes through a few different entry points, which we cover in this article  Let’s dive into the basic information to detect the common ways of termites gaining entry into your house

Termite Types: How Do Termites Get into Your House

A termite can be classified into three groups according to its type. Characteristics and behaviors vary from type to type.

1. Subterranean Termite Entry Points

Termites come in several types, but subterranean termites are the most damaging. As a means of reaching above-ground food sources, they live in large underground colonies and construct intricate tunnel systems.

Gaps and Cracks:

Subterranean termites can penetrate a house through tiny cracks and gaps caused by expansion joints, bath traps, or settling slabs or foundations.

Tubes for exploration:

How do termites get into your house? It is common for termites to access houses through the foundation or underneath the slab of the house by digging underground foraging tunnels, or exploratory tubes. They enter the home through cracks and gaps once they enter the exploratory tubes.

A Mud Tube:

For transportation between their underground nests and their food sources above ground, underground termites use mud tubes. You can find these tubes on exterior walls, foundations, and other surfaces of your home.

The Drop Tube:

A termite worker working in a crawl space may also construct a free-hanging mud tube, also known as a drop tube, which extends upwards from the ground to the wooden floor joists and floor above ground.

Other Sources of entry:

A crack or gap adjacent to the foundation wall can also serve as a means of entry to the structure, as can dirt-filled porches, sidewalks, steps, and chimneys.

The entry points of dampwood termites

How do termites get into your house? Wood with a high moisture content is preferred by dampwood termites, as their name suggests. They are typically found in damp and decaying wood, often in contact with the ground or in leaky areas.

1. Leaky Roofs and Gutters:

Leaky roofs and gutters create moisture-rich environments that attract damp wood termites. Water from leaks can seep into wooden structures, providing the perfect habitat for these pests. Clean these places to prevent the entry of damp wood termites.

2. Poor Drainage Around the Foundation:

When your home’s foundation is poorly drained, moisture accumulates around the foundation, which causes the wooden structures to become moist. In order to prevent water from entering your home’s foundation, you should grade your landscape to direct water away from it. Install French drains or sump pumps to manage excess water.

3. Wooden Structures in Contact with Soil:

How do termites get into your house? Wooden structures that are in direct contact with soil, such as decks, fences, and wooden siding, can absorb moisture from the ground, attracting damp wood termites. Use treated wood for any outdoor wooden structures. Elevate wooden elements off the ground using concrete or metal supports to prevent these pests.

4. Leaking Pipes and Plumbing Fixtures:

Leaking pipes and plumbing fixtures inside or near your home can lead to damp conditions in walls, floors, and wooden structures.

Drywood Termite Entry Points

The drywood termites do not need soil to infest dry wood. They are often found in attic wood, furniture, and framing within walls.  Like subterranean termites, there is no mud tube building by these termites. They enter houses because drywood termite swarmers fly directly to the wood they are infesting.

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