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If you have termites on your property, you could be the culprit. There are four ways you could be attracting termites by accident.

1. Poor Firewood Storage

Woodfire attracts damp wood and dry wood termites, so never stack logs near your home. You should always store your firewood at least five feet away from all wooden structures. For extra protection, stack all of your logs on a high table. You can also put a few logs on a platform that’s 8-12 inches off the ground.

2. Ignoring Aged Tree Stumps

When a tree stomp ages, it becomes soft and moist as it decays. For termites, a rotten tree stump can serve as a food source and a home. Termites will eventually build a colony in an old tree stump, and one colony can support millions of termites.

You must get rid of every termite in a tree stomp before you chop it down. To exterminate the critters quickly, pour hot water and an insecticide or Boric acid in the stomp. If you want to eliminate waste, use a stump grinding machine. It can grind an entire stump down to mulch.

3. Using Mulch in the Wrong Places

Mulch is basically dry wood. If you use it incorrectly on your property, it will attract termites, and they will have a feast. What’s the golden rule for mulch? Never put a layer of mulch against your home’s foundation because it will lure termites to your doorstep like a magnet. Then, they will simply enter your home through any crevices and cracks in the foundation. If you’re a fan of mulch, there are good alternatives. Here are five viable substitutes for wood mulch:

• Rubber mulch

• Grass clippings

• Pine needles and leaves

• Rocks and pebbles

• Compost

4. Ignoring Lingering Roof Problems

Termite infestations can also start on a roof. There are three hurdles that can encourage a rooftop termite infestation. The first complication is standing water. H2O causes wood rot, and rotten wood attracts termites. The second issue is if you’re missing flashing. You must keep the flashing on your roof in place because it covers vulnerable wood planks. The final issue is insufficient ventilation. A roof needs proper airflow to prevent heat gain. If a roof gets too hot, some components will become damp. If a cedar, spruce, or pine plank on a roof stays damp, it will eventually rot.

An indoor or outdoor termite infestation is no joke. It will require immediate action because a big colony can eat a pound of wood every day. If you need good pest control services, turn to Captain Termite. We’re a highly experienced, family-owned pest control business, and we use non-toxic methods to exterminate dry wood, damp wood, and subterranean termites in Hollywood, Florida.