Key takeaways
- Termites come for wood, moisture, and soil contact.
- Wood touching the soil is the biggest cause.
- A clean, well-kept house can still get termites.
- Problems often show up 10 or more years after a house is built.
What draws termites to a house?What are the most common causes?Does a clean house keep termites away?Why don't you see termites coming?Building a new home or addition?When should you call us?
What draws termites to a house?
Termites live in the soil and need moisture. They travel from the soil into wood through mud tubes.
A colony can hold 100,000 to 1,000,000 termites, and they can travel up to 150 feet from the nest to find food. So a colony that starts in a neighbor's yard can still reach your house.
What are the most common causes?
Penn State Extension points to a handful of conditions that make a house easier for termites to reach.
- Wood touching soil, like posts, steps, siding, or trim within 18 inches of the ground.
- Wood buried in the soil or set into concrete floors.
- Moisture from clogged gutters, poor drainage, or leaks.
- Firewood and scrap wood stacked next to the house.
- Cracks in the foundation, and expansion joints in concrete slabs.
- Warm, damp spots inside near furnaces, chimneys, and water heaters.
Does a clean house keep termites away?
No. Termites aren't about dirt. They're after wood and moisture, and a spotless house still has both.
Why don't you see termites coming?
Termite damage usually builds over years, out of sight. Problems often show up 10 or more years after a house is built.
A large termite colony can eat dozens of pounds of wood a year. One University of Florida lab study works out to about 80 pounds a year for a colony of a million termites. That study used Formosan termites, a southern species. Delaware's eastern subterranean termites are similar but not identical.
Building a new home or addition?
The easiest time to protect a building is while it's going up. We treat the foundation of homes and buildings under construction. See our termite pretreatment page.
When should you call us?
Call us if you see swarmers, shed wings, mud tubes, or hollow wood, or if you've got several of the conditions above and want us to take a look. A termite inspection is $150, and we waive it if we do your treatment. Call us at (302) 697-8969 to set one up.
Common questions
Did I cause my termite problem?
Usually not. Termites are already in the soil. Some conditions just make your house easier to reach.
Can termites come from a neighbor's yard?
Yes. A colony can travel up to 150 feet from the nest to find food.
Does mulch cause termites?
Mulch holds moisture against the house, and termites need moisture. Keep it pulled back from the foundation and off the siding.
What time of year do termites show up?
In neighboring Pennsylvania, swarms usually come between February and June. You may see swarmers near doors and windows then.
Sources: Penn State Extension: Eastern Subterranean Termites; UF/IFAS Featured Creatures: Eastern Subterranean Termite (EENY-212); NC State Extension: Termite Prevention, Approaches for New Construction; Professional Pest Manager: Termite Appetite, an Indication of Colony Size?
Seeing something? Call us.
(302) 697-8969Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
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