We may be in the dregs of winter, but there’s still nothing better than cozying up with friends and family in front of a roaring fire. Unfortunately, this warm and fuzzy feeling may be quickly soured by an infestation of termites in the home.
Now you don’t need to seal up the fireplace for good to protect the structure of your home. At Arrow Exterminating, we value fireside comfort just as much as you do. That is why we’re here to, not only offer our extermination services, but provide a guide you can use to burn safely and burn better.
How to Tell if There Are Termites in Your Firewood
How do you know if there are termites in your firewood? Termites nest in the soil near a food source, and worker termites will tunnel into the nearby wood to feed and maintain the colony. That means that, while you might not find a queen in your firewood, you could spot mud tunnels near or on the surface of the logs.
If termites have been eating the cellulose of your firewood, they’ll leave behind clusters of holes. This is best observed in conjunction with other warning signs. Just the holes on their own could be the product of several different pests. However, if you find holes in your firewood, along with mud tubes and maybe even some swarmers flying around – that all points to termites.
Tips for Termite-Free Fuel
The best form of termite extermination is through prevention, and the best way to start is with your firewood. These steps can help keep termites out of your firewood:
- At a Distance: By keeping your firewood at least 20 feet away from the exterior of your home, you’re making it harder for a variety of pests to get inside.
- To New Heights: If you arrange your firewood on a raised platform, you’re making it harder for termites and other pests to get inside.
- Cover it Up: When you cover your firewood throughout the year, it comes with a few different benefits. It’ll keep your firewood dry in most any weather, which makes it easier to burn. And a covered firewood pile is less likely to attract pests like termites, especially if it’s also off the ground.
- Take What You Need: It may seem easier to grab handfuls of firewood at a time, but if you leave the extra logs inside, the warmth of your home may wake up any overwintering insects. If there are termites burrowed in the log, you want to burn them as soon as you bring them inside.
Termite Extermination in Long Island
If you do all this and still find evidence of termites in the home, that’s okay. Termites are aggressive pests that can invade quickly and reproduce even faster. What matters is that you seek treatment as soon as you suspect an infestation, and that’s easy for residents in Long Island with Arrow Exterminating. At Arrow Exterminating, we have 75 years of experience in all things termite. With our help, we can eradicate an infestation of any size with minimal disruption to you and your family. So if you want to start spring with a comfortable and pest-free home, contact us today to get started!
