Termite Conducive Conditions Vol. 9, No. 22
For most homeowners, our house represents our largest single investment, and we want to do what we can to protect this investment from things that might damage it. Home insurance protects against hazards such as fire, wind, and flood, but it does not protect against termite damage. This is something we must do by making sure the building has been properly treated for termites and by avoiding situations that make it more likely to be infested by termites. In the professional pest control industry, these are known as “conducive conditions.” Here are examples of some of the most common termite conducive conditions.
- Failing to have the building professionally treated for termites!
- Adding an addition to a building and failing to have it treated
- Failing to have the building retreated after earlier treatments have broken down
- Digging or disturbing the band of termiticide treated soil around a building
- Disturbing or destroying termite bait stations and not having them replaced
- Failing to maintain minimum 6-inch clearance from soil to lower edge of siding
- Allowing mulch, pine straw, or leaf-litter to pile against exterior walls
- Allowing soil to contact siding or any wooden portion of the building
- Moisture problems due to plumbing leaks, roof leaks or condensation
- Chimneys with leaky flashing or chimneys that are shifting or leaning
- Shrubs growing too near the foundation, making proper inspection difficult
- Trees growing too near the building, where roots can crack slabs
- Stacking firewood or lumber against or too near the exterior wall
- Adding a trellis, steps or other wood structure using untreated wood
- Poor drainage allowing water to pool against the foundation
- Allowing foam insulation or stucco to extend below soil grade
- Allowing wooden debris, stumps, or lumber in crawl space under building
- Improper installation of spray foam insulation in crawlspace or attic
These are not all, but you get the idea. There are a lot of things one can do, neglect, or fail to do that can make a building more susceptible to termites. These are called conducive conditions, and some conducive conditions can even allow termites to infest buildings that have been properly and recently treated. Treating for termites is not a do-it-yourself job, but recognizing conducive conditions and getting them corrected is.
To protect your house from termites, make sure you know when it was last treated for termites by a professional pest control company and that the treatment is still effective. Some soil-applied termiticide treatments can last ten years or longer if the treated soil is not disturbed, but these termiticides will break down over time requiring that the building be periodically retreated. Termite bait stations can also provide long-lasting protection, as long as they are checked and serviced regularly. Making sure your house is properly treated for termites is critical, but conducive conditions can result in termite attacks, even in buildings that have been properly treated. Being aware of termite conducive conditions and taking appropriate steps to avoid or correct such conditions is an ongoing responsibility of home ownership. Termite damage repair can be costly!
See Extension Publication 2568, Protect Your House from Termites and the Mississippi State University Termite Web Site for more information.
Thanks to Dr. Santos Portugal, our new extension specialist for household and structural insect pests, for his input on this article.
Blake Layton, Extension Entomology Specialist, Mississippi State University Extension Service.
The information given here is for educational purposes only. Always read and follow current label directions. Specific commercial products are mentioned as examples only and reference to specific products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended to other products that may also be suitable and appropriately labeled.
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