Massey Blog

Because termites need water to survive, excess water near the house can encourage termite activity. Here are a few common moisture issues: 

• Inadequate property grade. Ideally, your home should sit on a small “hill” as opposed to in a “bowl.” If the finished property grade drains towards the foundation, water from rainstorms or sprinklers can accumulate next to your house and can create moisture conditions which can lead to termite infestation, as well as wood-decay.  What to do: You may need to modify the physical grade of your property in order to drain excess water away from the structure.
  
• Lawn sprinklers spraying walls. If water from sprinklers regularly contacts the walls of your house, you are providing enough moisture for termites to survive within the walls.  Spraying the walls can also lead to wood-decay.  What to do: Adjust your irrigation heads to keep them from hitting the house. Check your irrigation system frequently for proper coverage.
• Lack of rain gutters.  Rain gutters serve to divert water runoff from the roof away from your house. Without them, excess water can accumulate around your foundation, which may create a build up of moisture, a condition that attracts termites.  What to do: Make sure gutters drain water away from your home. Make sure that water is drained no less than 3 feet from your foundation. If you have overhangs or eaves, make sure they are long enough to keep water runoff away from the exterior walls.
  

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.