Do Termites Come Back?

Termites are bad news for any homeowner, and they can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage and repairs to your home. Hiring an exterminator to get rid of termites can be quite expensive, but it can provide homeowners with peace of mind. So, do termites come back?

Termites often come back after a house has been treated. This is common in wooded areas with lots of dry wood, soil, and mulch, which attracts them. Preventative measures like trimming tree branches, patching holes in your roof, and sealing cracks in your exterior walls can reduce the risk that termites will come back.

Try not to put mulch near your house because termites often burrow in it. Hire an exterminator to inspect your house every 1-5 years if you’ve had termites before.

Follow along as we explore everything that you need to know about termites coming back, and what you can do to prevent it.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you can get rid of termites forever. This is especially true if you live in a wooded area where termites are common. Termites live in areas with lots of dry wood and rich soil.

While you can get rid of the termites in your home, you can’t eliminate them from your surrounding environment. There is always a chance that termites will come back if there are colonies in your area. A group of swarmer termites can even wind up at your house if the wind blows them toward your direction.

That is why it’s important to get termite treatments every few years if you’ve had them before. This is essential if you live in an area where termites are common even if you don’t find termites.

Preventative termite treatment typically involves spraying termite insecticide around your home’s perimeter. Focus the spray on the soil beds around your home. Termites often burrow and travel underground.

They eventually emerge near your home and in soil beds. Termites then try to enter your home through open windows and weak points in the structure. Make sure to spread the spray evenly and hit wooden structures such as sheds that would attract termites. Reapply the spray each year or as needed.

Do you have many trees near your home? If so, then termites likely have easy access to get into your house and cause severe damage. You can make it harder for termites to get in and around your house if you cut back tree branches.

That doesn’t mean that you need to cut off the branches entirely. Instead, you simply need to trim the branches back enough that termites can’t easily climb or jump into your house. This will also reduce the risk of branches falling on your house and causing damage.

Cracks in your home’s exterior can let a variety of pests into your house. The most destructive of these pests are termites, however. You must seal the cracks in your home or else there is a good chance that termites will continue to return to your house.

Cracks in your home’s exterior can also let water into your home’s foundation. This can cause serious structural damage and thousands of dollars in repairs. All it takes is some masonry filler and a putty knife to seal minor exterior cracks.

However, you need to contact a professional contractor if you find large cracks in your home’s exterior walls.

It’s worthwhile to get your home routinely inspected for termites if you’ve had infestations in the past. Unfortunately, there is always a risk that termites will come back if you’ve had them before. Termite inspection costs an average of $110 and is worth the cost for some peace of mind.

They can quickly treat the problem if they discover termites. It’s best to discover termites before the problem turns into an infestation. Once they’ve treated your house, they typically suggest getting treatments every 5 years to ensure that termites don’t come back.

Do you keep piles of firewood near your house? If so, you should either place it in a covered container or move it away from your house. Dry firewood will attract termites, and they could quickly migrate to your house.

Old wooden structures, such as sheds and gazebos can also attract termites to your house. Consider tearing down old and rotting wooden structures by your house if you don’t use them. This will free up more space on your property and will help keep termites away from your house.

When was the last time you had your roof inspected? Weak points on your roof provide easy access for termites to enter your home and wreak havoc. Get your roof inspected to see if any holes would attract termites.

Roof inspections cost between $80 and $200. It costs an average of $550 to patch holes in your roof, and it’s worth the cost to make your home less vulnerable to termites. With that said, it only costs $100 to patch minor holes.

It’s quite common to termites to come back after you get rid of them. They often come back to areas with lots of soil, mulch, and dry wood. Cut back tree branches near your home, spray boric acid, and fortify your roof so termites don’t come back.

Remove dry wood from around your home as it will attract termites. Make sure to seal the cracks in your exterior walls so termites won’t have an easy access point. Get your home inspected and treated for termites every 5 years or so to ensure they won’t come back.