Will humidity in my house attract termites?
Annette e-mailed in this question:
"If my cellar has high humidity, will that draw termites into the
cellar?"
This is certainly a possibility. Termites prefer areas of high humidity -
in fact, their colonies are sealed up to preserve humidity inside them, which
helps the workers avoid water loss from their bodies. They often enter houses
through cellars or basements because those areas tend to have more moisture.
The main thing to worry about is if the humidity is causing dampness around
any of the wood down there. It's not just the humidity that could get you -
high moisture levels can cause wood decay and make it easier for termites to
get in because of it.
As for what you should do about it, it depends on how extreme it is and
whether you're seeing termites swarm in your area. Keep in mind they have to
land and establish themselves in the soil outside your house first - it's just
that if they do start a colony in the ground nearby, they may be attracted to
your cellar as an ideal food source.
I would suggest looking into a dehumidifier - you can get them on Amazon for
as cheap as $50 or so, and that will help you avoid other problems as well
like mold or moisture damage. If the humidity is excessive, it's worth doing
something about it even if the termite risk alone isn't huge. Here are a few
you can take a look at:
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