How Can Water Damage Lead to Termite Infestations?

Water damage can affect your home in many negative ways. While water damage opens the opportunity for mold and mildew to cause damage to your home’s structure, it can also present the real risk and danger of a termite infestation. So, if you are wondering if water damage can lead to termite infestation, then the short answer is a clear and definite yes.

The long answer – and ways to identify and prevent infestations – requires more explanation. If you do not address water damage after a leak or flood, you run the risk of a termite infestation in your home. Termite infestations from water damage cause significant damage to the structural integrity of your home, so it is best to learn how to identify termites and how to prevent infestations.

If you have any other questions regarding water damage restoration in addition to “can water damage lead to termite infestation,” or if water damage has recently affected your home, call the experts at CLEAR Restoration. We can inspect your home for water damage, termites, or mold and restore your home. Contact us today for professional and exceptional water damage restoration services.

[Related: Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Call Your Water Damage Restoration Company]

How Water Damage Leads to Termite Infestation: Water Attracts Termites

As mentioned earlier, water damage can lead to termite infestations. But knowing how this happens will be essential to prevent future infestations from harming your home. Termites are small insects that feed off moisture and wood and thrive in damp and cool environments. Remember, wood in your home can retain moisture after a flood or a leak.

Since termites love moisture-damaged wood, it is best to investigate for an infestation if you believe water damage has affected your home. Termites can only survive a few days without water, and just two weeks without food, which includes:

• Wood
• Plants
• Carpet
• Insulation
• Cardboard
• Sheetrock paper
• Fabric

If your home was affected by water damage, it is prime real estate for termites. Once termites swarm, a new colony is established, and they will begin burrowing deep in your property. Take steps to dry out your home quickly by calling a water damage restoration company. As water damage can lead to a termite infestation, you want to eliminate their water source quickly so they won’t survive.

Identifying Termite Damage After Water Damage Has Led to an Infestation

Knowing the difference between water and termite damage is an essential piece of knowledge that can help you determine if water damage led to a termite infestation or if the termites targeted your home for another reason. While stains, discoloration, mold, and mildew growth are common signs of water damage, identifying termite damage will involve looking for other signals.

The first thing you want to look for are tunnels in the wood itself. Termites will burrow into wood and often create grooves or hollow the wood out. If you can’t tell if termites have made their way inside the wood, a good trick is to tap on the wood with a hammer or screwdriver handle. If it sounds hollow and you recently experienced water issues, then water damage has led to a termite infestation.

[Related: Do Not Avoid These Signs of Water Damage]

How to Prevent Termites Before Water Damage Leads to Termite Infestations

Now that you know why water damage leads to termite infestations, it is time to take preventative measures against termites and protect the integrity of your home. Make sure leaks are repaired immediately and seek a trusted water damage restoration company after significant flooding.

Other ways to prevent termite infestations include:

• Providing adequate ventilation in crawl spaces or attics to reduce moisture and humidity.
• Eliminating wood-to-soil contact with regrading or pulling soil back from the foundation.
• Preventing moisture accumulation near the foundation.
• Storing firewood or wood debris away from foundations or inside crawl spaces.
• Investing in termite pest control services for your property.

Water damage doesn’t just lead to termite infestations – it can also lead to mold and mildew. Prevent infestations and mold growth when you take these precautions.

Contact CLEAR Restoration for Water Damage Restoration

Another way to prevent water damage from leading to a termite infestation is to call CLEAR Restoration for water damage restoration services. Our experts have the experience to handle any water damage issues inside your home and prevent termites from ruining your home’s integrity by eliminating their water source. Restore and protect your home when you call us at 225-245-3575.