Clogged Gutters Can Lead To Termites!

July 6, 2021

Several years ago we had quite the surprise at an installation: As we removed the old gutter, a severe termite infestation was revealed. The homeowner was notified and a termite expert came to inspect. The damage was considerable – they had infested the beams in his attic. The expert explained that clogged gutters were a major contributing cause. How?

Why Clogged Gutters Can Cause Termites

Termites need moisture to survive – they are drawn to moisture.

Clogged gutters actually provide a lot of moisture around your home in two ways:

1. Clogged or improperly sloped gutters often contain pools of stagnant water.

2. Clogged or undersized gutters often causes rain-water to flow over your gutters and onto the ground against your home. This creates chronically moist soil that termites love.

So in the case mentioned at the beginning of the article, the clogged gutter were filled with stagnant water. This drew the termites. The stagnant water was a convenient water supply while the attic rafters were an excellent food supply for the destructive critters.

If you’re having problems with termites, be sure to inspect your guttering system – making sure its clean, that the gutter slope allows for proper drainage of water and that downspouts are draining away from the home. Also, look for chronically moist portions of soil or leaves against your home. For more information about a health guttering system check out the article: Everything You Need To Know About Your Guttering System – In Layman’s Terms.

Other Common Causes of Termites:

1. Tree Limbs. Tree limbs that come into contact with your home are a direct route for termites to enter. They also can lead to more moisture around your home, since the water cannot evaporate as quickly. Tip: Trim tree limbs away from your home.

2. Bushes. Similar to tree limbs, overgrown bushes and their roots can be an easy entry route for termites. Large roots against a homes foundation can cause soil erosion which leads to stagnant water against the home. Not good for termites or the foundation itself. Tip: Keep bushes trimmed down and planted a couple feet away from the homes foundation.

3. Wood mulch. Beautiful in landscaping, but not the ideal mulch for around your home’s foundation. Moist mulch will certainly attract termites attention to the area. Tip: Use alternate forms of mulch or rock in the landscaping directly surrounding your home.

4. Woodpiles. Having woodpiles stacked up closely around your home can lead to serious problems. Tip: Set wood piles away from the house and off of the ground. It may be a little more inconvenient for wood-burning fireplaces, but it will protect your home.

If you think your home may already be having issues with termites contact a professional.

Better sooner than later when it comes to termites and the damage they can cause. If you are looking to end some of these issues such as downspout problems or clogged gutters, give us a call for a free estimate.