I recently brought some logs home from a local arborist and stored them in my unheated basement for about a week. The logs looked fine on the outside, but after splitting them, I was shocked to find them rotting inside and quite a few termites along with other insects. I also noticed tiny piles of wood dust under where the logs were sitting. My house is an old brick structure with hardwood floors, so I'm worried about the potential spread of these termites. How immediately should I be concerned about their presence? Additionally, I moved the logs to my backyard compost pile; is that a bad idea, and would it be better to just throw them away?
3 Answers
You should really dispose of those logs quickly. Check with your local municipality if they have a program for dealing with termites; mine would definitely want to be informed about something like this!
Since you found termites, you definitely want to act fast. They’re more active in warmer months, so if your basement is warming up, that could trigger them to spread. I recommend checking the wooden structures and joists in your home for any signs and getting a professional in for an inspection. It might cost a bit, but it’s worth it for peace of mind. And yeah, just get rid of those logs—burning them would be safer than just leaving them in a pile!
Be cautious, but keep in mind that termites mostly live underground and the ones you see might be just foraging. If you have beetles or carpenter ants, that could be more concerning. If you’re worried, a bug bomb or some bleach spray in the area might help—just be prepared for the smell!
That’s true! But make sure to clean up all the sawdust—getting rid of any leftover wood particles is essential.
Definitely agree—better to be safe than sorry! You don't want them becoming a bigger problem.