A crackling fire provides warmth and a cozy atmosphere during cooler months. However, the firewood you bring in can also introduce unwanted guests. Proper firewood storage is essential to keep pests, especially destructive termites, outside of your home. Understanding the right way to stack and store your woodpile is a simple yet crucial step in proactive pest control.
Why Location Matters
A common mistake homeowners make is stacking firewood too close to their house. While convenient, this practice creates a direct bridge for pests. We recommend keeping your woodpile at least 20 feet away from your home’s foundation. This distance makes it much more difficult for termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-boring insects to migrate from the pile into your walls and support structures. Furthermore, you should elevate your woodpile off the ground using a rack or concrete blocks. This simple step promotes air circulation, which helps keep the wood dry and less attractive to pests that thrive in moist environments.
Never Store Firewood in the Garage
Another critical rule of firewood storage etiquette is to never store wood inside your home or garage. It may seem like a good way to keep wood dry, but it’s an open invitation for a pest infestation. A stack of firewood in the garage provides the perfect shelter and food source for termites. Once they establish a colony there, it’s a short journey for them to infest the wooden structures of your home, potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage before you even notice their presence. You are essentially rolling out the welcome mat for some of the most destructive pests.
Tips for Safe and Effective Firewood Storage
To further reduce pest risks, always use older firewood first and inspect logs for signs of insects before bringing them indoors. Never treat firewood with pesticides—bring in only what you need for immediate use, and keep the rest outside.
By following these simple storage rules—stacking wood at least 20 feet from your home and never in the garage—you can enjoy your fireplace without worrying about bringing pests inside. Proper firewood etiquette protects your home and ensures your fires stay cozy, not costly. Contact trusted local exterminators Allison Pest Control for a free pest inspection today!
