Whether you use wood to heat your entire home or just enjoy a roaring fire on those long cold nights, maintaining a steady supply of firewood can lower your heating costs and enhance the warmth and comfort of your home. If you have a fireplace in your home, you probably have a generous pile of firewood nearby.
How you store that firewood can make a big difference, not only for the comfort of your home but in the number of pests that find their way inside. If not stored properly, that big pile of firewood could become a home for all manner of unwanted creatures, from poisonous spiders to rats and mice. Perhaps worst of all, a nearby colony of termites could start calling your firewood pile their home, and in time those wood-eating pests will find their way into your home.
Tips for Keeping Pests Out of Your Firewood
You have to store your firewood outdoors, but how you store it can make a big difference. That big pile of wood can be a tempting target for rats, mice and insects, but there are things you can do to deter them and convince them to make their homes elsewhere.
Check Your Platform Carefully
Keeping your firewood elevated can deter pests from setting up shop, but the type of platform you use matters. Simply stacking your firewood on top of an old pallet or a pile of used 2x4s could actually introduce wood-eating bugs like termites, so always use brand new pressure-treated wood for your platform.
Before you add any firewood, check the platform carefully for visible pests. If you spot any critters, get rid of them before laying in your firewood for the season.
Keep the Firewood Away from the House
Storing your firewood to close to your home is just asking for trouble, so always keep your stack at least 20 feet from your home. Never store your firewood up against the walls of your home, and always ensure proper space to check all sides of the firewood pile before taking any wood inside.
Before you bring your firewood inside, always check the logs for bugs, spiders and other hangers on. It only takes a minute to spot and evict those passengers, and doing so can save you a lot of time and trouble.
Get Your Wood from Non-Local Sources
Where you get your wood matters, so pay attention to the source before you buy. It may be convenient to get your firewood locally, but local wood could harbor pests that could be harmful to your property.
Buying your firewood from non-local sources can mitigate the risk of local pests, so source your winter fuel accordingly. You still need to check the wood, and the platform carefully, but buying from non-local sources will give you one less thing to worry about.
Burning firewood can be a great way to save money, but it is important to store your wood properly. The tips listed above can help you keep your wood pile safe and free of pests.
