Finding bugs in your firewood isn’t an uncommon occurrence – there are a large variety of insects that specifically live inside of wood. Insects found in wood may either be eating it, nesting in it, or overwintering underneath it. If you’re storing firewood inside even for a short period of time, you might be bringing some hitchhikers into your home. This article will share the worst and best firewood storage practices to avoid insect infestations in your home.

Best Firewood Storage Methods

Ideally, you should store your firewood in a covered area outdoors (not leaning against the home). Try to avoid storing it near any trees to avoid infestation in them. It should also be raised off the ground with some air space under the cover and under the pile so the wood dries quicker.

Dangerous Firewood Storage Areas

Although most bugs that you will bring inside with firewood won’t harm your home, there is a higher risk of infestation or home damage with the firewood storage methods mentioned below.

Stacked Against the House

Although stacking firewood outside against the house might seem harmless and more convenient, it can be quite the opposite. This presents the perfect opportunity for termites and carpenter ants to eat at your home’s foundation.

Long-Term Indoor Firewood Storage

Storing your firewood supply indoors for a long period of time can be risky because select few wood-boring insects can emerge and begin eating at your home. Although this is the worst case scenario, you could also simply bring in annoying bugs that keep showing up or decide to raise their babies in your home. We’d recommend bringing in small amounts of firewood at a time, then leaving most of your supply outside.

Inside the Garage or Attic

Many people think the garage or attic is a good place to store firewood, but it can actually be one of the most dangerous. These areas tend to be damper and the structural wood could have enough moisture to sustain these bugs.

Most Common Bugs in Firewood

Most are surprised to hear that there are over 100 species of bugs that either live in or eat wood. For one, many of these bugs can crawl into firewood in from the ground (such as millipedes, centipedes, pillbugs, bark lice, sowbugs, and others). Additionally, there are many species of bugs that make their homes inside of wood or even eat it.

Various Beetles

Beetles are some of the most common bugs that eat firewood. There are a few different types that can be found in wood. A few examples are roundheaded wood borers, flatheaded wood borers, slothole borers, and bark beetles. Most of these beetles are fairly harmless as they won’t eat your furniture or home.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are attracted to wood that remains moist for an extended period of time. Rather than eating wood, these ants hollow out wood for nesting purposes.

Termites

Unlike carpenter ants, termites actually feed on wood. You don’t want to stack wood against your home as they will likely begin feasting on your home. Luckily, they won’t eat your furniture if they make their way inside and can’t establish a new nest inside. Plus, they might eat up all your firewood.

Preventing and Treating Firewood for Insects

If you’re wondering how to get rid of an invasive insect in your firewood or prevent this from happening, there are a few methods to keep most bugs out.

Prevention Methods

There are a few methods to prevent these insects from moving into your firewood supplies. For one, try to dry your firewood quickly. Most insects will not be interested in dry wood – make sure to store it raised off the ground in a covered area where it won’t get damp.

Additionally, harvesting your firewood during the winter months when bugs are least active lessens the risk of infested firewood. Also, cut the wood into smaller logs before storing as the wood will cure quicker.

Avoid Insecticides

You might think to spray firewood with insecticide, but this method is ineffective and dangerous. Most of these insects live deep inside of firewood, so the chemicals won’t reach even them. Plus, the toxic chemicals can be released inside your home when the firewood is burned. This is definitely not child-friendly.

Overall, there are precautions to take when planning your firewood storage methods. If you’ve discovered an infestation or wood-boring insects eating at your home, you’ll likely want to call a professional like Aptive Environmental to get rid of the bugs. We guarantee the insects we treat your home for will stay away – if they come back, we will too (for free).