Termites in firewood: stacking, storing and what to do
A woodpile is a meal and a hiding place. Where you put it decides whether it is a harmless stack or a bridge to the house.
Does firewood attract termites?
It can. Firewood is dead timber, and a stack sitting on damp ground is exactly what foraging termites look for. They do not need to be drawn in from far away. A colony already in the soil nearby will find it.
The bigger point is what the pile is next to. A woodpile in the middle of the yard is a small problem. The same pile leaning on a wall or stacked under the house is a direct line from the soil to your timber frame.
Where you put the stack matters most
Think of the woodpile as something you want to keep visible, dry and away from the building. Here is how the common choices compare.
| Where it is stacked | Risk | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| Directly on soil | Damp and in contact with the ground, easy for termites to reach | Raise it on a rack or on bricks and metal so air moves underneath |
| Against an external wall | Hides the base of the wall and gives a covered path to the frame | Keep it well clear of the wall, with a gap you can see into |
| Under the house or in the subfloor | Dark, damp and out of sight, next to the structural timber | Do not store firewood there at all |
| Inside the garage or a shed attached to the house | A long-term supply of timber next to a shared wall | Bring in only what you will burn within a few days |
None of this makes your house safe by itself. It simply removes the easiest route.
What if you find termites in a log?
Do not panic, and do not carry the log. If you see mud on the bark, tunnels or insects when you lift a piece, put it down gently and leave the rest of the pile as it is.
Do not burn it on the spot, and do not tip the stack out. Moving the logs spreads the insects and scatters the evidence. What you want is for the colony to stay where it is until someone qualified has looked.
Take a photo from where you stand and note how close the pile is to the house. Then check the nearest wall and the slab edge for mud tubes.
Why you should not spray the pile
A supermarket spray on a woodpile feels like a fix. It is not. It reaches the surface, not the colony, and it can push the termites to move on and feed somewhere else, which may be your house.
It also takes away what a licensed technician reads: the workings, the activity and the direction of travel. The products that do the real work depend on live termites carrying them back. That is the reason you should never spray termites yourself.
What is worth doing
Buy less wood and burn the old stock first. A small, turning-over stack is much safer than a pile that sits for years. Keep it raised and keep it clear of the building.
If you have found termites in firewood, treat that as a reason to have the house inspected, not only the pile. A proper inspection covers the building, the subfloor and the yard, and that is what turns a sighting into a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can termites in firewood get into my house?
They can if the wood gives them a hidden path. A stack on soil against a wall is the usual example. A pile kept raised and clear of the building is a much lower risk.
Is it safe to bring firewood inside?
Only bring in what you will burn within a few days. Wood stored indoors for weeks can hold insects, and a large indoor stack sits next to the timber you want to protect.
I found termites in a log. Should I burn it?
Leave it where it is. Moving or burning logs spreads the insects and removes evidence. Photograph it, note how close it is to the house and book a licensed inspection.
Does stacking firewood off the ground fully prevent termites?
No. It reduces the easy route, but it does not stop a colony in the soil from finding timber elsewhere. It is one of several conditions to fix, not a guarantee.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Protect against termites — termite management systems and inspections
- Department of Health, Victoria. Pest control — termites