1 in 3 homes have termites and they cause more structural damage per year than ALL natural disasters put together. The estimated cost of damage per year to Australian homes due to termites is $780 million.

Protect your biggest investment by following these 8 steps to controlling termites.

Step 1

Keep the perimeter of your home free from vegetation. Trees, shrubs, garden beds, any tree stumps or plants up against the external walls of your home create an easy concealed entry point for termites. Make sure you have a clear pathway between your home and any garden beds.

Clear vegetation away from the external walls of your home.

Step 2

Do not pile mulch high against the side of your home as it increases the risk of termites entering undetected. Subterranean (termites that live under ground) termites thrive in warm, moist environments and mulch provides the perfect food source. Cypress Pine is the best choice for mulch as it is a natural repellant for some species of termites, however they will eat through it to get to a timber they love so like your garden beds it is better to keep it at a reasonable distance.

Do not pile mulch too high against the external walls of your home. It creates the perfect

environment for foraging termites.

Step 3

Fix all external water leaks. Air conditioning units, hot water systems, taps, water tanks, broken downpipes; any pipes that release water alongside or near to the external walls of your home is an attractant for termites. Make sure any water tank overflow and pipes are connected to a drain or piped several meters away from the dwelling and repair any broken downpipes.

               
Make sure water tanks overflow & drainage pipes are connected to a drain or piped away from the dwelling & broken down-pipes are repaired.

Step 4

As with trees and shrubs, remove any obstructions eg sheds, timber debris, bricks, water tanks, stored goods, pool pumps etc that are against the external walls of your home as they inhibit a full view of your home and potential termite damage or entry paths may be missed.

Water tanks, hot water systems, air-conditioning units & stored goods can inhibit a full view of the external walls your home.

Step 5

Fix any drainage issues or low lying areas around your home. If after heavy rain you find there is a lot of mud or water pooling close to your home then discuss with a builder or plumber your options on how to have this have this fixed. Termites thrive in hot, moist conditions.

Poor drainage and low lying areas around your home increases the likelihood of termite attack.

Step 6

Termites are known for tracking into homes through an internal leak. If you know you have a leaking shower or toilet for example, have it fixed. Our Termite Inspectors have a moisture meter and will be able to detect any high moisture in these areas so it is worth having an inspection done every year to find out if there are any indicators of an internal leak.

Leaking Pipes create an area conducive to termites

Step 7

Annual Termite Inspections are a must. Book a thorough internal and external termite inspection with one of our licenced Termite Inspector to check for any signs of termites. If they have any concerns, get them to point them out on-site, they will also follow up with a fully insured pest inspection report. An annual termite inspection costs around $200.

Book in your annual Termite Inspection with one of our qualified technicians.

Step 8

Invest in a termite barrier. There are 2 types of termite barriers; a chemical barrier and the baiting and monitoring system. Neither one is a ‘one size fits all’ so it is worth discussing with one of our Termite Inspectors the type of barrier that will provide you with the best protection against termites and have it installed. Termite barriers are installed around the perimeter of your home to protect against the threat of termite attack. Our friendly technicians will be able to advise you on the system that best suits your home and will give you the protection you need.

Install a Chemical Barrier or the Baiting & Monitoring System to protect your home against the threat of termite attack.

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Chemical Soil Treatment

So the chemical soil treatment is effective it must be installed a maximum of 150 mm from the external wall of your home and go all the way around the perimeter of the dwelling.

If you have alot of concrete, then drill holes must be made 200mm apart for the chemical to be injected.

Where there are garden beds, grass or pavers, a trench will need to be made for the chemical to be added. So a complete termite barrier can be created; air conditioning units, water tanks, timber decks, hot water systems (basically any obstructions) will need to be removed and replaced so the barrier is within 150mm of the complete external wall of your home.

There are a lot of chemicals used with this system however there is only one that you should ask for, Termidor. Termidor has something other chemicals don’t have and that is the ‘transfer effect’. This means the termites don’t die instantly, rather they take the chemical Termidor back down to the nest which then achieves full colony elimination.

Baiting and Monitoring System

The baiting and monitoring system does not need to be as close to the external wall of your home, however unlike the chemical soil treatment it is made up of individual ‘stations’. In order for this system to be effective these ‘stations’ must be positioned a maximum of 3 meters apart, this is the optimal distance to eliminate the chance of termites entering your home.

The baiting and monitoring system can go around anything and everything, decks, pools, air-conditioning units, concrete etc so there is not need for trenches or removing or replacing any obstructions.

Each bait station is installed into concrete or the ground along with an attractant and timber. The combination of the attractant, the timber and the warmth and dampness of the soil acts as an attractant for termites that are heading toward your home. The stations are checked regularly by a qualified technician who then adds to the station a growth inhibiting bait which, similar to the Termidor has a transfer effect so full colony elimination can be .

Neither system is a one size fits all and there are multiple different reasons why a termite barrier can fail. For example;

• Being recommended the wrong system for the design or your home
• Poor installation
• Natural movement of the soil around your home
• The system installed is not managed correctly
• Inferior chemicals or bait is used
• And, conducive areas listed in your pest inspection report you which you can find under point 6 Conditions Conducive to Timber Pest Infestation and 7 Conditions Conducive to Undetected Termite Entry

When your choosing a system that is going to work for you, ask your pest inspector which one will work best for your home as well as the details on how the system will be installed and will installation be in accordance with the Australian Standard.

The post Difference in Termite Barriers appeared first on Complete Termite Solutions.