How to Get Rid of Termites

As they are Australia’s most common household pest, you will likely encounter termites at some point. It’s crucial that you understand the signs of termite activity to look for in your home or other property, and how to get rid of termites promptly. You also need to act to mitigate further termite activity.

What are Termites?

Otherwise known as white ants, termites are subterranean crawling insects that chew through and consume wood. This is a major problem for homeowners, as most homes are built with wooden frames and other components. Termites are most active in the warmer months, and they love humid conditions.

While there are several types of termites, the ones that are of concern to homeowners are:

• Subterranean termites – most common, these insects build underground nests and send their workers out to find wood to eat.

• Dry-wood termites and damp-wood termites live within the wood they eat – they usually leave their food supply if the source of what makes it wet is fixed (e.g. a leaking pipe).

If not eliminated, subterranean termites will eat through wood and other plant-based materials until they have consumed the lot. This can spell disaster for your home, so it’s important to know the signs, and how to get rid of termites for good.

Do you Have Termites?

Termites are sneaky little insects. They can move in and build a colony in your home without you having an inkling they are there until they have done significant damage to the structure and integrity of your home.

They may enter your home via underfloor basement spaces, through cracks in foundations, cracked mortar, steps, ramps, patios, decks, and porches, downpipes, vents, and even through utility boxes.

Several signs indicate you may have a problem with termites:

• Mud Tubes around your home’s foundations, posts, and edges of walls. These look like thin brown dirt or mud tracks and they run along flat surfaces. These mud tubes are built by the termites to protect themselves from normal ants and sunlight.
• Damaged Wood is a sure sign that you have a problem. It may look eroded, sound hollow when knocked on or tapped, or be visibly damaged.
• Wings scattered around doorways or windowsills are a sign that termites are in the area and about to set up residence (if they haven’t already). They shed their wings when they locate a favourable spot to enter and dig into wooden structures.
• Termite Droppings dry-wood termites leave obvious droppings nearby the wood they have been eating.
• Other signs include swarming (flying) termites at night in summer, peeling or bulging paint, loosening tiles, stuck doors or windows, clicking wounds in the walls, and tiny holes in walls. A wall that feels cold and damp may also indicate termite activity, as they bring mud with them on their travels.

If you want to know how to get rid of termites, the first step is a professional termite inspection, which is essential to identify termite infestation, assess the damage, and initiate termite removal processes.

Book a Professional Inspection

If you have any reason to suspect you might have termites in your home or elsewhere on your property, you must book a termite inspection as soon as possible. It’s also highly recommended that you undertake an annual professional termite inspection to mitigate the risks and identify any termite activity as early as possible.
If termite activity is identified, termite removal measures must be taken.

How to Get Rid of Termites

There are several ways to address termite infestation. Professional pest control company experts can advise which approach is best suited for you. How to get rid of termites can depend on the extent of the infestation, your home and several other factors, so it’s important to pick the treatment options that are best for your circumstances.

Termite Treatments include baiting stations that best suit homes that are elevated off the ground (as opposed to having a ground-based foundation). These baiting and monitoring stations gradually poison the termites; they return to their colony and poison other termites as well.

Termite barriers are the gold-standard termite mitigation strategy. While expensive, this is the best way to protect your home if you are in a termite-prone area.

Chemical barriers are used to place chemical deterrents (termiticides) into the ground around the full perimeter of your home. It not only prevents termites from accessing your home from under the ground but also kills the colony. This solution, when applied by the right professionals, will last up to eight years.

Physical barriers are implemented at the time of building a home. It is a permanent fixture of mesh webbing installed under and around the entire concrete slab foundation and the plumbing penetrations into the ground. It may eventually degrade with time.

When termite barriers are in place and working effectively, the only way termites can access the home is above the ground – and these routes are much easier for homeowners to identify as their mud tubes and activity are more easily visible to the naked eye.

Termite Prevention Tips

If you’re wondering how to get rid of termites, it’s important to also consider how you can prevent them in the first place. Remove wood sources from around the exterior of your home. This includes firewood and lumber that can be an inviting nesting site for termites.

• Fix leaky pipes and mitigate runoff to reduce moisture and dampness.
• Keep slab edges exposed.
• Remove dead trees and stumps.
• Ensure your crawlspaces are vented adequately.
• Use treated hardwood timber for exterior building projects, including decking and cubby houses, etc.
• Undertake an annual scheduled inspection.
• Incorporate termite barriers when building your home.

Contact Proactive Pest Solutions for Termite Removal

Have you found termites on your property?
DO NOT DISTURB THEM!
Call Proactive Pest Control immediately on 1800 979 611.

Most home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by termites – and if you fail to identify an infestation and eliminate the colony as early as possible, the costs to you (not to mention the safety of your home) can be enormous.
Proactive Pest Solutions is your premium Sunshine Coast and North Brisbane pest control company. Why choose us?

• Fully Licensed
• Training and Credentials
• Strong foundation in the pest control business
• Exceptional insight into building and construction
• Safe, effective treatment products
• Punctuality and reliability
• Professionalism and Transparency
• Written inspection reports
• Clear explanation of processes
• Written warranties to cover all treatments
• Industry specialist in chemical termite barriers

Call us now on 1800 979 611 or email hello@proactivepestsolutions.com.au for termite removal on the Sunshine Coast. You may also request a quote via our online contact form.