Before we start with some tips on how to reduce termite attacks to your home we need to remember the golden rule
- If you have found termites DO NOT spray them with anything. Try and cover them back up and contact a professional, disturbing termites or spraying them can make the job harder to fix.
33% of homes in Australia are likely to suffer a termite attack at some point and termite damage is not covered by home insurance. The Australian Standard 3660.2 recommends that a termite inspection be carried out at intervals not exceeding 12 months, this is so ideally termites can be detected at an early stage and reducing the cost of repairs required.
Just because you have a new house does not mean you are safe a lot of the termite management plans are designed to make termite entry visible not prevent entry.
So here are some simple things you can do around your home to try and reduce the potential of termites attacking your home
- Implement a termite management plan if you do not have one. This may be installing a chemical treated zone or installing termite monitoring or bait stations around the property and maintaining regular termite inspections. While this is not something the home owner can do it is the best option to help reduce the risk of attack and in some cases you can help maintain a program.
- Reduce termite food. Do not store timbers, cardboard or anything they may eat in the sub floor or against the house. Make sure any old form work in the sub floor has been removed. Do not store fire wood against the house, keep it as far away as possible or on a reduced risk area. Do not put timber mulch up against the house, use rocks or pebbles instead. Landscaping timbers or retaining wall should be made from low risk products. Remove tree stumps, although this does not get rid of all of the root ball it does reduce a significant timber food source. Timber fences can almost be used as a monitor site so keep an eye on them for termite tubes. Large trees can be a food source or even nest
- Visible exposure. If you have a concrete slab home by maintaining a 75mm slab edge exposure it will make it easier to detect termite entry. Make sure all areas in the sub floor are accessible.
- Ventilation, if you have a house with a sub floor area good ventilation is essential to keep the area dry, it will also help reduce mould problems.
- Reduce moisture. Ensure you have good drainage in the sub floor of your house. Reduce moisture from air conditioning units and hot water systems, make sure they are plumbed away and do not drip against the side of the house. Water tank over flows should also be plumbed away. Gardens that require high moisture should not be placed against the house. Ensure your guttering is working effectively. Make sure you do not have any plumbing leaks like taps dripping, shower leaking etc.
Please remember that most of the termites we deal with are subterranean therefore they travel under the ground. Termites can travel up to 100m from the nest to get to food. Therefore if termites are in your area your house is at risk, these are just some tips to help lower your risk of termite attack. Just because you live in the city does not mean your house is safe from termites.
I hope you find these tips on how to reduce termite attacks to your home beneficial to you and remember if you have any questions to give us a call.
Paul Hosey
Bugs Or Us Pest Control