How to Get Rid of Termites

Termites are known as silent-killers and are infamous for the damage they cause across residential and commercial properties in Australia. An army of termites can damage the insulation and foundation of your home alongside any wooden structures in the property.

These pests can and will cause extensive destruction in the property if left untreated. These pests can usually be found in places with high moisture, damp and dark places, in firewood piles, kitchens, basements and bathrooms. Owing to their ability to cause damage, it becomes crucial for every home-owner to be aware of techniques and methods to get rid of termites from homes.

How to identify termites?

These are some points that can help in identification of termites:

• Termites are about an inch in length and shades of white, black, brown in colour. They also have 2 sets of wings and a wide straight shaped body.
• Worker termites maintain colonies and go hunting for food. While the soldiers guard the colony.
• Subterranean termites are pale cream and dark black or brown in colour.
• Drywood termites are yellowish, dark brown to pale brown in colour.

Signs of termites

Here are some tell-tale signs of a termite infestation in your home:

• Termite droppings – Their droppings can be seen around doors, windows, baseboards and other wooden surfaces.
• Bubbling paint – Another sign which can help identify termite damage or presence is bubbling paint on surfaces in the house. These pests create tunnels on the wood which allows moisture to come in which in turn causes the wood to develop bubbles or peel off.
• Small tubes– Tubes about the size of a pencil anywhere on your property is a sign of a termite infestation.
• Discarded wings – If you come across lots of discarded termite wings then it is the surest sign of a termite infestation.
• Wooden damage – Small holes in wooden structures, windowsills, doorframes, flooring and baseboards is a sign of termite damage.
• Live termites – Sighting active termites besides, the above mentioned signs definitely means it is time to get in a termite control service for the property.

How to get rid of termites?

Termite baits – Baits are beneficial for getting rid of subterranean termites. Placing them strategically in and around spots in the yard to draw the termites there can help in their elimination. After that the termites can be then sprayed with an insecticide which they will take back to their colonies leading to the other termites getting killed. A solution containing nematodes can also be used which also works on a similar mechanism in getting rid of termites.

Termite insecticides – The soil around the property is treated with termite insecticides. Likewise, essential oils like neem and orange oils can also be infused into the termite-infested areas. These oils impact the central nervous system of the termites causing them to die.

Borate solutions – Borate solutions can be applied directly into the wood. The chemical enters into the body of the termite and affects the digestive tract thus starving it to death.

Termite Prevention Techniques

Listed below are some tips and tricks to prevent termites again in future once the treatments have been done to get rid of them:

• Keep moisture out of your home – Remove any moisture source from portions of your house including roofs, drains, and air conditioning.
• Store wood at a distance – Keep piles of wood and timber at a distance from the house. Also ensure that there are no tree branches leaning or growing outside at a minimum distance of six inches from the house.
• Change the mulching material – Instead of traditional wood mulching material use rubber material or sand since moist mulch can provide a comfortable environment for termites to survive.
• Clean your pipes and drains – Pipes and drains can collect pieces of wood that make a perfect and comfortable place for termites to grow and survive.
• Standing water – Remove any sources of standing water from the home or around the external portions of the property. Repair moisture issues such as broken water pipes and leaky faucets to repel termites.

Termites eat up the wood present in the walls and flooring of a house. They move along logs of wood chewing it up which can lead to damage of your furniture as well as carpets. They are so damaging that they have the potential to bring down an entire structure. If your home has a termite infestation, you may assume that the issues will go away if you do not take any action.

Opting for professional assistance will save you a lot of trouble and losses. Using homemade remedies or inappropriate products have the potential to worsen the situation. They are also unlikely to leave your home easily unless they actually destroy all the possible wood in your house. Without appropriate treatment and services, termites have the potential to return to your property.