Termites are very destructive pests, their insatiable hunger for wood causes billions of dollars worth of damage in the US alone each year. These crawling insects can cause major structural damage to a property in just six months, and can completely destroy a home in just two years.
Termites feed on cellulose. Cellulose is the main component in the cell walls of plants. It is the most abundant organic compound on Earth. This dietary requirement means that termites can, and will, devourer the wooden structures of buildings as well as furniture, money, and even clothes.
Termite Swarms
Termite swarm season, which usually happens during the early months of spring, is when your home is most at risk. During this period, winged termites leave their nest to mate and start a new colony, which could be in your home!
How to prevent termites
Accumulating a termite problem can put a huge financial strain on both homes and businesses due to the large repair costs involved.
Luckily, we have some prevention tips to help reduce the risk of termites choosing your home as their next residence/meal.
1. Exterior
The exterior of your home can often act as a portal to your home, putting it at risk of termite damage.
Roof
Broken tiles create moisture which attracts termites, and can provide a gateway inside.
Prevention tips:
- Repair broken roof tiles
- Check for dampness in your roof and dehumidify if you find a problem
Air conditioner unit
Air con units provide moist environments, something which termites love.
Prevention tips:
- Ensure the moisture release of the air con unit is away from the foundations of your home
2. Attic
Your attic can be a prime location for termite activity, which can often go unnoticed for years.
Wooden beams
The wooden beams in an attic are often exposed and provide termites with a free meal.
Prevention tips:
- Check regularly for termite damage by pressing thumb against the timber to check if it feels spongy
- Apply a termite treatment spray or call an exterminator if you are concerned!
Boxes
Cardboard boxes filled with paper and photos are a good source of food for termites.
Prevention tips:
- Use plastic boxes to store items in the attic
3. Living room
A living room is a gold mine in terms of food. Many items of furniture are made from wood.
Wooden flooring
Wooden floor boards are a great source of food for termites. Being close to the ground they can act as a stepping stone for subterranean termites to the rest of your home.
Prevention tips:
- Carry out regular inspections for termite activity
- When building a new home lay down a termite barrier
Skirting boards
Skirting boards are like a giant t-bone steak for termites, they also provide dry wood termites with a stable living environment.
Prevention tips:
- Check for termite damage by pressing thumb against the skirting board.
Wooden furniture
Wooden furniture makes your home all that more inviting for termites. It’s sort of like turning up to an all-you-can-eat buffet and finding out that dessert is included in the price.
Prevention tips:
- Keep furniture away from walls
- Opt for items made of other materials such as metal.
4. Laundry Room
It may come as a surprise but even your clothes are subject to termite damage, although it is quite rare.
Clothing
Items of clothing are made from materials such as cotton which contain cellulose, a termites favourite dish.
Prevention tips:
- Keep laundry off the ground and away from walls
5. Bedroom
Just like the living room, your bedroom is also very attractive to termites.
Wooden furniture
Wooden furniture such as bed frames, wardrobes, and bedside cabinets can be at risk of termite damage.
Prevention tips:
- Keep furniture away from walls
- Choose furniture made from metal and other materials
6. Garage
Garages can act as a goldmine of food for termites depending on what’s stored inside. They can also act as a passageway into your home if the two are connected.
Storage units
Storage units are a good source of food for termites depending on the contents. They can also provide termites with easy access to shelves and other areas of the garage high up.
Prevention tips:
- Keep storage units away from walls
- Use metal stands instead of wood
7. Kitchen
A kitchen can be a haven for termites due to the limitless sources of food and entry points.
Windows and doors
During swarming season windows and doors make it easy for termites to inhabit your home.
Prevention tips:
- Make sure windows and doors are kept shut during swarming season
Leaky pipes
Leaky drain pipes create moisture and damp which termites are attracted to.
Prevention tips:
- Inspect external and internal pipes regularly
- Repair any damages to pipes to stop them from leaking
Cupboards
Built in wooden cupboards provides termites with a food source. They are also close to walls and floors providing termites with an easy opportunity.
Prevention tips:
- Regularly inspect your cupboards for termite activity. If you are worried, call a professional pest controller!
8. Garden
Ever seen the movie Hook? Remember the banquet scene? Well, that’s exactly what a garden is like for termites.
Tree stumps
Tree stumps are a good source of food for termites. Trees are a great way for termites to get one of their five a day, five pieces of wood that is.
Prevention tips:
- Remove old tree stumps from your garden
Mulch
Garden mulch is not only high in moisture, it is also mainly made up of wood chippings. Think of it as a giant bag of pick n mix for termites.
Prevention tips:
- Use mulch made from other materials such as gravel, plastic, and rubber
- Leave a gap between the mulch and the foundations of your home
Fencing and decking
Subterranean termites use underground tunnels to search for food. Fence posts and decking, which have contact with the ground, provide termites with a free meal.
Prevention tips:
- Use termite-resistant or treated fence posts
- Replace wooden fence posts with ones made from metal and rock
- If you live in an area prone to termite activity opt for an alternative garden feature to decking.
Wood stacked against the house
Fire wood stacked against the house can act as an open invitation to your home for termites. It’s sort of like when supermarkets hand out free samples.
Prevention tips:
- Store wood elevated off the ground and away from your home.
Termite inspection
You may have noticed that the majority of these prevention tips involve carrying out regular inspections for termites. In doing so you are creating a proactive method in keeping your home safe from these wood boring insects.
A termite exterminator will be able to correctly inspect a property for termites, and identify any issues as well as recommending the correct course of termite control options. An annual termite inspection will help ensure your property is protected against the potential for termites to much their way through your home.
Termite removal
Although these termite prevention tips can help to reduce the risk of termites, they are not a guaranteed fix. The best way to get rid of termites is to enlist the help of a pest control professional. A termite exterminator will be able to ensure your home is kept safe from termites by offering a range of protection and treatment methods.
Worries about termites? Get in contact with Rentokil today and book a termite inspection.
9 Spring pest prevention tips
Termites are a common pest during the spring and summer months. Find out how to prevent other pests during these seasons in your home and garden.
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Thanks for the great insight into the prevention of ‘termite issues’.
Hi good to see this kind of useful information but can you know me which kind of techniques should I use for termite control
When it comes to termites, they’re hard to detect until you see evidence of them snacking on your home. It can sometimes be easy to forget certain areas (like the attic), but having a list like this definitely helps prevent that. Thanks for sharing!
It never occurred to me that termites might infest my storage unit. I think I might switch to using plastic pallets instead wood. I don’t think there’s a problem but it’s better to be safe than sorry. It seems like there isn’t anywhere that’s safe from them.
Termites can be such a pain to deal with, and I genuinely hope I can avoid them as long as possible. Thank you for sharing the tips, I’ll definitely have to try these out.
I have always worried that there were termites in my house, and I was wondering how you can prevent them. I had no idea that repair the roof can help keep them out. I will have to get that done, and have someone come look and see if we have them.
I didn’t realize that termites could be such problem on the roof of a house! I guess I thought the roof got too hot for termites to live in. I’ve heard that slate roofs are the most reliable, does slate help keep termites away at all?
You make a really good point about prevention being better than cure. I imagine that if termites have invaded your house they will probably cause some structural damage before you can get rid of them, so keeping them out would be the best way of saving your home. I am sure that there are pest control companies who could preform regular applications to keep the termites at bay.
A couple of years ago we had a really nasty termite infestation and it got out of hand really quick. The termites started eating our hardwood floors! We called a great termite treatment company and it worked out great for us because he got here right before it was completely out of control. I really like this article because of the visuals. All of these pictures are true!
Eu gostei muito da linearidade de Mafia II, mas realmente falta um conteúdo… ele parecer um filme é legal, mas ele é um jogo!
Termites are one of the most damage-causing pests that can ruin the value of property.
Thanks for sharing information
Nice tips for saving corners of house.
I believe in professionals so this is a very useful article for everyone. Great content, very useful information. Thank you for sharing.
Very informative blog that I have seen ever, great information that you have mentioned in your blog. Thanks for sharing
Great article! Extremely helpful – I’ll use tape from now on
I appreciate your advice to make sure that the moisture release of the AC unit is away from the foundation of the house. I just moved into an older house and we will have to pay attention to some of these signs of possible termites and do our best to prevent it. I have noticed some of the beams in the attic are looking a little worn and am worried that we might already have an infestation, so I will have to look into getting an inspection as well.