Worried you have spotted termites at your property? Here’s an easy to follow step by step guide on what to do when you think you have termites.
Don’t panic! Try not to disturb the termites as you will only temporarily scare them away, making it harder to treat them properly.
If you think you have seen termites in your home or commercial property, it’s important to deal with them quickly and efficiently, before they cause significant damage. While it might be tempting to tackle the problem on your own, this can make it worse. Don’t worry – many Australian homes face termite infestations, but the good news is they can all be successfully treated with the right precautions.
In this guide, we’ll explain the key steps on what to do if you have termites, including knowing when it’s time to call the experts in for a thorough, conclusive inspection.
Here’s what to do if you have termites:
Firstly, while it will be tempting to remove the affected timbers, the area must be left undisturbed until we assess the situation (we offer a free assessment for this). By disturbing the termites, they are more likely to be pushed into concealed areas resulting in further damage and making treatment more challenging.
If you have disturbed the area, don’t stress too much. It’s a common response and we can usually still provide a successful treatment.
Call us on 1300 695 949 and put a stop to termites!
Secondly, if you have managed to resist disturbing the area, you should also avoid using insect sprays. Spraying termites might be satisfying but can make treatment more difficult.
Remember, the termite ‘nest’ is not in your home so spraying the termites will only kill the termites you can see allowing the colony to reinfest other concealed areas of your home.
The next step is to arrange a professional termite inspection with our team. We’ll inspect the damage and assess the scale of the termite infestation. We will then provide you with immediate advice and a Termite Management Plan.
The nature of the termite infestation will dictate the type of management applied. Our termite treatment plans vary from dusting and chemical soil treatments to baiting and monitoring systems. We will provide you with a comprehensive plan that suits your situation and has your best interests at heart.
You’re in safe hands…
Do you still have questions about what to do when you’ve spotted termites at your property? No problem! Here are the most commonly asked questions our experts receive. If neither of these answer your query, please contact us on 1300 69 59 49 to speak with our experts.
It is not uncommon even for licenced pest controllers to misdiagnose a non-destructive species as the destructive kind and thus recommendations for termite treatments are made based upon a misidentification.
Importantly however, it should be noted that the environment that supports a non-destructive termite species is often similar to that of a destructive species and termite management may still be required – but for the right reasons!
Additionally, if you have found a destructive species on your property then the chances are reasonable that termites may also be attacking your home. Termites easily travel distances more than 50 metres, so if they are in the garden then the risk to the home is high.
Not sure what you’ve found? No problem, shoot us a clear photo via this link and we’ll take a look for you.
If you are seeing termites on your property then typically this places your home in a higher risk category and regular termite inspections will be necessary, often in combination with some form of proactive termite management.
Where possible, dead trees and stumps should be removed as they can encourage a greater focus of termite ‘forging’ on your property leading to the discovery of your home as a food source for the colony.
This is contrary to the common misapprehension that the more timber ‘outside’, the more termites will feed on that as opposed to the house. The opposite is true, the greater the feeding material, the greater the presence will be around your home and the greater the chance they will infest it.
Where live trees hold termites, then they should be left standing as termites are usually relegated to the ‘heartwood’ flute and thus can be located and treated.
