Termites eat away at the foundation of your home, causing costly and dangerous structural damage. What’s worse, roughly 32% of Australian homes have some level of termite infestation – or 130,000 homes per year.
If you have a termite infestation, then you want to (at the very least) make sure that it’s found quickly and controlled by a professional. Prevention is better than a cure, so use the following tips from King Arthur Handyman and Pest Control Services to protect what you’ve worked hard to build.
Here’s how to prevent these insects from invading your home.
How to stop a termite infestation?
When it comes to insect infestations, the best treatment is always prevention. Luckily, there are five clear steps you can take to try and make sure that termites steer clear of your home:
1. Get rid of water leaks
These insects love water, and they need lots of it to prevent their bodies from drying out. Make sure that your home doesn’t have any leaks, especially from equipment such as air conditioning units and hot water systems. If these insects don’t have everything they need to survive, they’ll be forced to look elsewhere for food and leave your timber and home’s structure alone.
2. Cut back your bushes & trees
Do you have heavy bushes and trees touching your house? The vegetation could be encouraging a colony to gain access to your home — so if you’re suspicious or concerned about unwanted invasions, you might want to trim everything back from the house.
3. Get rid of timber stacks
Sadly, most homes are made of wood. And even steel frame homes aren’t immune to the attack. That said, make sure that you don’t have any firewood or stacks of timber lying close to or against the house (this is basically a buffet!).
4. Don’t use untreated wood chip mulch
Untreated wood chip mulch is essentially the golden trifecta for termites: moisture, organic material, and dirt. Don’t tempt them with excess untreated wood chip mulch by using it on your gardens.
That said, you might not always be successful at stopping these insects from finding your home altogether. If they do chew their way onto your property then you need to call a professional exterminator to make sure they’re gone for good.
Keep in mind, an overgrown yard can also create the ideal environment for other unwanted pests like spiders, cockroaches, rats & mice, or ants. When you stay on top of the gardening, you help keep a wide range of Queensland pests and creepy crawlies away.
5. Be observant and vigilant
Finally, look for signs of further infestation, including:
- Bubbling paint
- Dead termites
- Mud tubes
- Hollow-sounding wood
Remember, early detection is important for preventing a major infestation, so remaining vigilant can help quite a bit.
If you’re concerned about these insects, click here for our ultimate guide to spotting a termite infestation.
What can you do to avoid a termite infestation in the future?
These aren’t steps that you should just follow in an emergency. Instead, following these recommendations we’ve outlined can help prevent a future infestation. Additionally, you can call an expert to conduct yearly inspections and help you kill any stray termites before you get a full infestation.
Proactivity always helps!
Looking for fast and effective pest control in Toowoomba and surrounds?
Sometimes, pests are unavoidable. That said, an unchecked termite infestation can wreak havoc on your home, leading to an unstable foundation, costly repairs, extensive extermination, and safety hazards.
Knowing what to do to prevent and address an infestation can put a stop to all of this, so stay proactive and be on the lookout for signs of infestation.
Contact us to schedule your yearly termite inspection and stay prepared.
