Termite Inspection Checklist For Residential Termite Control

In homes, termites are dangerous insects that eat away at their structures. Termites are attracted to wood and other cellulose materials, making them feed off building frames made of wood and fibrous materials they love eating through. Without regular termite inspections of the property, your house might become a home for these hungry and destructive insects known as termites, where they will nest, breed, and feed themselves. 

It is vital to hire a professional pest controller if your house is old, in a termite-prone area or has ever experienced a termite’s termite attack, especially the unlucky one because this enables you to stay termite-free. During summertime, when temperatures go up, termite swarming occurs; hence, it is when they become more common.

If there is no qualified pest control agency’s thorough inquiry, you may not even know that termites have invaded your house. There are signs of termite infestation, including mud tubes, swarmer termite wings, and droppings, among others—not forgetting that without a professional’s assessment, it would be difficult to tell whether they exist. 

The absence of these inspections can cause high expenses on construction repairs due to the extent of the structural damage; therefore, when done regularly, an inspection gives peace to those living in them and allows a qualified and licensed person to manage risks effectively.

There are moments when hiring a professional termite inspector is essential. A pest control assessment that includes termites should be done before a property is bought. In this way, you can avoid making a rash decision to buy a house infested with termites. 

As the termite controller prescribes, regular inspections are essential for homeowners to avoid infestation, exterminate current infestations, and deter other pests from invading that may attract termites’ presence. One thing worth noting is that pest inspections should not occur independently because they need more details, hence relying on their designs, which could cause more harm in future by encouraging such activities among other pests.

We have developed this termite inspection checklist so that you may take measures against termite invasion or assist in eradicating a present infestation. This checklist does not contain everything under the sun, and endless other groundbreaking methods can restrict the chances of infestation by termites. In due time, your pest controller will give you more suggestions and guidance on how to comply.

Remove Rotting Wood

The best termite nesting site is inside a tree, stump, or decaying wood. Cut-down trees or stumps on your land should be removed immediately to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds. Trees and stumps should not be disposed of carelessly, as this may cause more harm than good. 

Apart from these complaints, dying trees are also known to attract other destructive insects, which can sometimes spoil the look of your compound. Like any other organisms, they will thrive only when decaying vegetation is available, so make sure there are no places such as garages, sheds, garden beds or behind shrubs where rotting wood can act as a meal for the termites.

Maintain Active Ventilation

Your property must be well-ventilated to avoid damp, humid, and wet areas in and around it. Ensure your property is actively ventilated with specific measures designed to promote ventilation. Examples include adjustable windows, whirlybirds, position openings for cross-ventilation, and encouraging air movement. If your property is on stumps, ensure the void underneath your house is ventilated and does not become humid or damp. Keep this void clear of debris and rubbish, and ensure that a pest control company thoroughly treats that area.

Replace Building Stumps

If you have a property holding stumps that have been taken over by termites whatsoever, do not waste time; replace them with new ones. Given enough time, these pests will exhaust their food supply and give rise to new generations that will spread quickly from one stump to another. When an inspection reveals that a particular stump has signs of termite activity, hiring professionals who will raise the building, remove the current stump, and install new concrete is recommended. Unlike wooden stumps, concrete stumps are more reliable, last longer and can even withstand termites’ attacks.

Check Plumbing And Fittings

The plumbing, guttering and downpipes in your house must all be waterproof. If moisture is consistently present in areas close to timber features, there is a chance of infestation. Look both inside the house as well as outside of it. For example, you can check the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and garden areas, commonly suspecting water leakage into walls that leads to timber bulging up. This may indicate termites nearby if the wood is swelling due to water leakage. If not, count yourself lucky, but quickly fix those places to prevent more destruction on your property.

Remove Unnecessary Wooden Items

Termites will feast on old furniture, wooden toys, slabs of wood left in a pile, and other types of wooden items. Only used items left out in the open with proper wrapping or protection can encourage termites to feast. If termites have commenced an infestation you cannot see, ensure you securely dispose of any wooden items you do not need.

Seal Entry Points

If your building has gotten old and you can see splits, scratches, or hollows on the wooden parts of your house, close them properly to prevent pests from destroying them. For best results, use an expert who understands how to use the correct materials that should not allow wood parts to be in contact with weather elements or insects. 

Just like ants, termites also detect any minute hole or crack in the surface of wood, and they never seek your consent before beginning their dinner! You must pay attention to these issues about your house so do something soon.

Avoid Clutter In The Garden

Disposing of or preventing mould, plant cuttings, and other garden materials should be done neatly. Leaving loose plant matter around your garden is a comfortable nesting ground for termites. Plant matter contains cellulose substances that will attract termites if left for long periods. Ensuring that all your gardening tools and equipment are well kept free from excessive waste and waste accumulation frequently helps keep your garden tidy.

Identify Abnormalities

If you observe some discrepancies at your home, do not take them lightly. Every reason may necessitate checking it out. If it looks like wood, makes hollow sounds, becomes soft and crumbly, or has swollen because of water, this could indicate existing termites or even those that have already migrated to other parts of the house. Please do not ignore these symptoms. Ensure you recognise these red flags and take corrective measures before they worsen.

Seal Or Paint Wooden Elements

Invest in periodic painting or sealing if your property has a deck, patio, or other wood features. This will help limit infestations, as the treatment will act as a barrier that discourages termites from feasting. Not only will you keep pests away from your wooden features, but you will also protect them and help them look their best all year round.

Use Thermal Technology

Studying thermal technologies makes it possible to find where termites hide without drilling inspection holes. With gentler techniques, your house would remain free from decayed termites. This saves time, as you know where exactly they are located; there would be no need for building renovation because there would be no need to inspect holes.

At Tom’s Pest Control Perth, we inspect termites thoroughly. Termites are terrible insects, and you want peace of mind that they no longer exist in your home. To eliminate the entire colony, including the queen termite, we take all precautions to identify all nests, swarms, tunnels and feeding areas.

In addition, leading companies offer advanced termite protection and control packages using infrared and thermal imaging technology to provide a screening technique that doesn’t injure anything inside a structure. This protects the foundation of any building while allowing its technicians to give a focused reaction. Call this number (08) 6202 7096 to speak with our expert technician today!