Termites are arriving daily! A wooden house and the right weather conditions are all termites need to take up residence and begin causing big problems. Besides water, termites are your household’s largest foe. The only thing they do all day is eat your house and procreate. Termites multiply at incredible rates and can be potentially devastating to homes. Early detection is vital and homeowners, particularly around Sydney, should be constantly on the lookout for signs of an infestation.
Drywood and subterranean termites are the most serious threats to your home. Drywood termites live above ground, particularly in warm coastal areas. Found largely in higher elevations, subterranean termites are more prevalent and pose a more serious threat to homes in the Sydney area.
These are 5 signs that your home may have termites:
1. Hollow wood. Poke some wood close to the frame of your home with a sharp object – if the wood is being corroded from the inside, it is very likely a sign if an infestation.
2. Grime in wood. Termites are especially fond of damp wood and termite damage is often mistaken for water damage (and vice versa). Damp areas are typically the first place which termites will choose to invade. Check any damp areas regularly – for instance, near sprinklers, leaky pipes and so on.
3. Flying termites. A large number of flying termites pouring from wood or the dirt is often the most prominent indication of an infestation. Termites commonly ‘cloud’ in early springtime. You may also detect flying termites streaming about windowsills.
4. Muck appearing between crevices. If your home is infested with termites, you may see muck coming up from crevices between planks and boards.
5. Termite wings in bright places. Since flying termites are attracted to bright light, check around window sills and other bright locations for cast off wings. If you see a lot of them, contact a pest control company at once, as this is a sign of an infestation.
What You Should Do If You Come Across Signs of a Termite Infestation?
First of all, do not panic. As luck would have it, termites enjoy tasting what they consume and are sluggish feeders. Experts say it takes five years for a colony to be absolutely destructive. Contact a professional pest control company for advice pertinent to your individual circumstances.
How to Keep Termites Out
Here are 5 ways to keep termites out of your house.
1. Avoid heaping wood of any kind up against your house, such as timber, limbs, or branches.
2. Don’t let water build up near your home’s foundation – this attracts termites.
3. Do not store wood under your deck or patio.
4. Make sure that the soil around your home does not come in contact with your sidings, especially if you have wooden sidings. This is like putting out a welcome mat for termites. Wood siding should be at least a foot above ground level.
5. Do any necessary repairs and maintenance to keep water from getting into the substructure of your home – this will deter termites.
Termites are responsible for billions of dollars in damage to homes all over the world.
If you suspect that your home may be infested with termites, get in contact with a certified pest control company immediately. Early detection of termites is the best way to protect your home.
If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 
02 9529 5222
for immediate assistance.
