How to Keep Termites Away From Your Home

 Termites don’t need much encouragement. A few small fixes around the house can make yours a lot less appealing to them.

Most termite jobs I see have the same story. The owner never saw a thing until a door stopped closing properly or a skirting board felt soft, and by then the colony had been at it for a long time. You can’t make a house termite-proof, but you can stop making it easy for them. These are the things that matter most.

1. Chase down every leak

Termites need moisture. A dripping tap, a leaking downpipe or an air conditioner drain that empties against the wall is all it takes. Fix them quickly, even the small ones.

2. Get water away from the house

The ground should slope away from your walls. Clean your gutters, and don’t let water sit against the slab or under the floor.

3. Let the subfloor breathe

If you have a subfloor, keep the vents clear. Garden beds, pavers and stored boxes often end up blocking them. A damp, musty subfloor is exactly what termites like.

4. Don’t stack timber against the house

Firewood, offcuts, pallets and old cardboard all give termites a free meal and a bridge to your walls. Keep them off the ground and well away from the building. The same goes for mulch, which should never be piled up against the wall.

5. Keep the slab edge visible

Termites travel in mud tubes, and they love hiding them behind garden beds, paving and decking. If you can’t see the edge of your slab, you can’t spot the tubes. Leave a clear gap if you can.

6. Clear out old stumps

A dead stump or rotting root near the house can hold a colony. Remove them, and trim back shrubs and branches that touch your walls or roof.

7. Check the timber outside

Fences, pergolas, sleepers and decks all connect to the ground, so termites use them. Tap the timber. If it sounds hollow or feels soft, have a closer look.

8. Learn what the early signs look like

You’re looking for mud tubes on walls or piers, timber that sounds hollow, bubbling or peeling paint, doors and windows that suddenly stick, and little discarded wings near windowsills.

If you find mud tubes, leave them alone. Breaking them open or spraying them can scare the colony off to feed somewhere else, and that makes the job harder to fix.

9. Think about a barrier

A chemical barrier or a baiting system gives you protection that lasts. These need to be installed properly, so use a licensed technician. They work best as part of a longer-term plan, not as a one-off.

10. Get an inspection every year

If you only do one thing on this list, make it this one. Termites can be active for months without leaving any obvious sign, and most home insurance policies don’t cover the damage. A yearly inspection by someone trained to find them is cheap compared with the repair bill.

When you’re looking for Sydney Pest Control for an inspection, ask whether the technician is licensed and has termite-specific accreditation. Ask them to follow Australian Standards, and make sure you get a written report afterwards.

Most of this is common sense. Keep the house dry, keep timber away from the ground and the walls, and get it checked every year. People who do those three things rarely have a big termite problem.

This guide is general information only. If you think you have termites, call a licensed pest professional for an inspection.