Prevention
Termite Prevention Tips - 18 Ways To Avoid Termites In Your Home
Prevention
Tips to minimise termite attack
Termite Prevention Tips
- Ensure ground water drainage flows away from / around your home. Ground level should slope away from house and / or soil drainage systems should be installed. If you have a moist sub-floor, installing fans may also be beneficial.
- Damp sub-floors are highly attractive to termites
- Don’t have a watering system or regularly water plants adjacent to the house. This really means you need to avoid substantial garden beds adjacent to the house.
- Watering systems and mulch can make the perimeter of your home very attractive to termites
- Ensure roof guttering and downpipes do not leak and they correctly discharge to the storm water drains.
- Make sure any external taps are not dripping and ideally have a drain underneath.
- Check for leaks in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry. (You may need a plumber or pest inspector to help here).
- Do not use wood mulch immediately adjacent to the house. If you must use wood mulch, make sure it has been treated with an appropriate insecticide or it is classed as termite resistant timber. Keep in mind, termite resistant does not mean termite proof!
- Using pebbles as mulch and plants in pots are a termite smart option
- Make sure any waste timber or cardboard boxes (also great termite food) are thrown out or stored above ground level, ideally away from the building.
- Make sure any firewood is stored off the ground away from the building. Firewood needs to be stored off the ground (on a metal framework)
- Firewood should be stored away from the house on a metal stand
- Keep the perimeter of your home clear of plants and stored items. If you can’t see the edge of the building you won’t be able to see any termite ‘break-ins’!
- If you have a sub-floor, avoid the temptation to store your excess / unwanted items in this inviting area. Stored goods prevent your ability to see any termite activity and also reduce ventilation. If the stored goods include wood or cardboard boxes, you are also providing some nice termite food!
- Remove stored timber and cardboard boxes from the sub-floor
When you do your annual Spring clean, work through this list… it could save you from a very expensive termite attack! If you get your annual termite inspection at the same time – it will reinforce these general termite prevention tips and provide some specific actions for your property. Hopefully, your house will get the termite “all clear”.
