The Importance Of A Termite Inspection In Sydney

Most home owners only find out they are have termites when their foot goes through the floor or a door falls off the hinge.

Unfortunately you will never see termites running around your home like you would see ants, this is because termites like cool damp and a dark environment.

How can you tell if you have termites?
• Mud-leads – these are tunnel like structures which the termites use to gain access to your home.
• Mud particles protruding through fibro, gyprock or any other timbers.
• Blistering of paint or plaster.
• Sagging floors or doors.
• Timber fittings bowing.
• Hollowing of timbers (i.e. upon tapping or touching).
• Power failures as termites are known to chew through electrical insulation.

What should you do if you think you have termites?

Every home owner should get a termite inspection every 12 months from a licenced termite inspector.

Having a regular inspection can save you thousands of dollars as the damage that can be done in your home can be extensive.

Pest Free Sydney Termite Inspection is a visual inspection of the accessible areas of your home for evidence of termite activity and or termite workings/damage.

Pest Free Sydney termite’s inspector will visually inspect the interior and exterior of the home or building including any accessible sub-floor areas & roof cavities.

Pest Free Sydney inspections take roughly 1 hour for a standard size home and can take a little longer if your home is larger or cluttered.

I found termites, what do I do?
• Do not disturb the termites or their workings.
• Do not spray or pour any chemicals or pesticides on the termites or their workings.
• Do not remove any timbers or other affected wood.
• Call an expert termite technician at PESTFREE ASAP!

What can I do to protect my home?
• Do not erect timber structures directly in contact with soil, such as timber door frames, gate posts, pergolas etc.
• Do not store scrap timber under, against or around your property.
• Ensure you maintain drainage, air conditioning systems and plumbing as termites like moisture.
• Ensure your home has good ventilation as this will deter termites, which require humidity and warmth for survival and breeding.
• Keep the exterior of your home free from vegetation to allow for ease of inspection and early detection. Remove or treat landscaping timbers such as pine logs or railway sleepers, as well as other cellulose fibres e.g. wood chips, bark etc.

Termite Detection

At PESTFREE our technicians are highly trained in carrying out visual inspections and combining this skill with the latest technology in termite detection.

By using Termiscan thermal imaging we can effectively;
• Find termites nesting in walls, between floors and other concealed areas without drilling or removing wall linings or ceilings.
• Find termites in tree stumps and in some cases termite nests under concrete slabs.
• Check before and after termite treatments to ensure the cessation of termite infestation.
Moisture meters are also used by our technicians in order to;
• Detect high moisture readings in stud walls.
• Detect possible plumbing leaks.
Timber sounding tools or “Dongers” are used to;
• Determine timber density.
• Detect hollowing of timber indicating possible termite damage.

Don’t be alarmed when our technician walks in with a screwdriver, it is used to check for blistering of timbers in which active termites may be foraging.

Our technicians also carry maglite torches, which are high powered torches and approved according to Australian Standards for termite inspections.

Termite Treatments

At PESTFREE we offer multiple methods of termite eradication and prevention. These include both chemical and physical methods.

Chemical Method

We determine the needs of each individual property to identify the most effective method i.e. either deterrent or non-deterrent chemical treatment.

Applying the Chemical involves the following measures:
• Drilling of concrete slabs/paths.
• Trenching around foundation footings.
• Trenching around piers and foundation walls in subfloor.
• Injecting termiticide using specialized injection rods.
• Blanket-spraying of trenched areas and soil areas with a high pressure hand gun.

Baiting Systems

We use the nemesis® termite baiting system, which uses a number of unique stations for in-ground (IG) & above ground (AG) interception of active termites.

It uses an insect growth regulator (IGR), Chlorfluazuron, as the active constituent in the nemesis® bait. Active termites feed on the highly attractive bait food source & translocate the IGR to other members of the colony, at levels undetectable by those termites, until the colony is eradicated.

Termite activity is monitored by monthly inspections by your PESTFREE technician, at which time the bait stations are also replenished with bait and timber.

Reticulation Systems

A reticulation system is an under slab injection system for the long term protection against termites.

This system involves:
• Injecting Termiticide under concrete slabs or around the perimeter of the house.
• Installing perforated polyethylene pipes.
• Chemically treating the soil by injecting a termiticide into the pipes.
• Placing small taps at the end of each pipe and then fitting a non-return valve as the sole injection point for that particular valve box. Several valve boxes may be fitted according to the size of the house.
• The valve box is fitted with a strong lid, which can be bolted for safety.
• The reticulation system is re-injected every 3 years to maintain warranty.
• A termite inspection of the property must be carried out annually.

By using PESTFREE you can rest assured that all of termite control and treatment methods are environmentally friendly and most of all effective.

With over ten years’ experience we guarantee you will be satisfied with the results – No More Termites!

Call Pest Free Sydney (Free Call) 1800 15 30 10 to arrange a Termite Inspection.