How are termites detected?

Detecting termites is hard because they like to hide

Termites are little white, soft-bodied weaklings. Termites avoid light and rarely come out into the open. Termite attack can escape anyone’s notice for a very long time, which can be horribly expensive, not to mention dangerous.  A lot of houses that collapse during hurricanes or earthquakes really break due to weakening by termites.

So, how are termites in houses detected?

eaten wood
Coptotermes damage

1. Dumb Luck. Often termites are detected . . . .

  • when the vacuum cleaner leaves a dent in the skirting board
  • when someone makes a dent in the floor
  • when the door falls off
  • when termites fly (in huge numbers) inside the house
  • spotting on plaster ceiling
    Termite mud spots

    when you notice strange bits of mud in the plasterwork

  • when the light/fan in the toilet/laundry won’t turn off
  • when the wood in the window frames looks mottled through the varnish
  • when you notice strange bubbles in the paint
  • when you lie awake at night and wonder what those quiet noises might be

 

2. When Other Trades are . . . .

  • repairing a springy floor
  • fixing leaky plumbing
  • My cousin Ian McIntosh in his Darwin back garden
    Living lawn mower

    working in the garden

  • putting in new cupboards
  • installing your home theatre

 

3. Regular Inspections . . . .

  • when you look under the floor and see tell tale shelter tubes
  • when you look near all the wet areas and notice bubbled or uneven surfaces
  • when you crawl around in the roof space and the wood seems hollow
  • when you look at all those wings you keep vacuuming away . .
  • when you hire a competent someone to do the looking for you

 

Copyright © 1996-20016

Was this answer helpful ? Yes / No