Termites can cause irreparable damage within 12 months of attacking a home.
Unfortunately, they can cause irreparable structural damage within 12 months of attacking a home, and regardless of the amount of damage, termite-associated costs aren't covered by insurance companies in Australia. Read more about that here. Termites cause a lot of significant damage that's sometimes is irreparable.
Termite damage isn't covered by home insurance mainly because termites are classed as an “insect”, and unfortunately home insurance policies don't cover damage caused by insects. Insurers deem insects as a “preventable” problem, which of course puts the responsibility back on the homeowner.
Spring is the swarming season for most subterranean termites. Most species of subterranean termites swarm during the spring and summer months, typically on a warm day with calm winds after a rainfall.
Whilst mounds can take up to five years to build, a heavy downpour will cause approximately a third of all termite mounds in the affected area to collapse.
Instead, what you can see are termite mud tubes. These look like rounded lines of dirt running up from the ground to the wood part of your home, whether it be siding, the frame or lattice used in gardening. These tubes are the roads termites use to move from the nest to the wood in your home.
Noticeable floor or ceiling damage
If you spot noticeable blisters, cracks or sags on any of these surfaces, there's a high possibility that termites are present. Another way to detect termite-inflicted damage is to knock on timber around your house. If it sounds hollow, it is likely termites have eaten away at it.
If your infestation is serious, you may see the damage before you spot any termites. Raised floorboards or bumps in the wall are signs of an infestation. Often masquerading as water damage, swollen panels are not a good sign. Termites live just below wood surfaces which can cause panels to swell.
While worker and soldier termites live a fairly lengthy (for insects) 1-2 years, a queen termite can live decades.
As termites consume wood, they create kick out holes that are used to push frass (termite droppings or pellets) out of the nest.
Home insurance is designed to cover loss or damage resulting from sudden or unexpected events - for example, a fire or storm. Termites however, are considered to be a common occurrence and therefore do not fall under this category (likewise, other insects, birds, lizards, rodents and vermin).
They typically measure between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch long and have soft bodies with straight antennae. The queens and kings are larger, capable of reaching over one inch long. Colors range from white to light brown where worker termites often appear lighter, while swarming termites darker.
Termites can cause irreparable damage within 12 months of attacking a home.
A termite swarm will last about 30-40 minutes and the swarming termites will fly toward a light source. You will typically see them collecting around windows and sliding glass doors. If these termites cannot find soil, they will die in a few hours from dehydration.
Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.
Bifen XTA: Best Fast-acting
Bifen XTS is a fast-acting, oil-based termiticide that can kill termites in 24 hours by attacking their nervous systems. This treatment is not recommended for use indoors. Spray it around the perimeter of your home to kill termites.
Mix 6 tablespoons of liquid soap with 8 cups of water in a spray bottle and shake it up. Spray the area where you've discovered termites and watch them start dying off. Repeat as needed for several days. The great thing about soapy water is that you don't have to worry about toxicity.
“If you suspect you have termites, don't panic,” said Fawn Pattinson, executive director of the Agricultural Resources Center Pesticide Education Project, a nonprofit consumer advocate group based in Raleigh that works to prevent human and environmental exposure to toxic pesticides.
Termite treatments can be the most complex treatments of any household pest management issue. Depending on the species of termite, the colony's location(s) and the extent of infestation, your professional may need to use more than one treatment method. These methods often require specialized tools and techniques.
One of the more obvious signs that termites are in your walls is if you spot tiny holes along the surface of the wall. These are also called swarmer exit holes. If you see small round or oblong pinholes in your walls, it's likely that termites are living inside of the interior of the wall at that location.
Bubbling and discoloration similar to water damage on your ceilings. Any areas of buckling or sagging in your ceilings. Cracks in your ceilings, due to an infestation of termites in structural beams. Mud tubes that extend toward your ceilings.
Musty Smell
Termites often leave a musty-smelling odour behind to identify themselves as a member of their colony. If the odour is at a detectable level, you probably have a significant infestation.