How to Check Your Home for Termites the Easy Way

While you should always get regular termite inspections from a professional licensed termite inspector, there are thing you can check in between inspections to help you protect your home against termites and catch them early if there is a problem.

Checking for Points of Entry

Keep an eye out for areas in which soil comes into direct contact with wood especially if the wood is untreated or part of the physical structure of your home. Termites love moisture, so look for areas where surface water pools, or soil is perpetually wet, especially if the area is touching or very near the foundations of your home. Whilst inspecting your foundation look for cracks in concrete or wood, things like cracked concrete and expansion joints giver termites an easy point of entry.

You should also be looking for mud tunnels on all external wall, this is definite evidence of termite activity. If you have a wooden sub floor inspect the wooden members for evidence of termite damage or mud tunnels. If you have planter box, patio steps or wooden structures attached to the house inspect for termite activity on a regular basis.

Being Aware of Termite Critical Areas

Termites need two things to survive; a food source and moisture, an unfortunately man made structures provide both of those things beautifully. Things such as mulch beds, wood piles, tree stumps, wood fences, wooden decks and patios all provide perfect food sources for termites and should be either removed, or in the case of permanent structures should be inspected regularly.

You should also be aware of areas that supply moisture, such as leaky pipes, downpipes, air-conditioning drip lines and standing water.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of possible places that termite damage can be found, it is intended to help home owners be aware of what to look for and where to look be able to catch termite activity between professional inspections.