Top Ten Termite Blog Trending Topics

Termites have been common and ongoing pest topics because of their complexities, ambiguities and similarities with ants. Their pest infestation signs are less obvious and treatments methods are different as compared to common pest treatments such as cockroaches and ants. There are many topics around termite infestation and remedies on how to get rid of termites. Rentokil shares the top ten termite blog trending topics that you should know.

DIY termite control remedies can be harmful

You can apply home remedies on common pests such as cockroaches and ants including the use of pesticides, sticking traps and baits, applying gels and making use of natural ingredients for repelling purposes. However, termites’ colonies are buried underground where visibility and reach are challenged and safety and efficacy are compromised. Termite pest control requires licensed and certified specialists to apply active ingredients with proper tools and gadgets, and detect termite activities with thermal imaging to sense their heat and movement. Active ingredients require specific dosage and dilution rate and finally plot out strategic points to inject with the termiticide after a thorough site survey.

Termite problem is one home issue that should not be addressed with procrastination as they can travel and spread throughout the home and even extending to the surrounding homes. In addition, they feed on wood and chew on your home protect every day for 24 hours and will damage your structures, panels, beams, frames and worse of all, worsening its stability causing potential collapse. Another point to note is their droppings that can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms and particularly risky for homes with kids with respiratory conditions.

Are the termite treatments working for you?

The price of termite control is costly and they typically cost a few thousands depending on your home size. Hence, it is important to ensure that the treatments are resolving the termite problem. It is important to monitor the home condition after the treatment and to look out for recurring infestation signs. Here are some signs to take notice of to check on the treatment efficacy:

• Are there lines of mud tubes that are made of wood and soil on your wall?
• Is your wall paint seeming to be peeling off or signs of blobbing effect?
• Noticed any population of flying termites or known as alates near windows?
• Have your surfaces especially near windowsills and doorframes turned dusty?
• Any damages or cracks on the wall that previously there is no history of these conditions?
• Can your door and window work well by opening and closing properly?

Effective termite treatments such as the Rentokil Singapore Seven Years Warranty Termite Treatment is able to halt the termite muscles and prevent them from biting on your structure further, while effectively spreading its residual effect to control the colony quickly. When carried out in an adequate manner, potential chances of re-infestation should be minimal. Yearly inspection is required to spot for other termite signs if have and constant monitoring of the premise to ensure the infestation is under control.

Where do I find termite nests and their hideout?

Termites can hide exceptionally well because they are sensitive to the light and often stay underground to build their colony and transport food supplies to the members. While we are familiar with finding cockroaches and ants hide out, termites are less straightforward.

Firstly, check your backward where there are vast food meals for termite including the shrubs, wood planks, trees, logs and connecting fences and tunnels that lead to your home. Secondly, dry wood termite infests on wood furniture including the carpentry works, door frames, beams, build-in panels and any other furniture. Thirdly, wood planks in the form of barrier, furniture, storage and flooring is another key risk area to look out. Walls and structures with termite infestation can produce “head banging” sounds as they vibrate to send signals of danger.Finally, wallpapers are another hideout where you can find signs of infestation including unusual bubbles and blobs or scratching noises behind them.

Termite prevention tips for your home

There are some ways to prevent termites damaging your home further by adopting the following tips:

• Keep your home dry from water, leaks, spills and moisture that attracts termites
• Fix any defective pipes, drainage and sewers by engaging a plumbing service
• Have your home well ventilated and use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity level
• Avoid using wooden materials for your interior design or furniture
• Maintain your garden and front pouch to eliminate infested trees and wooden logs
• Check for termite activities and infestation signs regularly with professional pest control
• Engage a sound termite treatment plan that can protect your home from termite entry
• Be sure to identify the right species as treatment for termites and ants differ

How do I identify termites?

Termites have equal size and shape in their wings and body has a consistent size in width with a straight antenna. They are usually light and whitish in colour and thus often called as white ants, and as compared to ants, their body has a narrower waist and their wings are non-equal in size. Ants are usually black or dark brown and red in colour with longer and bent antennae.

Termites can fly as they fly to another location to build a new colony. Also known as alates or swarmers, you can usually spot them near lights or bright condition spaces especially near to the window and balcony where there is bright light. Their discarded wings as they land and break off is one sign of termite infestation sign you can observe in your home.

They should not be confused and mistaken for carpenter ants as these species are often found in wood and furniture. The difference is that carpenter ants tunnel their way through wooden furniture rather than feeding on them, and they are usually black, dark red and brown in colour with an elbowed antenna.

You may also like: What do ants feed on?

What do I need to check with a termite specialist?

It is essential that you are clear on the expectations of the treatments, background facts and precautionary checklist relating to health and safety. Of course, how much the price of pest control is one essential question to ask, here are some other critical information and facts you need to know about termite control.

• The background, years of establishment and credibility of the pest control company
• Is there warranty and years of efficacy assurance? How many years of warranty entitled?
• The type and quality of active ingredients used and are they environmentally friendly?
• The efficacy and residual control effect and time taken to control the colony
• Are the treatments safe and do any pre-treatment checklist need to adopt?
• Where are the key risk areas and termite hideouts with termite activity?
• What do we need to look out for after treatment? Any areas we need to monitor.
• Is there yearly inspection and post treatment monitoring and evaluation?
• What is the best and recommended termite solution option for my home?
• What other termite prevention tips we can apply to enhance the efficacy
• List down the signs of termite infestation that we can keep a lookout

Read also: The complete guide for termite control in Singapore

Can termite travel and spread from place to place?

Bed bugs are pests that are widely known to travel and spread, and in fact with volume and speed. Termites travel as well and because they work daily, they can expand their presence and grow their colony to not only other parts of your home but to your neighbours. This is because they travel underground and move upwards and sideways with mud tubes as a source of traveling platforms. They have various mode of transportation including the following:

• Through mud tubes on the wall
• Tunneling along the soil and ability to travel as high as twenty-six level (which means your apartment or flat unit are not spared either)
• Closely connected wood and mulch from exterior to your interior
• Gaps and crevices that termites can slip through
• Decayed wood, log and abundance of cellulose materials that termites are attracted

If you know of a neighbouring unit with termite infestation, it is best to seek early and proactive preventive treatment to avoid a cross-infestation risk.

When do we need to call for termite control?

The “wait and monitor” approach may not be ideal when it comes to termite problems. This is because of the damaging outcome termite cause in terms of structure and financial risks, but also the spread and safety risk it can cause in your home. Rentokil Initial advice that it is best to have a pest management programme in place for termite as early as engaging in termite inspection to detect for presence of termites. This is conducted by using Microwave technology to scan around key risk areas in the home for termite activities. Next is to avoid delaying treatment once you discover a light or early termite infestation. This is because it can control the problem quickly, and minimise an escalation of the infestation, causing more investment in repair, rectification, replacement and treatments.

For homeowners who are purchasing, renting or selling a property, termite control comes in handy, to either generate a report on the health of the home, seek early actions with proper termite treatment before moving in. Certain conditions of a home promote termite infestation, such as high humidity and moisture, or the décor of the home is made up of termite-prone risk. Adequate protection is necessary to avoid slipping into an infestation problem. Finally, particularly a home that is costly and spruced with nice interior and furnishing, protecting your home from termite damage can minimise costs relating to aesthetics, renovation and time effort.

Arrange for a home termite inspection today

Why are termites challenging to eradicate?

Pests are never easy to eliminate because of factors relating to housekeeping, sanitation, property integrity, environment condition and cross infestation. This is especially so for getting rid of termites where we face with more factors and challenges including:

• Where their presence and signs are not as visible
• Not trained in identifying their species and infestation
• Requires specific active ingredients to control the colony
• Natural ingredients repel rather than control and eradicate
• “Contact kill” and spot treatment do not eliminate root source
• Constant food source availability for termites to feed on
• Delayed response in resolving termite infestation
• Wrong treatment applied that led to inefficacy
• Lack of knowledge and awareness on essential termite facts

Which termite remedies will not work in eliminating termites?

It is quite impossible and ineffective to use the off-the-shelve insecticide to spray directly on any termites or location. This is because the colony is found within the soil and contact kill solutions merely eliminates the visible signs only. It requires a special active ingredient and dosage level to control and eliminate the colony effectively, with efficient residual spread and binding effect.

Most natural remedies will deter and repel pests for a short while. Unfortunately, they do not work in ridding termites effectively. Orange oil for example has limited control efficacy while post hazards if not dealt with properly, including combustion risks. Exposing the furniture only has some elimination effect but colonies do not respond as well without termiticide that targets the species specifically. A one-off removal or pre-construction termite barrier is as ineffective where one addresses the localised problem while the other has lasting limitation after a period. A retreat is necessary to consistently protect the home from termites as a result.

What are your termite treatment options?

There are two options for apartments and flats. It includes either above ground baiting termite units that are applied on the wall where they lure and trap termites and spreading the active ingredient among the colony. Injection of the termiticide is another option to build a barrier and control system of the subterranean termites.

For landed properties, both above and in-ground termite baits are options to control termites in an environmentally friendly manner. Baits are first applied to lure and detect the presence of termite activity before replacing it with an active ingredient for termites to feed and spread to its members. Injection method is a more extensive treatment. The pest control specialists will inject well-spaced intervals around the perimeter of the home for the application of the solution. The active ingredient ranges from generic to enhanced quality with low toxicity rate.

Dry wood termites typically infest your furniture, panel and frame. In such instances, dry wood termite foaming is recommended to inject strategic holes while using a generator and foaming agent to penetrate effectively. It requires a professional specialist to determine where to inject and the number of injection points. This helps ensure application covers the infestation well.

Frequently asked questions about termites

What types of home are more prone to termites?

Most properties are at risk of termite infestation due to the availability of wood and cellulose matters. Besides the make-up of the home, certain conditions and environment promotes a higher risk. These include the moisture and humidity level, poor ventilation function, wear and tear of the structure with gaps and crevices, and homes with attaching garden and front pouch. Other factors include the infestation history, absence of termite control and homes treated with efficacy gaps.

How does termite damage my property?

Firstly, termites cause damage to the structure and wall and weaken its stability as they chew off the wood within. In certain instances, walls, roof and ceiling may collapse and fall off causing safety risks to the surrounding. Secondly, they tarnish the aesthetics of the home with lines, cracks and ugly mud tubes they use for tunneling. Thirdly, their frass and dropping resembles dusty floor conditions and may be perceived as poor housekeeping standard. Fourthly, wallpaper may blob and ruin the outlook of the home. Finally, the damages that we all dislike which is the time needed to renovate or treat and the cost involved in resolving not only the infestation but also the home defects.

What is the difference between an ant and termite nests?

There are a few ways to identify if there is an ant nest or termite colony building up in your home. One way is to observe the nest shape. An anthill is usually a pile load while mud tubes are a long woody and soil-like line in a straight manner. Most of the time, an ant nest is traceable to the colony and root source. However, mud tube is not a direct indication of termite whereabouts. Ant nests are typically made of soil but mud tubes are composed of dirt, droppings and saliva. Lastly, you can gauge the touch and feel of the anthill where it is soft and breaks up easily. On the other hand, mud tubes are hard and sturdy, thus making it difficult to remove and disintegrate them.

What do I need to expect from a dry wood termite treatment?

A sound and credible pest control company will typically prep homeowners before and after a treatment. This applies for termite treatment where they will recommend packing and cleaning up the place to ensure adequate space to carry out the treatment. As it treats cabinets, furniture and door frames, it is best to keep critical items and valuables away safely. Evacuate pets and kids from the treatment area. This avoids hazardous incidents including contact with active ingredients or a trip over wiring. Finally cover up any food sensitive surfaces and items such as cups, kitchen top and food to avoid cross contamination.

How does a termite specialist carry out the treatment?

The specialist will conduct an initial site survey and risk assessment. This helps to evaluate the premise and ensure safety checks are in place. Depending on the termite species and type of home dwelling, the specialist will recommend the relevant termite solution for your home. There is a pre and post treatment checklist to adhere to ensure safety measures are met. Post treatment inspections and premise monitoring is then carried out to keep infestation conditions in checks. Treatment applications and type of active ingredient differs depending on the budget preference, types of termites and home condition.

What should we do if we discover termites at home?

Like other pests, do not panic and attempt to remove any pest presence on your home. Take a photo of the infestation to document the problem and for better explanation to the pest control specialist. Avoid spraying any insecticide on the infested area as it may worsen the condition while promoting moisture to the area. Call for professional pest control service and keep the area out of reach among kids and elderly, in the event the structure weakens and falls over. Describe the infestation signs and outlook. Lastly, ensure the specialist examines your home with proper inspection before a solution is offered.

Call Rentokil Termite Specialists at  (65) 6347 8138 for pest control services today.