Termite infestations are not always easily recognised. This requires time and careful inspections of your home or area at risk.

If you just got rid of a colony, you need to have more frequent inspections - probably at least once every three months and then annual inspections once you've been termite free for at least a year. If you know your neighbour has termites, it would be a good idea to have bait set out and have it checked every few months.

Regular checks you can do inside and outside of your house. This includes checking areas that provide food sources for termites:

• backyard - dead leaves, tree stumps
• outside home – windowsills, doorframes
• inside home – check for cracks in base of walls, windowsills, doorframes

• Before buying a house, ensure it had a termite inspection
• Remove all wooden debris from around the building.
• Replace wooden posts, steps, trellises and other structures that contact the soil with non cellulose material
• Replace badly damaged timbers with sound materials. Remove infested trees and stumps.

• Where possible, don't allow wood within 45 cm of the soil.

• Provide adequate ventilation and drainage for basements, cellars and crawl spaces. Ventilate crawl spaces and attics to reduce humidity and cover at least 90% of the soil in crawl spaces with plastic sheeting.
• Reduce soil moisture around the structure by directing run-off away from the foundation.  Be sure gutters and downspouts are installed and working correctly.
• Fill all visible cracks and voids in the foundation with concrete or caulking compound, which may provide a handy access point for termites.
• Don't affix wooden trellises to exterior walls.
• Keep mulch, wood debris, scrap lumber, sawdust, and firewood away from your home. If you do keep firewood outside your house during the winter, keep it raised off the ground.
• Trim all shrubs, bushes and other dense greenery away from the foundation of your home, don’t allow leaves to accumulate in gutters and drains.
• Repair leaking faucets and water lines, both indoors and outdoors. Fix leaky roofs and gutters.
• Ideally, wood siding, stucco, and foam board should be at least 15 cm away from the ground.
• Regular termite treatments by a qualified Pest Control expert.

If you have found the termites in your home, there are simple strategies to maintain.

1. Remain calm, do not panic. Termites do work slowly, so you do have time to do act before it gets significantly worse
2. Do not touch them or disturb their work as it is easier to manage these insects if they are undisturbed
3. Do not spray them with any substance. Spraying encourages them to go into areas where they may be harder to track
4. Call for a professional pest control inspector to manage the problem.

Termites are by far incredible insects. The best way to protect your home and manage termites is by regular termite inspection checks of your home and surroundings; and a routine pest control professional inspection especially if you suspect your home is at risk.

Treating termite infestation requires in-depth knowledge of building construction and termite behaviour. Because potential termite entry points are hidden behind walls or under floors, a careful examination and treatment by a Termite Inspection professional may be necessary.