When they are in their natural
habitat, termites play a significant role in breaking down plant material which
would otherwise take a long period to break down. These insects also help
improve soil condition by aerating the soil and improving its capacity for
water absorption. But when they begin to invade your home, that is an entirely
different story.
Most people think that termites only
feed on wood. The truth is that these insects feed on cellulose which can be
found not only on wood, but also in paper, clothes and even plastics. Termite
infestation can lead to several problems, chief of which is the compromised structural
stability of the property. But apart from this, termites can also make the
residents of a property sick because they carry with them a fungi that can lead
to sick building syndrome. Prolonged exposure to the fungi carried by the
termites can lead to problems with the nervous system.
Around the world, the damage caused
by termites is estimated to be US$ 22 billion per year. In Australia, the
damage cause by these pests cost about $4 billion annually. These figures are
expected to rise as experts predict that 10 percent of Australian properties
will be or have been attacked by termites at one point or another.
Another major headache associated
with termite infestations is that the presence of these invaders cannot be
easily seen until they have wrought significant damage to the property. Some
tell-tale signs that you can look out for to see whether these insects have attacked
your home include looking for the presence of tunnels outside of the house, arboreal
nests found in trees, swarms of reproductives as well as their discarded wings
and damaged wood.
Of course, the best form of defence
against these pests is taking pro-active action even before they step into your
home and wreak havoc. A sound termite control programme will definitely involve
enlisting the aid of termite control specialists which have the knowledge,
experience and tools to determine if there are termites in your home.
These specialists can then recommend
the appropriate solution depending on the type of termites that have invaded
your home. Definitely, the sound course of action is to call in these experts
even before you suspect that termites may be present in your property. Remember
that insurance policies typically do not cover this type of damage. As such, it
is ideal to have these experts look at your property even before you move in so
that they can place the correct measures to bar the entry of termites into your
home.
About the author: Kenneth Lawrence is a passionate handyman. His craft involves DIY
concepts and he would like to share guidelines and tips about stuff on home
improvement. He writes and reads almost anything that can hone his skills and
increase his knowledge about DIY concepts. He uses helpful websites like http://www.vippestcontrol.com.au/ when writing articles.
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