How to Get Rid of Termites: A Practical Guide for Homeowners

Highlights at a Glance

• Termites can stay hidden for a long time, so visible damage is not always the first sign.

• Mud tubes, hollow timber, discarded wings and damaged wood are signs worth checking.

• Do not rely on sprays alone. The right treatment depends on where the termites are coming from and how they are accessing your property.

• Moisture, leaking pipes, poor drainage, timber touching soil and garden debris can make your property more attractive to termites.

• Regular termite inspections can find activity before the damage becomes expensive.

• Termite barriers and baiting systems can form part of a longer-term management plan.

• Homes and businesses around Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra and the Southern Highlands can all face termite risks.

Termites are easy to ignore when you cannot see them. That is part of the problem. They can work inside timber, under floors and behind walls without making much noise. By the time you notice hollow-sounding timber, mud tubes or damaged wood, they may have already been active for some time, causing a severe termite infestation.

If you have found signs of termites at home, do not panic. The first step is to understand what you are looking at and where the activity may be coming from. You can take practical steps to reduce the risk and deal with active termites properly. Here is a simple guide to help you work through it.

What You Can Do to Get Rid of Termites and Protect Your Property

1. Check for the Signs You Can See

Before you think about treatment, take a proper look around your property. Termites can be hidden for a long time, so you may not see the insects themselves. Instead, look for signs such as-

• Narrow mud tubes along walls or foundations

• Timber that sounds hollow when tapped

• Blistered or damaged wood, small holes

• Piles of discarded wings around windows and doors. 

You may also notice doors or windows becoming difficult to open if termite damage has affected the surrounding timber. One sign does not always mean you have termites. Timber can also become damaged by age, moisture or decay, so it is important to look at the full picture before deciding what you are dealing with.

If you find a mud tube or an area that looks suspicious, resist the urge to scrape it away or spray it immediately. Leaving the area untouched gives a pest professional a much better chance of identifying what is happening. As an experienced pest control company, we suggest taking a few photos, if possible and noting where they found the signs. This is especially useful if the activity is in a difficult place, such as under the house, around a deck or inside a roof space.

2. Arrange a Professional Termite Inspection

Once you have noticed possible signs, a proper termite inspection should be your next step. This is important because the area where you find damage is not necessarily where the termites entered your property. They can travel through concealed spaces and reach timber in another part of the house. A thorough inspection looks at more than just the damaged section. It considers the condition of the property, possible entry points, moisture problems, accessible timber and areas where termite activity could remain hidden.

For a typical home, this can include areas such as:

• Subfloor spaces and foundations

• Roof voids and accessible ceiling areas

• External walls and timber structures

• Gardens, tree stumps and stored timber

• Areas around plumbing and drainage

• Decks, pergolas and other structures attached to the home

As a pest removal company, we know that finding the source is just as important as treating the visible signs. Our pest experts provide termite inspections across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands. So you can arrange an examination before the damage has a chance to spread further. You can also check the areas we serve if you are unsure whether your property is covered.

3. Find Out What Is Attracting Termites to Your Property

Once termite activity has been confirmed, look at the conditions around your property. Termites need a source of food and moisture, and some properties simply give them easier access than others. Damp soil, leaking pipes, blocked gutters, poor drainage, old tree stumps and timber stored close to the house can all increase the risk. You do not need to remove every plant from your garden or make your yard look bare. The aim is to remove unnecessary sources of food and moisture close to the building and keep important areas visible.

Walk around the outside of your property and look at it from a termite's point of view. Is there old firewood sitting against the wall? Does mulch cover the base of the building? Are there tree branches or dead timber touching the house? Can you see where water collects after rain? These small details are easy to overlook, but dealing with them can make future inspections easier and reduce the conditions that support termite activity.

4. Fix Moisture Problems Around Your Property

Moisture deserves special attention because it can create the right conditions for termites as well as other pests. Check underneath sinks, around toilets, near the laundry, around hot water systems, and anywhere plumbing enters the walls or floor. Outside, look at your gutters, downpipes and drainage. If water regularly sits against the house after rain, find out why and correct the problem rather than simply allowing it to dry naturally.

This is particularly worth checking around homes in the Illawarra, where wet weather and coastal conditions can contribute to damp areas around a property. Fixing a leaking pipe will not remove an established colony, but it can remove one of the conditions that made the area attractive in the first place. It is also a good general step for preventing other residential pest infestation problems, as damp areas can attract insects that become a food source for other pests.

5. Keep Timber and Garden Waste Away From the House

Take a walk around your garden and see what has been left sitting close to the house. Old timber, tree stumps, fallen branches, cardboard, untreated wood and piles of garden waste can provide food or shelter. Firewood is another common issue. If you keep it directly against an external wall, move it further away and keep it raised where possible. The same applies to old building materials left after renovations. If you no longer need them, it is better to remove them rather than leave them in a damp corner of the yard.

You should also keep the area around the foundations, walls and other important inspection points reasonably clear. This does not mean you need to redesign your garden. It simply means you should avoid covering the parts of the property that need to be checked. If mulch, soil, plants or stored items hide the base of your walls, it becomes much harder to spot early signs of termite activity.

6. Check Your Subfloor and Roof Void

Do not focus only on the rooms where you noticed damage. Subfloor spaces and roof voids can remain undisturbed for long periods. This gives termites plenty of time to move around without being noticed. If your home has a subfloor, check that vents are clear and that the space has reasonable airflow. Look for damp areas, damaged timber or anything else that seems unusual. Do not enter a difficult or unsafe space just to inspect it yourself. A professional can assess difficult-to-reach areas without putting you at risk.

Older properties around Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Nowra can have different construction styles and subfloor arrangements, so the areas that need attention will vary from one property to another. The same applies to roof spaces. If you notice damaged timber, mud tubes or discarded wings around an accessible part of the roof, mention this during your inspection. A small sign in one location can help point towards a larger issue that is not immediately visible.

7. Do Not Rely on a Supermarket Termite Spray

This is one of the easiest mistakes to make. You see a termite, spray it, and assume the problem has been dealt with because the insect is gone. The trouble is that the termite you can see is only one part of the problem. The colony may be elsewhere, and other termites may still be travelling through concealed areas of the property. A household spray can kill an insect on contact, but that does not mean it has dealt with the source.

If you have already tried a DIY product and are still seeing signs, do not keep spraying different products around the property. Arrange an inspection instead. A professional can work out where the activity is coming from and recommend a treatment based on the property and the level of activity. If you want to keep your pest removal budget affordable, prevention, regular inspections and early action are much more sensible than waiting until major timber repairs are needed.

8. Choose Treatment Based on the Property

There is no single termite treatment that works for every property. The right approach depends on where the activity is found, how the termites are getting into the property, the construction of your home, the level of damage and whether there has been termite activity there before. A treatment that works well for one property may not be the right choice for another, which is why an inspection should come before treatment.

Depending on what the inspection finds, a termite management plan may include termite baiting systems, chemical soil treatments or other targeted methods. Before treatment begins, make sure you understand what has been recommended and why. Ask about:

• Where the termite activity was found

• Which treatment is being recommended

• How the treatment works

• Whether follow-up visits are needed

• What you need to do before and after treatment

• How ongoing protection will be managed

If you run a shop, restaurant, office or another commercial property, the same principle applies. Commercial pest control services can manage termite risks alongside other pest issues, particularly where food storage, moisture or regular deliveries may create additional pest pressure.

9. Keep the Treated Areas Under Observation

Once treatment has been completed, do not assume you can forget about termites completely. Depending on the treatment used, follow-up inspections and monitoring may be an important part of keeping the property protected. You may also notice some activity for a period after treatment, so it is better to follow the advice given by your pest professional rather than assuming the treatment has failed.

Keep an eye out for anything unusual around the property. If your treatment includes a monitoring or baiting system, do not skip the recommended follow-up visits. Regular monitoring gives you a chance to catch new activity early and check that the protection is still doing its job. We offer ongoing termite management and follow-up inspections, which can be especially useful if your property has experienced termite activity before.

You can also read our other blogs for practical advice about termites and other common pests around NSW homes. Keeping up with simple prevention advice can help you understand what to look for between professional visits.

10. Make Your Property Harder for Termites to Reach

Once the immediate problem has been dealt with, turn your attention to prevention. You cannot completely remove the risk of termites from any property, but you can make your home less attractive and make it easier to spot signs early. Start with the areas around the outside of the house. Keep timber, firewood and garden waste away from external walls, trim plants that touch the building and avoid allowing soil or mulch to cover important inspection areas.

A few simple habits can make ongoing prevention much easier:

• Keep gutters and downpipes clear.

• Fix leaking taps and pipes as soon as you notice them.

• Store firewood away from the house.

• Remove old timber, tree stumps and dead branches.

• Keep subfloor vents clear.

• Avoid covering inspection areas with soil or mulch.

• Check timber structures such as decks and pergolas regularly.

• Arrange professional inspections at the recommended intervals.

Protect Your Home Before Termites Get the Chance

A few simple habits can help you keep your place free from nasty termites. If you spot signs of termite activity in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra, the Southern Highlands or nearby areas, do not leave it until the damage becomes obvious. We serve various areas across the region, so contact us if you need advice or want to arrange an inspection. Remember, a small check today can save you a bigger repair bill later.