Termites may be small, but they can cause significant damage to buildings. In Australia, they are thought to affect one in every five houses, and cause over $100 million dollars in damage to homes each year.

Unfortunately, since termite damage is considered as preventable, property insurance does not cover the cost of repairs.

If you’re responsible for a commercial property, however, the bill could be much higher. Building damage can have a severe impact on your business and operations, as well as your reputation. On top of this, any structural problems can cause accidents, start fires, damage equipment and compromise the health and safety of tenants, staff, customers and clients. Breaching government regulations may also lead to heavy penalties.

Fortunately, termite outbreaks can be easily avoided as Allstate offers comprehensive termite prevention programs for commercial facilities of all sizes.

• Trim tree branches, vegetation and foliage that are in contact with the sides of your building
• Remove old tree stumps, as well as piles of mulch and wood
• Be aware if your neighbours have experienced termite problems
• Have yearly termite inspections

Managing a commercial building is no easy task, and having a termite outbreak is not something you want on your hands. Fortunately, our licensed termite inspectors are ready to help you to safeguard your business.

Available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide, our team is fully equipped to assist with termite prevention and management  in commercial facilities of all sizes. All our inspections are conducted in compliance with Australian standards.

Established in 1986, Allstate has grown to become the largest independent pest control company in Adelaide. We use targeted, innovative treatments that are non-toxic towards pets, children and the environment.

With a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our services, competitive warranties and payment plans available, you can trust Allstate for long-lasting defence from termites.

In many parts of the world, including Adelaide, termites are active all year round, no matter the season. The queen termite will continue laying eggs to help maintain the colony. While the ideal temperature for termite survival is 23-38 degrees Celsius, they also prefer areas with moisture.

Although it seems that termites prefer a warm, humid climate, and the weather can certainly affect the formation of new colonies, make no mistake – they can still be laying low nearby when the mercury drops.

Many species of termites have evolved to survive in winter, and others actively look for warm places to shelter, such as your home.

Once they’ve entered your foundations, walls and other cellulose-rich wooden structures, they will silently eat away at the wood, resulting in significant damage. At this point, no weather conditions will deter termites away from a feast of their favourite food.

There are some dry wood termites, in particular subterranean termites, that prefer cooler weather. In fact, there is one species that is known to have active swarmers during the autumn months.

Here are some ways to tell if you have termite activity in your home or business:

• Look for changes to walls, floors and ceilings, such as cracks, changes to the paint, sagging and blistering.
• Door frames may become warped and doors may be harder to open or close
• You notice mud tubes which are small brown coloured, elongated tunnels with an outer wall made from dirt, wood, debris and droppings
• You hear a hollow sound when tapping on termite-infested timber structures
• You see piles of swarmer or flying termite wings
• You experience frequent electricity interruptions due to termite activity interfering with wiring

Termite activity can be difficult to see until it’s too late without extra equipment and special training. For early detection, a professional termite inspection is the way to go.

As termites don’t stop being a pest in autumn, your home or business could still be at high risk of an outbreak. Fortunately, Allstate is here to help.

Family owned and local, with over 30 years’ experience in pest control and management, Allstate has provided services to homes and businesses in all types of settings across Adelaide.

Our team is licensed, highly experienced and fully equipped to detect and treat termite outbreaks early.

We understand that termite outbreaks can be stressful and disruptive, and that’s why we are available 24/7 for advice about any pest issue or concern that you may have.

All our treatments come with a 100% money-back, satisfaction warranty and are non-toxic towards children, pets and the environment. With interest-free pay plans available, you won’t need to delay any urgent termite inspection or treatment any futher.

During spring and summer, every 3 to 5 years, you will find that winged termites or swarmers pair off and fly away to expand the termite colony. They’ll start a new colony elsewhere and usually choose to nest in woodpiles and tree stumps in your yard, so we recommend removing these if possible.

Once they have mated, swarmers lose their wings. So if you notice piles of scattered wings or flying insects particularly around windows, windowsills and doors, you may have a termite outbreak on your hands. 

Not to be confused with flying ants which are smaller and darker coloured, you’ll tend to see flying termites swarming more often at night.

Termites build tunnels encased with a sturdy mixture of dirt, wood, debris, saliva and droppings to protect them when they forage for food away from their underground nests.

We recommend keeping the perimeter of your house clear of moist soil and dirt to discourage mud tube formation.

When subterranean termites leave their nest underground to forage for food, they will build mud tubes to travel safely between their food source and nest. These tubes also assist with retaining moisture and warmth, which are ideal survival conditions for termites.

While they can be seen inside and outside your home in different formations, mud tubes are commonly noticed around entry points and the house foundation.

With a diameter that is less than 1/8 inches, termite holes are generally left behind by drywood termites and can be hard to spot.

A sign of a serious outbreak, termite holes are an entry and exit point for termites tunnelling through wood, walls and mud. Once created, they are usually quickly sealed off by the remains of undigested wood and droppings. 

Usually formed just before mating season, these holes are an important way for termite swarmers to exit the colony to reproduce and start a new colony elsewhere.

Several termite species can be found living in nests above the ground in and around trees and tree stumps as well as landscaping sleepers.

Even if there are no visible signs of damage on the outside of a tree, the insides could be slowly getting destroyed. Over time, the tree will become increasingly rotten.

Once the tree has been damaged significantly, you may find the branches weaken and fall off, causing damage to your home and endangering people.

If you notice mud tubes appearing on tree bark, you can check how fragile your tree has become.

Subterranean termites are the most common species of termites found in Adelaide. They live underground and are known to cause substantial damage to timber structures. To minimise your risk of an attack, it’s recommended that you have an annual routine termite inspection by a licensed professional.

Australian national guidelines for termite inspection

The CSIRO recommends following the advice which is outlined by the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) to determine how regularly your property requires termite inspections.

These guidelines state that termite inspections should be conducted at least annually, if not more frequently, depending on:

• The type of termite species present
• The type of building construction
• Whether or not there are particular physical or environmental risk factors which predispose a termite attack
• Geographical region
• Previous termite damage within or surrounding the property

Cooler weather in Adelaide draws termites indoors

Areas with warm, humid climates and dense vegetation – such as Sydney and Brisbane – possess ideal breeding conditions for termites.

However, for a city like Adelaide, which is generally cooler, this means that termites are more likely to seek warmth indoors – most likely within the walls of your home.

At Allstate, we use a combination of traditional tools and modern technology to identify even the smallest signs of termite activity inside your home during your annual termite inspection.

Check the integrity of an existing termite pest barrier

Making sure that you have a reliable termite pest barrier installed is the best way to safeguard you and your family from the threat of a termite outbreak.

If you’re buying an existing home, or living in an older home, it’s important to check for potential termite risk factors, previous damage and that the termite protection plan for the property is up-to-date and adheres to Australian Standards.

At Allstate, we offer pre-purchase termite inspections and quotes to update existing termite barriers, allowing you peace of mind before making these important financial decisions.

You can have a comprehensive termite inspection with Allstate starting from $198. For larger homes and properties, or more complex inspections requiring additional equipment, an extra fee may be charged. Please contact Allstate on 8371 1277 and speak to one of our friendly consultants to arrange a free quote.

Protect your home with regular termite inspections

At Allstate, have seen firsthand the damage and heartbreak caused by a termite infestation. 

The good news is that this can be avoided through regular, routine termite inspections of your property. We understand that you’re busy, so we’re happy to work around your schedule.

Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, our team of licensed termite inspectors is highly trained to detect the early, subtle signs of termite activity around your home. We always conduct our inspections in accordance with Australian Standards. 

With the assistance of a range of modern equipment, we have the expertise to identify the presence of high risk factors so that we can determine the likelihood of an outbreak. 

We’ll make sure that all of our observations and findings are communicated to you in a clear, concise report so that you stay up to date with keeping your family safe from termites.