Termites are known to be active all year long, so here are some ways to tell if they may have reached your home:

Structural damage to your home

When you start seeing physical changes to your home from termite damage, it’s often too late, as termites have probably already been there for quite some time. You may notice problems in walls, ceilings, floors and paint such as holes, buckling, blistering, warping, sagging and flaking. Windows and doors may seem harder to open and shut.

Mud tubes

If you notice brown trails of hardened dirt along walls, crawl spaces or timber beams, these mud tubes are a strong indicator of active termites in winter. Built by working termites, these tunnels are around 0.25-1 inch in diameter and designed to protect foraging termites from predators and the elements while they’re moving between the nest and food source.

Hollow sounds when tapping wood

When termites have tunnelled through a timber structure, the empty space that is left behind will be exposed by a hollow, echoing sound when the timber is tapped. This is a hidden sign of termite damage meaning that the structural integrity of the timber has been significantly compromised.

Termite swarming and discarded wings

As spring approaches, termite colonies prepare for swarming. If you notice flying termites, also known as swarmers, near tree stumps, wooden sleepers or woodpiles, as well as discarded wings near windowsills and doors, this is a sign of termites in your area.

Clicking sounds

Although they are mostly silent while they do their damage, you may occasionally hear faint clicking noises coming from your walls during peak termite tunnelling activity. Soldier termites can also initiate clicking noises to warn their fellow termites of imminent danger.

Termite droppings

At less than 0.04 inches long and resembling wood-coloured piles of sawdust, termite droppings can be hard to see and even mistaken for something else.

Although the ground surface temperatures may be freezing, subterranean termites living in underground nests will often burrow down deeper where the soil is warmer and seal off the openings to avoid cold draughts and warm air escaping.

You’ll also notice that worker termites forage closer to their nests for food in winter and focus more on nest maintenance and repair. In fact, many workers may not survive the cold weather.

Queens also lay less eggs and there is overall a lower population of termites, with less activity in the nest to try and conserve energy and heat.

For the termites that have managed to penetrate timber inside your home, however, winter has very little effect. The large amount of activity generates heat and having protection from the harsh elements means that they can stay warm and full of food all year long!

The most reliable way to avoid a termite infestation is to have regular comprehensive termite inspections.

Conducted by licensed termite inspectors, a government-recommended yearly termite inspection is the best form of termite protection that you can get.

For those who live in areas of higher risk, more frequent inspections are ideal. This includes buildings that are situated near a large body of water or have experienced a previous termite attack.

Once termites have entered your home, they’ll stay all year long. Even when it’s the middle of winter, Allstate is always here to help.

Since 1986, we’ve successfully managed termite outbreaks in homes and businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide. Available 24/7 for urgent advice, our licensed and highly knowledgeable team of pest technicians can assist you with safe and non-toxic termite solutions.

With comprehensive warranties and easily accessible payment plans on all our termite products and services, you can trust that you’ll be protected from termites for good.