termite inspections

Termite inspection in Albury, Wodonga & Rutherglen - Detect Termites Early and Limit Termite Damage

Pianto’s Pest Control conduct a thorough specialist termite inspection. Our company uses the latest inspection technology including moisture, radar, borescope/endoscope cameras, and thermal cameras.

Termites can gain undetected entry to your home. They can do large amounts of damage before they are discovered. A regular termite inspection can pick up termites before they get too far. Finding the termites early can make treatment faster and limit damage.

Get a regular termite inspection - don't let termites go undetected in your home

Most of the houses that we treat for termites (white ants) have extensive damage done to the house by the time we start treatment. Often, if we find termites in a house during a termite inspection, there has been very little damage and treatment is quicker.

Much of this extensive damage (and repair cost) could be avoided if your house is inspected by a professional regularly. Australian Standards suggest that houses in the high-risk termite areas of Australia should have their home inspected at least once per year

Termite inspection of timbers

Motion Detection (Radar)

Our Pest Managers use the Termatrac T3i motion detection device. It’s the best way to confirm termite presence (short of removing the plaster, of course).

Moreover, our Pest Managers are accredited users of this device and we use them every day during our termite inspection.

termatrac t3i used in our termite inspection
Termatrac T3i device showing termite movement.

Thermal cameras in our termite inspection

Using Flir thermal cameras our Pest Managers can confirm the presence of termites, along with moisture detection.

As a result, thermal cameras have limited use if used on their own in a termite inspection, and we don’t use them in this way.

Furthermore, it is important to note that thermal cameras are not x-ray cameras – they only pick up surface temperature. This surface temperature can be affected by air conditioners, water leaks, etc., which limits their use in finding termites without the use of moisture and motion detectors.

For example, these images were taken with our Flir C3 thermal camera.

thermal camera before
thermal camera after
Thermal camera showing a termite sub-nest (yellow). There is also a water leak in the top-right (blue)

We exceed the minimum termite inspection requirements

The Australian Standard (AS 3660.2-2017) makes the minimum requirements very clear when it comes to reporting, and most reputable pest inspectors will meet those requirements. 

When conducting our timber pest inspections we choose to exceed this standard. Importantly, our Pest Managers don’t just do check-box reports. We take the time to provide more information as part of our duty of care. 

termite inspection report

What do I do if I find live termites?

Do not spray them with bug spray. Subterranean termites have a central nest that could be a long way from where they are feeding, and can have over a million individuals in the colony. If you spray them where they are, the colony will just come up in another spot.

Do not disturb them. Termite treatments rely on there being active termites present in order to take a treatment product back to the nest. If you disturb them by poking and prodding, you can cause them to leave the area before a termite manager can do an effective treatment.

Call a termite manager. Make sure to ask if the technician that will be attending is qualified for termite management (it is a separate qualification to general pest control). An experienced termite manager will identify the species, conduct a full termite inspection, and make clear recommendations for treatment and prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Inspections are completed to Australian Standard 3660.2-2017 and is only a description of the building at the time of inspection.

It does not guarantee that termites will not enter the building at any time after the inspection.

An inspection is intended to catch termites early before damage becomes extensive. More importantly, while the termite colony is hopefully young and easy to treat.

In order to protect your house from termites, you should consider a preventative termite treatment.

Short answer; yes.

A 12 monthly inspection is required for the warranty on your termite management system.

Modern termite management systems are designed to expose termites and prevent concealed termite entry. They do not stop termites altogether.

Termites are tenacious and impossible to stop entering a structure (in most cases). This is why the warranty on your termite management system requires an inspection at least every 12 months.

If you don’t have a termite management system present on your property, we recommend at least 6 monthly inspections (in most cases).

If you have a termite management system, and it is up to date, we often recommend 12 monthly inspections (although there are exceptions).

The best way to find out your recommended inspection interval is to arrange to have an inspection done. An experienced termite manager will assess the overall risk to your property and make a judgement.

For a start, the Australian Standard AS3660.2: Termite Management sets this interval as the absolute minimum. We consider the Standard to be a minimum requirement, not a guide. Most of the inspections we do, we actually recommend a six-monthly inspection.

The reason behind a regular inspection is to intercept termites early enough that you can avoid major damage. Termites can enter your home undetected and do quite a bit of damage before they are discovered.

If you don’t have a termite management system present on your property, we recommend at least 6 monthly inspections (in most cases). If you have a termite management system, and it is up to date, we often recommend 12 monthly inspections (although there are exceptions).

Modern termite management systems are designed to expose termites and prevent concealed entry. They are designed to make termites easier for a termite manager to detect during an inspection.

For this reason, an inspection is required at least annually, under the Australian Standard AS3660.2: Termite Management.

A termite inspection of a standard 3-4 bedroom house on a concrete slab should take between 1h 15m and 1h 30m.

However, more time is required if there is difficulty accessing areas, or if the floor is a suspended floor. 

If active termites are found, more time may be required to identify the species. 

The inspector will need to get to all internal walls.

Therefore, we ask that you please move heavy furniture and stored articles off the wall to allow access behind them. 

Where we go:

  • The entire inside of the house.
  • The building exterior.
  • The roof void.
  • Under the floor (if applicable).
  • Sheds, garage, and other structures.
  • Gardens, landscaping timbers, and fences.

Searching for termites:

  • Utilising moisture detection equipment, we scan throughout the internal walls of the house during our termite inspection. Using a moisture detector, we search for the damp mud that termites bring into the walls with them. 
  •  The Termatrac T3i termite motion detection device helps to spot termite movement in the walls. We use this device to confirm termite presence after we have found moisture.
  • Thermal imaging is used to search for any heat caused by termite congregation in walls.
  • Pest managers will sound timbers by tapping, brushing, and thumping walls to find hollow or dense sounding materials. 
  • We search for visual signs, such as rippling of plaster, timber discolouration, termite mud, and other signs during our termite inspection.

Other things we look for in our termite inspection:

  • Water leaks.
  • Wood rot.
  • Conditions that can attract termites.
  • Inspect the condition of any termite barriers.
  • A description of the building construction and access restrictions.
  • Termites, including active termites and existing termite damage & nests.
  • Moisture readings.
  • Comments on existing termite treatments.
  • Advice on termite prevention.
  • Termite shield (ant cap) inspection
  • Physical termite barrier inspection.
  • Fungal decay (wood rot).
  • Conditions that can attract termites to the area.
  • How to lower your risk of termite attack.
  • Comments on drainage and subfloor ventilation.
  • Water leaks.

Subterranean termites travel in mud shelter tubes wherever they go. This is to protect themselves from ants. They keep these mud workings at a constant humidity and bring moisture in with them. This can be picked up using a moisture detector.

Termites are also attracted to areas of high moisture. Our moisture detection can also help to pick up water leaks, drainage issues, ventilation issues, and other moisture problems. These issues can then be rectified to reduce your risk of termite attack.

Thermal cameras have significant limitations:

  • Contrary to popular belief, they are not x-ray cameras. They only pick up surface temperature.
  • They are less effective if the air conditioner is on.
  • They are less effective at picking up termite activity in summer, when the ambient temperature is hot.
  • They are less effective when photographing glossy or reflective surfaces.

In conclusion, we find thermal cameras useful as a part of a full inspection, but do not rely on them entirely. They do not replace the need for a full termite inspection with moisture detection.

No. We’ve seen termites travelling millimeters away from ant nests.

Termites have evolved to hide themselves from ants by building mud shelters that ants can’t penetrate. There is recent research that suggests termites even modify their behaviour when they detect vibrations from ants and move more quietly.

No, ‘white ant’ is just a common name for ‘termite’.

We always use the correct term ‘termite’, but ‘white ant’ is perfectly acceptable.

Termites aren’t actually a type of ant. Ants belong in the order Hymenoptera, along with bees and wasps.
Termites belong in the order Blattodea, along with cockroaches.
Their similar behaviour (central nests, queens, workers, soldiers) is an example of convergent evolution, where they have evolved this behaviour separately.

Short answer, no. They only expose termites to an inspector.

Ant caps are designed to force termites to build conspicuous mud structures in order to access a house. They are an aid to a termite inspector, but do not stop termite entry.

There is evidence that they discourage termites to some degree, but this does not mean they are a termite barrier.

Pianto’s Pest Control operates throughout the Indigo, Towong, Wodonga, Albury, Greater Hume and Federation Shire areas including but not limited to:

  • Termite inspections in Albury, Lavington, Springdale Heights, Thurgoona, Table Top, Ettamogah, Jindera, Gerogery, and Culcairn.
  • Pest inspections in Wodonga, Leneva, Baranduda, Bandana.
  • Termite inspections in Bellbridge, Tallangatta, Huon, Bethanga, Bonegilla, Ebden, Talgarno, Charleroi, Eskdale, Kergunyah, and Dederang.
  • (White Ant) Termite inspections in Beechworth, Wooragee, Yackandandah, Stanley, Indigo Valley, and Wangaratta.
  • Pest inspections in Springhurst, Chiltern, Lilliput, Barnawartha, Browns Plains, Boorhaman, and Norong.
  • Termite inspections in Rutherglen, Corowa, Wahgunyah, Carlyle, Hopefield, Redlands, Balldale, Lowesdale, Ringwood, and Collendina.
  • Pest (White Ant) inspections in Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Rennie, Berrigan, Darlington Point, Jerilderie, Finley, and Burrumbuttock.

If you see a town not listed but nearby please still enquire.

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