Plumbing Leaks Can Cause Termite Infestations

When homeowners hear the word termite they often break into a sweat, and rightfully so. Termites are estimated to cause about $1.5 billion a year in damage to homes in Australia alone and some estimates claim that 80% of homes in south east Queensland have some termite activity.


Because of this, home insurance policies do not cover termite damage, so any repair cost will be entirely on the home owner. But many people don't realise that aging or faulty plumbing can be one of the main factors that attract termites to your home.

There are many species of termites in Australia but none more invasive, widespread and destructive than the Subterranean Termite. As the name suggests Subterranean Termites make their nest underground and are by far the most destructive species in Australia and require the ground they live in to be constantly moist.

If you have a dripping or leaking pipe especially under your floor or around the base of your home or poor drainage which allows water to pool in your yard you are creating the perfect environment for termites to nest. Whilst it is easy to tell if there is water pooling in your yard, checking for leaks especially bellow your floor is impossible without the right tools.
There are many things you can do to help minimise the risk of termites in your home:

• Get a leak detection specialist to inspect your plumbing annually.
• Insure that water doesn't pool in and around your yard
• Make sure you don't leave wood around the house, if you must store wood ensure that it is not in contact with the ground and is not in contact with your house in any way
• Get regular termite inspections
• Install a termite baiting system to ensure any future termites will not make it to you house.

If you have noticed an increase of water pooling or you believe you might have a leaky pipe call a plumber immediately. It's not just your water bill that rises from a leak but the chance of you getting termites and costing you thousands of dollars in repairs.