Termite Prevention – Stop termites entering weep holes

It’s been estimated that termites cause around $1 billion dollars of damage in Australia each year! With termite damage not covered by standard home insurance policies, it’s important that homeowners take all possible steps to prevent termites from entering their home.

How do termites get into your home?

Termites are experts in breaking into homes. Your home is a big, tasty food source and combined with a moisture source, such as a leaking shower or poor drainage, it becomes a termite magnet. Each building type will have points of weakness that termites will exploit for entry. For homes on concrete slabs they can squeeze through cracks in the slab and brickwork, or follow the utility entry points (water, electricity and drainage) to enter the home. With termites able to squeeze through gaps as small as 2 millimetres, the weep holes in walls represent an easy access, open door to your home!

Weep holes as a termite entry point

Weep holes are an important functional element in brick walls, allowing moisture to escape and providing ventilation to keep the home healthy. However, weep holes at the base of walls are often just above ground level, providing easy access for termites. What’s more, the perimeter of the home is generally beautified with gardens, which are nicely watered and mulched, making them a real termite hotspot, right next to your home.

A weep hole from one of our trials showing how termites can easily access an unprotected weep hole

How to stop termites entering through weepholes

The good news is that Weepa have a Termite Protector Weep Hole Screen that can be inserted into a weephole in a matter of seconds, to prevent termite entry. Consisting of a heavy duty polymer to provide a physical barrier, combined with the insecticide bifenthrin, to provide chemical deterrence, the Termite Protector will provide protection from termite entry for up to 2 years. With the included applicator it’s an easy job to replace the Termite Protector when required.

The Weepa Termite Protector can be inserted in seconds and prevents termite entry

Importantly the patented design still allows the weep hole to perform its important role in moisture removal and ventilation.

Make sure you have complete termite protection and regular termite inspections

The use of Weepa Termite Protectors should form part of an overall termite management plan for your property. The installation of a termite monitoring system or the application of termiticide to the soil around your home (as recommended by your termite professional) will work in conjunction with the Weepa Termite Protectors to provide a complete termite barrier. Weepa always recommend comprehensive termite inspections by a termite professional at least once a year or more regularly in areas of high termite pressure to make sure your property remains termite free.

Weepa Termite Protectors are available in packs of twenty from Bunnings and leading hardware stores.

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