Termite Reticulation Systems in Brisbane: Tom's Pest Control

A termite reticulation system is a network of underground pipes and fittings designed to distribute termicide around the perimeter of your property. The termicide creates a chemical barrier that termites cannot cross, effectively protecting your home from termite infestations.

A reticulated pipe is a type of pipe used in termite reticulation systems. These pipes are designed with small emitters or nozzles that evenly distribute termicide along the length of the pipe. Reticulated pipes are installed underground around the perimeter of your property to create an effective chemical barrier against termites.

Installing a termite reticulation system requires professional expertise to ensure proper placement and functionality. It involves the following steps:

• Assessing the property and determining the optimal layout for the pipe network.
• Excavating trenches around the foundation of the property.
• Laying the pipes and fittings in the trenches, ensuring they are properly connected.
• Filling the system with termicide to create the chemical barrier.
• Backfilling the trenches and restoring the landscape.

It’s essential to hire a reputable pest control company like Tom’s Pest Control to handle the installation process.

Refilling a termite reticulation system should be done by a professional pest control technician. The process involves:

• Inspecting the system for leaks or damage and making any necessary repairs.
• Pumping the termicide into the system using specialized equipment.
• Checking the system’s pressure and flow to ensure even distribution of the termicide.

Scheduling regular refills is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of your termite barrier.

The cost of installing a termite reticulation system varies depending on factors such as property size, system type, and installation complexity. It’s essential to get a quote from a reputable pest control company like Tom’s Pest Control to determine the exact cost for your specific property.

The key to the suitability of any termiticide in a wet environment is the propensity to leach through a soil profile upon a wetting event. The main measure for ability to leach is the product’s water solubility. Termidor has very low water solubility and therefore will not leach through the soil. Termidor tightly binds to organic matter in soil, which also limits its movement. All of these physical and chemical characteristics contribute to Termidor remaining active in the treated zones close to the foundations of the structure for as long as the soil and foundations have not been compromised or the normal time span for degradation has elapsed.

This includes soils that have been located in flooded areas. As an example, whilst conducting long-term field trials throughout Australia, a Townsville site suffered a major flood which completely submerged the Termidor treated plots for a lengthy period. It can be seen from the graph below that there was no effect on the amount of Termidor present in the soil.

This depends on a number of factors. Your Accredited Termidor Applicator is in the best position to determine this via a thorough inspection and written report. As a guide, Termidor should be used to re-establish the treated zones when:

• Soil erosion next to foundations has removed protective termite treatment zones.
• Any rectification work has moved or removed treated soil.
• Flooding has brought new, untreated soil next to the foundation.
• Foundation elements have shifted/moved or soil subsidence has occurred and untreated soil now requires a Termidor treatment.
• Treatments with other more water soluble products are suspected to no longer be in place to protect the structure (from previous use of non-Termidor materials).
• Adjacent patios, driveways, concrete pathways, asphalt pads, etc have moved and exposed soil areas that can now be treated. Especially when repaired and previous soil is moved.
• Landscaping has been repaired, added, etc and the previously treated zones have been disturbed.
• Repairs to the structure (especially foundation repairs) leads to the presence of untreated zones.

After receiving the inspection and written report it can be a little confusing with an overload of information. It is important that you sit down and discuss the report with your Accredited Termidor Applicator to understand the recommendations (why they are important), agree on a plan to carry out the recommendations and review the success after implementing the recommendations. Following this advice is very important, as it will affect the quality of the treatment and may also affect any warranty given by the pest manager.

The termite threat in areas that have suffered excessive rain events may actually increase. Termites increase their population based on a number of factors including access to moisture and food sources. Obviously after heavy sustained rainfall, the soil will hold moisture for a long period of time which the termites will enjoy. Added to this is the increase in building timber and tree debris left behind after the water recedes.

Quite often this is buried in land fill or stacked in a pile which adds a new food source which can sustain a larger termite population. As a consequence, termite pressure will, in time, be more severe. Therefore it is imperative that an Accredited Termidor Applicator performs a thorough inspection of the site to assess the risk and provide recommendations to protect your home from future termite infestations. These should be conducted at least every 12 months into the future.

As stated above, Termidor binds strongly to the soil particles and will not leach through the soil profile. However, this is based on soil that is not saturated at the time of treatment. If the soil is saturated, the Termidor (and any other termiticide) will remain in the water phase with little chance to bind to organic matter in the soil profile. Therefore the soil needs time to dry out enough so that the soil profile is not in a saturated state. This drying time depends on the type of soil, site drainage and the weather conditions after the original wetting event. Your Accredited Termidor Applicator is in the best position to answer this question.

The crucial advantage Termidor has over many other products is that it doesn’t repel termites. Termites are able to detect the older chemicals in the soil and stay away from them. That means the termites remain active and unaffected, still exploring the area and potentially looking for ways into your home. Termites can’t detect the treated zone so, as they continue to forage through the soil and unknowingly come into contact with Termidor.

The Genuine Termidor Transfer Effect™

Because affected termites can’t detect Termidor, they carry it back to the nest on their bodies and pass it on to other termites, hence the devastating Genuine Termidor Transfer Effect. Termidor can control whole termite populations faster than any other treatment, but it is relatively slow-acting in individual termites. This means termites have ample time before dying to spread Termidor to their nest, and the entire colony.  The combination of Termidor being undetectable in the soil and its Transfer Effect mean no other termiticide performs as well as Termidor.

Over 400,000 homeowners for the past 18 years have been satisfied with Termidor protecting their homes, without a single product failure. That is why it comes with an eight-year warranty and is Australia’s number one trusted brand for termite control. Termidor’s Genuine Transfer Effect™ takes advantage of the social behaviors of termites living and feeding in large colonies where they are in constant contact.

When a single termite comes into contact with a Termidor treated zone, it will unknowingly transfer it back to the colony on its body, infecting termites that have not even been near the Termidor treated zone. This is the ‘Transfer Effect’ and a key reason why no other termiticide performs as well as Termidor.

Termites can’t detect Termidor due to its innovative, non-repellent technology, so they can pick up a lethal dose while foraging in treated areas. As a result, Termidor works quicker and more effectively than other inferior termite control options.

1. An Accredited Termidor Applicator will conduct a thorough inspection of your property – should termites be found, a treatment with Termidor Foam will be required to quickly stop activity within your home.
2. A trench will be dug around your home in preparation for the Termidor application.
3. Termidor will be applied to the soil as it is backfilled.
4. Holes are drilled through paths and concrete areas or concrete is cut away to gain access to the soil.
5. Pavers, if not concreted in, must be lifted, the soil treated underneath and the pavers re-laid.
6. Some soils, such as heavy clays, may be removed and replaced with a sandy loam before treatment.
7. A follow-up visit is recommended by your Accredited Termidor Applicator.
8. Ongoing inspections of your home and surrounds at least every 12 months, and more frequently in high risk situations, are recommended.