Malaysians are no stranger to termites also known as “white ants”. Instead of eating food scraps like normal ants, you will find them feeding on damp and dry wood. Whether it is people's homes, commercial establishments, or any other infrastructure — if there's wood, these invaders will consume it.

The “Silent Destroyers”

Termites can tunnel into your home from the soil to just about any opening, coming from as far as 100 feet away. But how much damage can they actually do? How do you detect these damages and stop the infestation? 

Unlike most types of insects, termites invade a property from the inside out, which is why they can be difficult to spot. With each colony housing up to millions of termites, these infestations could go on for months, sometimes years, without the owners or occupants noticing. By then, these tiny invaders might have already damaged the house or building structural bones, making it unsafe.

Termite Damage: How Bad Can It Get?

Did you know that termites can devalue your property by more than 25%? These tiny crawlies can even destroy your entire wooden door or window frame in only 2 weeks! 

Early last year, parts of the ceiling at St John's Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur collapsed due to a termite infestation. The incident caused some damage to the altar area and a few benches. 

Another news that shocked many people was when a elderly woman had her savings literally reduced to waste paper after termites ate through banknotes stored in a cardboard box. Half of her notes were beyond salvaging. 

Common signs of termites that you might see (or hear) around your home or business premises

Mud Tubes On Wall: Termites build shelter tubes made of mud, dirt and debris in order to travel to food sources without being seen.

Sightings of Termite Swarmers or Discarded Wings: These termites are quick to disappear after they have found their mate but leave behind their discarded wings on windowsills and floors.

Hollow Sounding Wood: When you knock on wood that has termite damages, it will sound hollow or papery.

How should you handle the signs of termites?

Often people overlook the need for pest control services when they encounter these pests, and would rather attempt to look for DIY treatments to get the job done, but the reality is trying all the DIY methods by yourself may bring more damage than good.

Even minor damage from termite infestations can cost thousands of ringgit. Plus, it can harm people. This is especially true for commercial and public buildings that have large masses of people visiting frequently. Upon observing signs of termites, it's crucial to act swiftly by contacting and trusting the experts when it comes to getting the right termites treatment. 

Seek Professional Assistance from the Experts!

In conjunction with Termite Awareness Week, the professionals at Rentokil Initial Malaysia advise everyone to take preventive measures to keep these little creatures out of your home and establishment.

Since 1967, Rentokil Initial has been protecting Malaysian homes and businesses from pests. As an industry expert, they have never stopped innovating to bring safe and effective solutions to help you stay on top of your pest issues — rest assured that your property is in good hands.

Rentokil works closely with a number of offices, industrial premises and restaurants, delivering effective pest control solutions that ensure quality standards across the entire supply chain.

If you find SIGNS of Termite Activities in your premises, you can consider some of Rentokil Termite Control solutions:

1. Termite Inspection:

Rentokil Intensive Termite Inspection (RITI) employs imager devices and visual checks to identify termite activity. Early detection through RITI can save you both money and time.

2. Termite Monitoring Solution:

Their discreet monitoring stations, strategically placed around your property, allows experts to routinely monitor any early signs of termite activity.

3. Liquid Termiticide Treatment:

Rentokil Liquid Termiticide Treatment provides a holistic defence to protect against termite infestations on your property. Their trained technicians can apply this treatment to both pre and post-renovated properties, backed by a service package warranty of up to 8 years for peace of mind.

If you are dealing with ACTIVE Termites, you can explore these option:

1) Termite Baiting:

With Rentokil Colony Elimination Plan (RCEP), their technicians will install termite baits after confirming the presence of active termites during inspection. Once the termite workers feed on the bait, and share it with other termites within the colony, the active ingredient will spread throughout the colony to prevent the termites from growing and kills them.

Worried about reinfestations and looking for additional protection?

Rentokil's new and upcoming effort is to provide additional coverage for residential homes against damages done by termites. This coverage will include repair costs and damages to home content, furniture, fixtures, and fittings.

Ready to protect your property against termites? Contact Rentokil Initial experts today to schedule a termite inspection and explore their comprehensive range of solutions tailored to your needs. Visit https://www.rentokil.com/my/termites/control for more information. 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.