Termite control is one thing that is always on homeowner's mind. The mere thought of little creatures that can potentially ruin your biggest monetary investment in life is a worrying thing, and what makes it more difficult is that the damage can be all done with you even seeing it.

Understanding the characteristics of a termite is important to help you reduce the risk of the infestations. Termites requires two things - wood and moisture.

The moisture (obviously underground in soil) is so they can build their nests with the soil serving as a source of moisture that helps protect termites from the drying effects of air.

Wood is the the termite's 'food'. Whether it be dried out stumps, roots, dead wood, or even mulch that you use in the garden, these are things to watch out for when doing inspections of termite activity.

Termites often first attack wood that is located close to the soil. Once at the base of the house, they can then follow the framework of the house to gain access to upper levels and floors. Sounds scary but potentially from that initial access, they can destroy a whole house given the right conditions.

Basic prevention tips:
Keep firewood away from the house
Keep dead wood, roots etc away from the house
If you use mulch in the garden, keep away from the main structure of the house.
Fix any plumbing/water leaks where water is being directed towards the house. Remember, termites love moisture.
Trim any plants/trees that have direct contact with the house.

Regularly inspect concrete slabs, metal flashing for evidence of damage or termite infestation. Better still, get a professional in to do an annual inspection of your dwelling, and provide a report for pure peace of mind.

As they say, prevention is better than cure, but if you do already have termites the sooner you can eradicate the pest the better.