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Article posted on January 01, 2021

What You Need to Know About Termite Reticulation Systems

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A termite reticulation system is a series of underground piping that’s positioned around a home. Its purpose is to provide an ongoing form of protection against termites. The benefits of course are that it can be replenished repeatedly with a termiticide – via specialised equipment and pumps.

There’s a wide range of reticulation systems on the market, each with its own pros and cons. One benefit is that if there’s immediate access to the perimeter of the property (direct access to the soil) they can be easily replenished without having to drill through concrete.

Termite reticulation systems can be used on a new home or one that’s undergoing renovations – such as an extension. Reticulation systems are often a requirement for homeowners wanting to build a granny flat or add an extra room to their home. Australian standard stipulates that there has to be a replenishable termite barrier between the existing homes foundation and a newly poured concrete slab. In this case, we would lay a termite reticulation line underneath the slab where the old slab meets the new, so that it’s replenishable when the chemical meets the end of its life cycle. We connect it up and re-fill the line. The termiticide goes in at a certain pressure, through the line, and disperses to form a termite treated zone.

If a homeowner has an existing intact reticulation system, it should be replenished with a non-repellent product such as Termidor.

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Troubleshooting termite reticulation systems

The issues we see are when it’s time for homeowners to replenish an old barrier system. Some companies install them using bifenthrin, which is a cheap repellent chemical, designed to deter termites from the house. The termites know it’s there, so when they get to it, they go under it or around it. To solve this, when we’re called in to replenish a termite reticulation system, we use Termidor or a non-repellent so that it’s more effective in protecting the house. The product is designed to be in the ground to eliminate termites, not deter them from the area.

The problem is that 60 to 70% of these reticulation systems are failing when they are being pumped up. The termite reticulation systems that were installed ten years ago are now obsolete or have become brittle from being underground for all those years. A lot of the companies that installed them have gone out of business. We see systems that have been installed poorly or have been placed with plastic bends on the corners.

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If we try and pump these with pressure, instead of pumping 400 litres of product around the house, the pipes break, and the chemical is only pumped into one corner of the house. We have trained our technicians to check every corner when they’re doing reticulation pump-ups. If we do a termite reticulation refill and we detect flooding at the corner, we can’t continue with the work. Instead, we recommend a new installation that will give the homeowner home long-term termite protection.

We were called for a termite inspection and reticulation recently, where we came across this problem. We tested the soil, and we could see the termiticide was all being pumped into one corner. If we hadn’t been really watching what we were doing, the customer wouldn’t have known any better. It would have been entirely misleading to the customer that their home was protected because their system was actually failing.

The issue with pre-build installations

In most cases, a building contractor will brief a termite protection company that specialises in pre-construction to install the system. What concerns us is that these companies don’t need a full termite license to install the line. This means they could have done a short course on how to install the line and could be using inferior products.

The builders are also unaware of how the systems work, and play a role in them failing. We’ve come across sites where the pipes have been covered with rubble or rocks, so the chemical can’t disperse. Another issue can come in with broken lines. The hose has an L-shaped bend, which is used when it needs to curve around a house. They are secured with black clips. If the clips break, the lines pop off. To avoid this, we’ve seen cases where installers have used hose clamps instead. The problem is when the pipes become brittle, the clamps cause them to bend and break underground.

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Replenishing termite systems effectively

Reticulation systems aren’t commonly being installed anymore, but we regularly get called to replenish them. One of the new systems we use now is Termex. There’s no need to use the plastic bends anymore because the lengths are in 10 metres, and have a junction box on every end of the line.  There’s no risk of busting a corner or an end because when we pump up a line, both ends of the line are visible through the junction boxes.

Want us to take a look at your reticulation  system?

If your about to perform extensive renovations, or your reticulation system hasn’t been looked at in some time, be sure to get in touch and we’ll organise a time to come out and take a look at it for you.

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Kent Bailey
11 months ago
Just had my home barrier treatment for termites by Pest Ex. In every way a brilliant job and fantastic friendly service unlike...read more anything else I have struck on the Gold Coast. This is a very professional company and every person involved was excellent in every way. Strongly recommend them to all who read this review because you won't do better.
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Christie McCabe
a year ago
On time. Efficient. Friendly. Informative. Well priced. Our experience with Pest-Ex was easy from the moment Reception answered our call. Our routine...read more pest inspection could be done the next day (a Saturday which is most convenient for full time workers). Karl arrived at 7am with a smile to complete the service and carried out the work efficiently informing us of the process where required. Thanks team.
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Chris Burt
2 years ago
Very professional and able to identify our pest problem on the spot. Was on time and great communication with admin girls via...read more phone. Very conscious of keeping our pet safe after the treatment which was a classy touch. Highly recommend!
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Phill
6 months ago
Great people and always helpful and providing a good service.
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Lorrie Cruickshanks
a year ago
Thank you to Garyn who first identified the issues, he was extremely thorough and prompt and then to John and Janine and...read more the team who treated and area and placed the baits. The process was fully explained and they were extremely courteous and very professional. Thank you to all the team. The office also kept us up to date with when their representatives would be visiting and this is very much appreciated. Great work.
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Donna Hamerton
a year ago
After reading reviews, I'm glad that I chose Pest-Ex. Maria in the office was more than understanding to accommodate me and times....read more I was able to get a booking the same day I made the enquiry. Garyn my technician was even able to come earlier. When he arrived he was happy to explain everything that was going to happen and how to work around my pets and children. Need pest control done - hire these guys.
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2 years ago
Impressed with the service. The technician Steve was on time, friendly and thorough - you could tell he was not rushing the...read more job. Will be using Pest-Ex again. Thanks guys!
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Mickey Ketch
a year ago
This company actually investigates the problem instead of just spraying your place and leaving. Very HIGH knowledge and experience in what they...read more do. They took the time to investigate the cause, the source of the problem and elimnated it completely which included going through every cupboard, cracks hiding spots the lot. We had a cochroach problem in our apartment for 3 months and we had 4 different companies come out and NONE of them investigated they only sprayed. After we called PestEx, Mr. Phillips was very knowledgeable and experienced eliminating our problem entirely. We also use PestEx in our shop and both Mr Phillips and Marty are EXCELLENT in resolving and maintaining pest problems. HIGHLY RECOMMEND PEST EX. BEST I'VE SEEN IN QUEENSLAND.