An innovative mobile app ‘Termite Buster’ has just launched, which can detect termites and prevent further damage to a home.
According to a leading entomologist, about $1.5 billion dollars worth of damage and repairs are caused by termites around Australia every year.
Ion Staunton is an entomologist and has been working in the termite industry for sixty years. He said perhaps the worst news for homeowners is the impact that termite damage can have on the resell value of a home.
“A few years ago CSIRO and Archicentre Australia conducted separate surveys and found that about every third house had been attacked by termites. Australia has the worlds most damaging termites and termite damage can decrease a homes value at an average of about $50,000,” Mr Staunton said.
The entomologist said that wood eating termites are located around Australia and the only state that isn’t affected is Tasmania.
He has given the termite buster app his approval.
“The Termite Buster app is a simple way to check for termites in a home. When termites are there and you have your phone in the right spot you can detect them. But the important thing is to have a professional check your home too,” Mr Staunton said.
Chris Kirk, Co-founder of the mobile app Termite Busters said it is a world first and that the app had a 96 per cent success rate so far.
Termite buster uses patented detection software to detect the presence of termites within the walls of homes and other structures using the smartphones highly sensitive noise cancelling microphone.
When soldier termites bang their heads against the walls of their tunnels, this sound can be recorded and analysed for instant results.
“Any other device to detect termites would cost thousands of dollars to purchase and a professional inspection costs hundreds,” Mr Kirk said.
Chris Kirk said that the app wasn’t made to replace the need for pest inspections, but to allow people to check for termites more frequently.
“People usually get their house inspected for termites once a year. However in that year, termites can cause a huge amount of damage in a house, not just to homes but your health with termites introducing mold into homes. Mold is extremely dangerous to people with asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems.
“We're trying to educate people and let them know there is an easy way to check. We still want people to get pest inspections too,” Mr Kirk said.
The mobile app can be downloaded from the iTunes app store for $9.99.
For more information on the app visit http://www.termitebuster.com/.