Solid plumbing is a huge asset to any house. It ensures your used water and waste aren’t escaping the sewage system, and can prevent such issues as foundation erosion from occurring in your home. But leaking pipes pose another threat, and one which few homeowners are aware of.

The ubiquitous termite is often called a ‘white ant’, although it is in fact more closely related to the cockroach. These creatures, whose colonies number in the millions, are together part of one of the world’s largest biomass by weight. Not bad, for a creature that is smaller than the ants in your garden.

Termites are distinguished by their lack of an exoskeleton, which means they are very susceptible to changing temperatures, and more importantly, humidity. In the absence of the right conditions, termites don’t last long. This is the main reason that they construct their massive nests – as a way to control the temperature and humidity to a constant level, which they do through teamwork and engineering brilliance.

However, as many homeowners have found out, leaking pipes through in to your subfloor create an environment that largely mimics that found within a termite’s nest. It is still, humid, and warm, and has attracted the attention of many aspiring termites looking for a new location. And once they are in place, they will very often find the wood of the foundation to be an excellent food source.

Ensuring that your home is not providing such a safe haven is of primary importance in Melbourne, especially during the hot weather, when termite activity is at its peak. If you suspect that your pipes could be leaking, have them inspected by an expert, like the local professionals at TJ Plumbing and Gasfitting. It could save you some headaches down the road!