Termatrac and termite inspection instruments: what a reading really means
A device that beeps near a wall is a lead for the inspector, not a verdict. Here is what each tool senses and where each one is blind.
Termatrac and the other tools, in plain terms
Termatrac is a brand name for a handheld radar device that inspectors use to check for movement inside walls and timber. It is one of several instruments a timber pest inspector may carry. The others include moisture meters, thermal cameras and sounding tools.
None of them finds termites by itself. Each one points the inspector towards a spot worth a closer look. What the instrument shows is a lead, not a finding.
What each kind of instrument is for
| Instrument | What it senses | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Radar or motion detector (Termatrac is the best-known brand) | Movement behind a surface | Whether the movement is termites, and which species. Other things move too |
| Moisture meter | Damp in timber or lining | Whether termites are the cause. Damp attracts them, and it also has other causes |
| Thermal camera | Temperature differences on a surface | Termites directly. It shows patterns that may relate to damp or activity |
| Sounding tool and probe | Hollow or soft timber | How far the damage goes behind a lining you cannot open |
Notice the last column. Every instrument has a blind spot, and a good inspector knows where each one sits.
A reading is not a diagnosis
A device that beeps near a wall has told the inspector something. It has not told you there are termites. A clear reading has not told you the wall is clean either.
That is why the report matters more than the gadget. Ask what the inspector used, what they could not reach, and what they recommend as a next step. A confident verdict from a single instrument is a warning sign, not a comfort.
Do you need to pay for an inspector with one?
Not necessarily. The standard for a timber pest inspection, AS 4349.3, sets what a visual inspection covers. Instruments can add to it, but a report is not better because it names an expensive device.
If you are choosing between inspectors, the useful questions are simple. Are they licensed? What will they inspect and what will they leave out? How will they tell you what they could not see? Those answers say more than the brand of the equipment.
Do not buy one to check your own walls
It is tempting to buy or hire a device and scan the house yourself. It is rarely worth it. Reading the result takes training, and the moment you start opening walls or breaking tubes to confirm a reading, you disturb the colony.
Disturbance makes the colony abandon that route and re-enter somewhere hidden, and it destroys the evidence the licensed inspector reads. If you see a mud tube or hollow timber, leave it exactly as it is and book an inspection. Do not test it, do not open it, and do not spray it.
Questions worth asking before you book
You do not need to know how radar or thermal imaging works. You need to know what you are being sold. These questions get you there.
- Will you inspect to AS 4349.3, and can I see the licence?
- Which instruments will you use, and what is each one for?
- What areas will you not be able to reach or see?
- If an instrument gives a reading you cannot explain, what happens next?
- What do you recommend if you find nothing but the conditions are favourable?
An inspector who answers plainly, and admits what the tools cannot do, is a better bet than one who leans on the equipment.
What to do with the report afterwards
Read the limitations section first. It lists the areas that were blocked, locked or too tight to enter, and those are exactly where an instrument may have been the only check.
If a part of the house was not inspected, ask whether it can be. A second visit, or clearing access to a subfloor or roof void, often closes the gap. Then keep to the inspection schedule your report recommends, because a single clear result is a snapshot and not a guarantee. For how often that should be, see how often to inspect.
Frequently asked questions
What is Termatrac?
It is a brand of handheld radar device that inspectors use to detect movement inside walls and timber. It is a lead-finding tool, and it does not identify termites or a species on its own.
Does a clear reading mean my house has no termites?
No. Every instrument has blind spots, such as areas it cannot reach or materials it reads poorly. A clear reading lowers concern about one spot, and the inspection report should say what could not be checked.
Should I pay extra for an inspector who uses radar or a thermal camera?
Not automatically. What matters is that the inspector is licensed, works to AS 4349.3 and is clear about what was covered and what was not. An instrument adds information but does not replace that.
Can I use one of these devices myself?
You can, but it is rarely worthwhile. Reading the result takes training, and confirming a reading by opening walls or breaking tubes disturbs the colony. Leave the evidence alone and book a licensed inspector.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- Department of Health, Victoria. Pest control: termites
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Protect against termites: termite management systems and inspections
- Standards Australia. Australian Standards (AS 3660 termite management, AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection)
- Australian Building Codes Board. National Construction Code