Comments (scroll down to add your own):

1. You spend $50 up-front to save $150/yr. How is there any doubt remaining that that’s going to be the better deal?

   Comment by Matt — Aug 25th 2006 @ 5:47 am

2. Matt, I’m well aware of the math. However, cheaper is only a better deal if the product isn’t inferior. In this case, I’m thinking that cheaper (Termidor) is actually better, but I have no firsthand experience with it.

   Comment by nickel — Aug 25th 2006 @ 7:26 am

3. We have been in the termite control business for 33 years and from experience, whatever treatment you choose is not as important as the company you choose. We do have a preference based on our long experience with all methods of termite control. We can offer Sentricon and Termidor as well as all other methods. The reason that the renewal on Sentricon is more is because of the service, not because of the product. When you purchase an automobile, you not only pick what you can afford but consider the value and the support you will get with a manufacturer. You should do the same with your home protection as it will appreciate rather than depreciate as automobiles do.

   Comment by Jan — Sep 1st 2006 @ 4:52 pm

4. I work for at pest control company in GA where termites are very active and have seen many homes damaged by termites, powder post beetles, and fungus. Our company has been in business for over 34 years and licensed in SC, FL, GA , and TN. Any pest control salesperson who is honestr with you will tell you the best termite treatment is Termidor by far. While the Sentricon system is excellent, the number of call backs for termite activity in the home is much higher on the Sentricon. This spring, in my territory alone which consists of 6 counties, I had 12 call backs on Sentricon and absolutely NO callbacks resulting in live termite activity. The Sentricon customers that had live termite damage was on 4 of the call backs and the repairs were made much to our customers surprise. The ratio of damage claims vs the number of sentricon customers is extremely low. The key to any treatment is the warranty and the species of termite covered under the warranty. Some warranties have a low limit on the damage covered. Also, warranties may exclude formosan termites, not transfer to any subsequent owner, and the renewal fee can increase at any time and by any percentage. Cheaper companies are not always better, so read your contract before signing. Termidor IS tested to last at least ten years, but I highly recommend keeping the warrantee, because as we say in this business “there is no silver bullet”

   Hope this helps,

   Jason

   Comment by jason — Jun 12th 2007 @ 10:20 pm

5. What I meant to say was that I never had a call back for termites at any home treated with termidor.

   JASON

   Comment by jason — Jun 12th 2007 @ 10:26 pm

6. I have been in the exterminating business for at least a decade (total). My personal technique is simple – sentricon to eliminate the colony(s) from your property AND/ drill/liquid treat attached slabs, dirtfilled porches, or critical areas “JUST IN CASE!” . I am a “keyman” for Terminix which means i can sell and do my own jobs and this is how i do it… Termidor is expensive – but it does not cost that much to treat ‘critical areas’.. It’s a small bit of extra care that the company really never misses in chemical costs..

   Comment by Trey Canipe — Feb 17th 2008 @ 10:09 am

7. Termidor is also good for controlling ants on the exterior of the house too. I use it on every ant treatment and I use phantom on the exterior as well as drione dust (sparingly) It will kill the colonies outside, usually for the season. Unlike Termites, Ants spend alot of time on the surface and can travel long distances, so it doesn’t last as long for Ants. Termites are subterranean, and Termidor destroys the Termite colony. there is nothing better than Termidor for Termites! Period

   Comment by Bob Bowman — Mar 24th 2008 @ 10:50 pm

8. I’m curious. How long does the Termidor treatment last in the ground? Every chemical has some sort of breakdown period. What is this one’s? 5 yrs? 7 yrs? 10 yrs? Wouldn’t you at some point have to pay to re-treat the entire house again? And how long do contracts typically last for these treatments?

   Thanks.

   Comment by David — May 5th 2008 @ 4:04 pm

9. I have recently discovered we have termites in our 108 year old farm house. The crawlspace gives access to most of the underside of the house but there are some areas that would have to be sprayed from a distance of 20 ft away or more. Although it is possible to get all of the ground/dirt under the house. I am a small person (5′8″ 148 lbs) and was able to get into these small areas but I doubt many other people could. Would Termidor be a viable method since there is the possibility of incomplete interior coverage. Or would Sentricon be a better solution?

   Comment by Adam — Jun 5th 2008 @ 7:47 pm

10. I own a family-owned pest management firm in Kansas City and have personally been doing pest management since June of 1969. We offer Sentricon, Termidor and many other products. I would say those two lead their competitors (Sentricon for bait and Termidor for liquid barriars). The effectiveness is about the same – about 99% effective. The initial cost is around the same too – about $1,000. The annual renewal is usually a litle higher for Sentricon because you are making 4 service trips instead of one, so there is more service involved. Sentricon is much more environmentally friendly. No liquid pesticide at all. I like working with it better because of that.

    Comment by Jay Gunter Besheer — Jul 22nd 2008 @ 3:06 pm

11. I have been involved with the termite and pest treatment industy for the past 12 years,as well as the construction and re-construction aspect for the past 15 years. The last 5 of which have been spent as a field supervisor-3 with a very successful standard and alternative method company which sold to-the largest family owned termite and pest company on the west coast and after a 2 year run there decided to open my own company. The most important aspect of purchasing a termite program for your home is a clear understanding of the product as well as as proven field performance of it’s applicator. As an experienced field technician with many years in the field “Treating the Problem” and “Making the Customer Happy”. Educate yourself and get advice, from someone who used to have a termite problem or someone with a renewed in good standing licence, for your own peace of mind.

    Comment by K. Smith — Jul 24th 2008 @ 4:17 am

12. I have been in the pest control buisiness for 23 years. The baits ( Sentricon, Advance, Firstline Ect….) are all junk compared to Termidor……

    Comment by J Fields — Apr 30th 2009 @ 4:19 pm

13. can termites in the roof be killed by applying pesticied on the ground or does the house need to be tented?

    Comment by Rick Coleman — May 28th 2009 @ 6:36 am

14. Rick, very good question…if there is enough moisture to allow the termites to live in the attic, then the colony will not need to return to the soil. If you are dealing with Formosan Termites, the carton nest will have to be found and removed – usually a direct application of termiticide will take care of the problem.

    To play it safe – I would have the house tented and then treat the soil.

    Comment by John — Jun 9th 2009 @ 2:47 pm

15. I have recently found termites in my house and have begun getting quotes for treatment. The sentricon system was recommended by the first pest company. They said that due the fact that I had a basement rather than a crawlspace it would be more effective than the termidor. I would greatly appreciate a professional opinion.

    Comment by rvloranger — Sep 26th 2009 @ 4:39 pm

16. Termidor and Sentricon are equally effective. The only people who question the effectiveness of Sentricon are those who never became authorized dealers. Those that do both methods are the only ones who can objectively render an opinion. My company does both methods. Of course, Dow (the manufacturers of Sentricon) and BASF (the manufacturers of Termidor) want us to tell our clients that one is more effective than the other, but the fact of the matter is that they are both equally effective and have their own strengths. Both methods have a similar initial cost ($700 – $1,200), but the annual renewal is usually a little higher for Sentricon (4 trips instead of 1). Sentricon is definitely greener. Termidor involves applying 100s of gallons of insecticide where Senticon only inserts a small amount of bait matrix where the active termites are.

    Comment by Jay Besheer — Sep 28th 2009 @ 10:47 am

17. I’ve decided to use a bait system. Which is more effective, Sentricon or Advance? I read that the Advance system uses a Chitin inhibitor which only kills 20% of the termites that feed on it (the young ones) and the adults have to die of old age which could take up to 6 -8 years. The Sentricon system uses a metabolism inhibitor that kills 90% of the termites that feed on it. But the Advance system looks better built and requires less frequent checking. Which one is better?

    Also, how far apart and how far from the house should they be installed?

    Comment by Anthony — Oct 9th 2009 @ 10:15 am

18. Sentricon has been around a lot longer. Also, Advance encourages “skimping” by the pest pro. Sentricon charges one fee to the pest company and all materials are included. So, if you have large amounts of termites underground, it sometimes takes 10 or 15 bait tubes to eliminate the colony(ies). Since everything is pre paid, the vendor will put out as many stations or bait tubes as it takes to solve the problem. With Advance, the materials are sold piece-meal. So when a station is costing $10 and the bait tubes cost $15 to the vendor, they will think twice about putting in extra stations or bait tubes. Also, Sentricon has many University studies proving its efficacy. Advance has none that I know of. If you are going bait, you should definitely go Sentricon.

    Comment by Jay Besheer — Oct 9th 2009 @ 10:54 am

19. I live in New England and have owned my home for 15 years. Our home was treated conventionally with poison (not Termidor) around the perimeter before we bought it. The termites came back the next spring and it took us the whole summer to get the fly by night pest controller back to retreat. When the termites reappeard the following spring we then paid to have a REAL CERTIFIED pest control company install Sentricon. At the time it was new in our area and we did not know anyone else who had it.

    I am glad we spent the extra money — our house has been termite free for 15 years. In the beginning when termite activity was found the pest control company put more bait stations adjacent to the active one. Over time as the termite activity has disappeared the extra bait stations were removed.

    I have no experience with Termidor but I would recommend Sentricon 100 percent. Probably the best advice I have read on this forum is to choose a good, quality, pest control company and avoid the cheaper fly by nights. The few extra dollars spent are well worth it.

    Comment by Chris G — Nov 14th 2009 @ 11:00 pm

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