Termite Control: Sentricon vs. Termidor
We live deep down in termite country, and it’s time to think about extending our termite contract. Our house had a clean bill of health when we bought it earlier this summer, but the initial five year termite contract is almost up. Thus, we’re currently considering our options. Right now we have two main alternatives… The Sentricon System and Termidor.
The Sentricon System consists of a series of bait stations surrounding the perimeter of your house. The pest control company periodically monitors these stations and, once they detect termite activity, they replace the wood bait with a poison that is supposed to wipe out the colony. Sentricon is probably the most ‘green’ solution out there, but its effectiveness has also been brought into question by a number of so-called experts.
Termidor, on the other hand, is a chemical termiticide that provides a soil barrier surrounding your house. From what I’ve read, it’s far more effective than Sentricon, and not particularly dangerous to people. Termidor costs about $50 more than Sentricon up front, but the annual contract, which covers monitoring, periodic reapplication (if necessary) and repair of any termite damage is about $150 less for Termidor as compared to Sentricon.
We had Sentricon at our previous house, and we never had any termite activity (either in the house or in the bait stations). But that house was built on a slab foundation, and it was much more difficult to apply a chemical barrier in that situation — in fact, some companies refused to even treat slab houses. Our new house is on a crawl space, so you can readily access the foundation (inside and out). Thus, chemical treatment is a more viable alternative.
Does anyone out there have real life experience with either of these? Any recommendations? And please don’t say to just go without — where we live that’s just not an option.
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Modified on September 10th, 2006 - 307 Comments
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August 20th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
The more I read, the better Altriset sounds. Any down side? Other than finding a local company that has begun to use it?
August 20th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
To JJ: The “newer” claim was made by a company that can provide either Sentricon or Advance, but says they are moving to Advance unless a customer specifies Sentricon, because they believe the technology works better.
August 20th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
To MaryAnn: I think Altriset looks like it will be a good product. I have only used it on one job, so far. Not enough raw data yet. I wouldn’t be afraid to use it though. Something is “fishy” about the pest guy’s claims. First of all, Advance is an old technology (9-10 yrs?). Is he ignorant about Always Active Sentricon, or just lying? Advance has the potential to favor the pest company, instead of the consumer because with Sentricon, everything (stations, bait, support, etc) is included with the fee. So, in round numbers, the pest guy’s cost is about $350 per job. If a house needs 1 bait tube or 50 bait tubes, there is no incentive to scrimp (sp?)because the fee has already been paid. Sort of like a buffet. You can eat as much as you like. With Advance (and all the other bait products out there), the pest company pays piecemeal (approx $10 per station and $20 per bait tube). So, if a house turns out to have a lot of termites, and that is hard to tell ahead of time, the pest company is reluctant to keep putting in additional bait, because he could lose money. I have seen many jobs that take 30 – 40 bait tubes. At $20 per tube, is your pest guy gonna spend the $800 it really takes to get rid of your termites? This is fact. I have a few Advance customers, but I would NEVER recommend it over Sentricon. I am in an internet chat room with pest companies all over the world and almost all the Advance users are backing off now, because they have been burnt by numerous jobs where they lost money because of large underground infestations. If they aren’t Authorized Sentricon Operators, then they recommend Termidor or Altriset over the Advance.
August 20th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
To JJ: I greatly appreciate your analysis of how the business aspect drives some recommendations. Do you think it would be feasible for me to persuade a local company to use Altriset for the first time for my application? Does it seem reasonable to trust the research results for Altriset’s effectiveness (which appear very good), given my concern with potential for pet or human exposure to Termidor? I find it difficult to assess the likelihood of exposure from a Termidor application — but my experience is that chemicals seem to find their way into the environment regardless of best laid plans.
August 20th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
I have not used Altriset but I have used Arilon which is a new and similar product also from Dupont . I had to go out and retreat everything I did with Phantom . I will put no faith in Altriset til I see a BUNCH of real world data . Also the cost to treat with Altriset is as high or higher than Termidor which is bullet proof .
August 21st, 2012 at 9:15 am
To Jim: see my question above regarding risk factors with application of Termidor. At what point could humans, pets, bees come in contact with the applied product? Not theoretically, but in real experience? Also, I don’t understand what you mean by “go out and retreat everything”?
August 21st, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Maryann- Yes, I would ask your bidders if they would use Altriset. I think it is going to be a very good product. And the assessed risk as per the label is ZERO.
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:58 pm
I have one offer to use Altriset for spot treatment of known infestation, paired with Advance bait. Local company with strongest recommendations is willing to apply TermidorDry directly to visible tunnels, paired with Advance bait. Sentricon bids are paired with Termidor spot treatment and are from adjacent metro, thus lacking recommendations from anyone I know. I’m inclined to go with TermidorDry & bait from the locally referenced applicator, but he candidly says that he would much prefer to do perimeter Termidor as his bait applications have been less successful. Other company reps report equal success with bait vs. chemicals but they ARE slicker sales guys. I don’t want exposure risk of perimeter Termidor. Opinions?
August 24th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
My concern with termidor and other ground injected chemicals is that they will inevitably migrate or be unearthed. If the stuff hangs around for 15 years, then it will eventually make its way to the surface. No way I’m gonna be able to avoid digging anywhere within 2 feet of the entire perimeter of my house. What if a water line goes bad and needs to be replaced, or I get a new communications line, etc. What if the wife wants to plant flowers near the house. What if we decide to add a patio, redo a deck? When it’s stirred up vie digging, isn’t the Termidor going to be clinging to the dust that results since it binds to soil?
Also, I believe I have polypipe outside the house. If that stuff leaks, then how porous is it? When they inject termidor 4 feet down, how close will it be the polypipe? What about when it rains hard for 2 weeks and the gutters overflow? I always see basements with a few cinderblocks that are darker due to moisture penetration or even crusty from water pushing salts in the concrete through. Won’t the water that penetrates those cinderblocks dislocate at least some of the Termidor and bring it into the wall or house?
Even though I truly believe that Termidor is pretty much bullet proof, it makes me nervous…and I am NOT an envirowacko. Is this Altriset really any safer?
August 30th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
The pest control people I trust tell me that if a chemical can get loose into the environment, it will. Murphy’s Law prevails. Best environmental remediation person in my area says the same. I too was concerned with the stirred up/digging issue and Termidor. Then this week I must have a backhoe dig out my water supply line to replace it — no chance to plan as dealing with rupture of a line under severe drought conditions. There was plenty of excavation in areas that would have been treated by Termidor if I’d taken that route, plenty of tracking of dirt all over my yard and organic garden, plenty of opportunity for exposure. Such excavation is not a highly unusual event for the typical homeowner. I am quite relieved I didn’t have Termidor applied the week (or month or year) before.
Regarding safety of Altriset — EPA does not require any warning or caution labeling, which is quite rare. I’m going to keep reading, then go either with quite a bit of Altriset in the ground plus traps or TermidorDry spot application to tunnels on the house foundation, not in the ground, plus traps.
Again, any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome.
October 1st, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Out of Date/old information.
Sentricon system is no longer offered by Terminix who inspected our home last week. Termidor kills yes, it is toxic and a danger to anyone with MCS – Environmental Illness. For us it is a last resort after sand barriers, bait stations and screens are used. Cancer and insecticides don’t mix and as a cancer survivor any heavy duty chemical on my property is a health risk.
Bait stations are a natural alternative and don’t dump chemicals into the soil or kill beneficial insects especially ants that kill termites. They will not effect your health or that of your family.
You can purchase bait stations on line to install and monitor yourself.
October 1st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Sentricon can not be purchased on line. It can only be installed by an authorized operator. You may be able to find other brands on line, but they are probably not as effective or have the testing history of Sentricon.
November 4th, 2012 at 8:59 am
I worked with a Termite Control Company while in High School from 1958 to 1960, and have been in the business continually since 1968 and in eastern Tenness for the past 20 plus years now. I have used all Termite and Pest Control products in 54 years, including hydrocarbon and organophosphate products that have been removed from the market by the EPA due to environmental pollution reasons. Some of the products were DDT, Chlorodane, Heptaclor, Lindane, Aldrin, Deldrin, Diazanon,and most recently Dursban to name a few. These were powerful insecticides that helped control not only termites, but also eradicate the “Bed Bug” problem that existed throughout society 50 plus years ago, and that now is a major “come back” problem . I have used both so-called Termite Bait Systems, Premise, and Termidor since it came on the market in the year 2000. I have treated several thousand houses with Termidor during this 13 year period, without a single call back, reinfestation, or failure. “Complete” and thorough treatment however is the key to termite control and prevention. The use of the bait systems is like installing a fence around your property, with the fence posts and nothing in between. So having said this, use your common sense in making your decision.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Come on, Grant. Get with the 21st Century! Sentricon works just as well as Termidor. You are down in Tennessee where consumers are not as concerned about pesticides. In other parts of the country, people want an effective alternative to liquid termiticides and Sentricon works great. I use both and both are equally effective. Plus, with Sentricon, you don’t have to drill holes thru peoples stoops and patios. Cost is about the same. Just because you don’t use baits doesn’t mean they don’t work.
December 2nd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
After ready all the back and forth for Sentricon and termidor I am still at a loss as to which is the best . My house isbuilt on a slab about 5 years old in north central ga 30114. No one has mention anything about the content of the contract . If termite damage occurs will the vendor repair all damages regardless of cost or is their a maximum?.Can you negotiate escalation cost on the yearly contract etc ? Can you stipulate that all termites must be covered or can the vendor exclude cetain types . If they can the average layman will have no idea if they tell you the type the find is the one that is excluded .
Any recommendation on a reputable company in the 30114 area that will give an honest evaluation of both types of treatment . And should I expect to pay for this evaluation. Thanks for any help
Arnaldo
December 12th, 2012 at 1:12 am
I am an HOA president of a condo association in the panhandle of Florida. We are located across the street from the gulf. Our condos are on slabs and are part stucco and vinyl and wood. I have listened to the pros and cons of both termidor and sentricon. We have 187 units. I am at a dilemmq as to which product is the best to use to treat our community. Can you offer any solutions/suggestions to our problem?
December 12th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Both products are equally effective. I would find a vendor that offers both products, so that they don’t try to oversell one product over the other. Then, I would go with the lowest long term cost to protect your condos
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
I work for a local pest control company in jscksonville Fl, and I use termidor on a daily basis. I have to say in my experience the sentricon system doesnt even come close to the termidor barrier system. Termidor is much more effective for sub and formosan termite control.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:14 pm
Why wouldn’t everyone just treat with Termidor, and forget about termites until another 10-15 years? Why wait to get them? Sorry if that’s a stupid question, but well, I don’t know anything about this.n everyone OS talking about treatment after the fact. I have a brick house on a concrete slab in south Mississippi.
January 27th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
People worry about the possible toxicity of Termidor to humans and pets.
February 24th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
I’ve just spent the better part of the afternoon reading through these comments. There is quality information throughout, but what I see is that the best solution varies case by case. I live in NE Fl and I just found termites (flying) in my house (outdoor patio, none found inside). It looks like there is some kind of pre-con system installed (looks like outdoor electric outlets with 2 hoses). Based on the inspection sticker on the electrical panel, I’m going to guess that it’s some kind of Sentricon system. My question is that given that I have some kind of system installed, will the initial installation fee be reduced any by returning to the original pest company?
March 13th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
We have a well in front of our house. I”m thinking that using termidor isn”t real smart. I think Sentricon is are only solution. What do you think?
March 24th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Arnoldo, contact Arrow Exterminators for a free evaluation. They offer both Sentricon and Termidor.
April 29th, 2013 at 11:28 am
We are having our home treated with Termidor around the outside perimeter of the house and all buildings. Just moved into this house one year ago. There is no current termite infestation. There are signs that there was an infestation sometime in the past. (old exit holes in a ceiling tile on one end of house only) The company also wants to put the liquid Termidor inside in the bathtub drain traps, they said it would stay there for 20 years. I don’t want anything in the house that may release a harmful chemical into the air. I cant find any info about what chemicals are used in Termidor. Would appreciate opinions about how necessary you feel the drain trap treatment is.
May 5th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
The message from “Jim” three posts above is completely rediulous. Sentricon’s chemical (Noviflumuron) will not contaminate the soil at all; it won’t get rid of termites either. Any salesperson trying to sell you ANY termite baiting system is just wanting your money. These companies that sell termite baiting stations are not honest companies at all.
Both BASF’s Termidor (Fipronil) and Bayer’s Premise (Imidacloprid) are decent termiticides and provide equal protection in the soil. Both are neo-nicotinal class insecticides, but Termidor is the more expensive of the two. Neither will leech as both are cationic molecules (positively-charged) and the soil has a net negative charge on the exchange sites.
Best bang for your Buck? Imidacloprid by far, which by the way is the same chemical in Bayer Advantage for dogs. Biggest rip-off? Sentricon; “con” being the key word.
May 5th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Termite baiting stations will not eliminate colonies of termites…period. The science behind them is that the termites will find the bait in the stations, eat it, go feed up to several million of their sisters, then be unable to shed their skins (exo-skeletons), then die as a result. The stations are generally 10′ apart, so the average home has 17-18 stations, and the termites are supposed to find them via random foraging. 10 feet for a termite is equal to just over a mile for a human.
If you homeowners want to get rid of termites and protect your home, have a liquid termiticide applied. Fipronil (Termidor or Taurus) or Imidacloprid (Premise or a generic) are your best bets.
Debra Eller: Those bath traps, or any hole through the slab, are vital areas that MUST be treated. Personally, I trust Imidacloprid more from a health standpoint.
Krista: As long as the well is 10′ or more from the foundation, they can use the “Backfill method” and you’ll be fine. Or you can ask them not to treat that area if you prefer.
May 5th, 2013 at 9:58 pm
Dang, I keep finding false info the more I read. I know it’s a bit late for some of the previous questions, but maybe it will help down the line. If you have a termite infestation in your home right now, go with a liquid treatment. I would NOT depend on ANY baiting system to get rid of it. I would not depend on DuPont’s Altriset either. Safe chemical, but not enough field research completed to date.
Jim, DuPont’s Arilon is NOT a new product. Arilon (Indoxicarb) is in the Oxadiazine class and has been around for over 25 years. I sure hope you’ll stop advising these people incorrectly. More frightening than chemicals in the home is pest control people that don’t understand what they are applying.
May 6th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
I live in Northern Virginia and after seeing swarmers in our kitchen by the frigerator last year, we were choosing between Sentricon and Termidor.
We decided to go w/Sentricon and annual contract including 4 visits/year to check the bait stations.
The following spring (2 months ago), we found swarmers by the fridge again. called in the pest control operator who did perimeter treatment using Termidor and spot treatment behind the fridge.
Did we go wrong with Sentricon and should have we just gone w/Termidor to start with?
May 6th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Yes you should have. No telling what you are paying for your contract renewal for Sentri”con”. They’re supposed to have “always active” bait in all the stations now, so they don’t have to visit but one time per year. Let me guess; $1200.00 to install and $400.00/year to renew. What a rip-off. Spot treatment with Termidor behind the fridge? Indoors? Illegal.
May 6th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Any PROFESSIONAL knows that you don’t badmouth other companies or products. You should stay far away from advice from Ron D. This is a good website that provides a good discussion about liquid vs bait termite products. It should be noted that he recommends using the cheapest, lowest-effective products on the market. Sentricon and Termidor are both great products. They both work well with good product support and years of testing and real-life history. Ron was probably never selected as a Sentricon Authorized Operator so he continually bad mouths it. What a shame. Great product. Been using it for years. What ever area of the country you are in, look at the reputable companies and go with their recommendations. The products are only as good as the technicians who are applying them.
May 8th, 2013 at 6:08 am
Hmmm. I just looked back wondering where I “bad-mouthed” any company, and found none. A company has to be authorized to sell Sentri”con”? Well, that explains it Cade; you or your company is authorized and protected in your geographical area and make heaps of money off homeowners scared to death their home is about to fall down. Drill 20 holes with an auger, slide in 20 bait stations, collect a pile of money, and drive-off. What is your investment, 50 dollars and thirty minutes? Nice profit margin buddy! Meanwhile the termite colony is still eating a pound of wood per day at that home until, by chance, they happen upon a bait station. Even then, the bait is likely to be moldy or the station filled with ants that drive off the termites. The largest company in the world, Terminix International, has discontinued the use of Sentricon because they deemed it a failure. They also have the most respected entomologist on the planet advising them. Cade, don’t argue with me; argue with Stoy Hedges PhD.
My intention is ONLY to advise a homeowner to do research before they drop a load of money on a system that simply will not work as well as a chemical treatment. Well, we really don’t know how well they work do we? Dow refuses to release their research and efficacy statistics to the public. All the while they send $millions every year to U of Florida to continue research and hide findings.
My money is on Premise or Termidor.
May 8th, 2013 at 6:36 am
Here is a quote from an entomologist about the research on Sentricon by the University of Florida: “It’s a major conflict of interest,” Texas A&M entomology Professor Roger Gold said. The public does not know about the relationship, and “it looks bad,” Gold’s research on baiting systems was financed by the Texas Attorney General’s office. Now why would an Attorney General be financing this investigation unless there were piles of complaints? “Texas A&M University is reporting that in test sites across the State of Texas, Sentricon has achieved only 30%-40% control in 2+ years of controlled study. This percentage is low due to the fact that in many of the 25 test sites, termites have not even begun feeding on the Sentricon stations (Gold). So let’s say you have termites eating on your home right now and it takes 2 + years to achieve control. that’s up to 730 pounds of subfloor, girder beam, floor joists, studwall, etc… that will be gone. Chemical treatment with Premise or Termidor=dead termites THAT week!!!
May 8th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Come on, Ron. Is that all you have? Everyone knows that Roger Gold is a nut and will take money from anyone who pays him. Currently, it is Dupont for Altiset. I am not knocking Altriset, because I have used it and it is a good product, but Gold has switched sides many time, depending on where the money is. Since you are not an Authorized Sentricon Operator, you have no idea what the costs or procedures are. You just make up numbers to try and support your weak case (ie $1,200 install/$400 annual). These numbers are way off. I use Altriset, Termidor and Sentricon. The cost for all three treatment types is nearly equal. And they are all equally effective. I have years of research and thousands of treatments to prove it. If you are reading this thread and are just looking for answers to your questions. Don’t look for advice from someone who only pitches liquids (ie Termidor, Premise, etc) or baits (ie Sentricon, Advance). Look for someone who uses all these products so that he/she won’t try to sell only the one that they use. Sometimes, we recommend Termidor, sometimes we recommend Altriset and sometimes we recommend Sentricon, depending on the particular situation. Slabs and homes with high water tables tend to be better situations for Sentricon. Lots of exterior concrete tend to be better for liquids. Sometimes we recommend a combo – Sentricon with a spot liquid treatment to immediately stop the infestation. I’m sure Premise has worked well for Ron and others who want a lower cost alternative, but they shouldn’t bad mouth products that they have never used and know very little about.
May 8th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Don’t bad-mouth products, but it’s OK to call a PhD entomologist a “nut”. I’d say that alone destroys what little credibility you had. People who push Sentricon are only selling a homeowner a warranty. To you homeowners: Don’t trust anyone that tries to sell you one of these systems. Tell them “no thanks” and send them on their way in a hurry; especially if their name is Cade. A neighbor had Sentricon for nine years and had a swarm of termites last year. Lots of damage in the crawlspace. What did the company do? They came out and drilled, then applied Termidor. Seriously, NINE years.
The company that tried to sell me Sentricon proposed a $1600 installation with a $425 renewal for 268 lineal feet of foundation. I ended-up having a treatment with Bayer Premise for $1200.00 with a $150.00 renewal. Over ten years that comes to $2,550.00. With the Sentricon, It would have been $5,425.00 for a difference of $2,875.00. That’s a savings I like, and I don’t have to worry about termites finding some sticks in the ground.
May 8th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Well, I can call him a nut, because I know him personally. I have been an expert witness with him in two national termite damage liability cases. I have also served as chairman of the wood destroying insect committee of the National Pest Management Assn. You just cut and paste information that you google to try and make Sentricon look ineffective. It is the ONLY termite control product on the market that actually eliminates all the termite colonies surrounding a structure. It has years of data backing up its effectiveness in several University studies. These are facts. You can try to change them all you want, but your pettiness and skewed numbers are very easy to see through. Dang…
May 8th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
That’s Wood Destroying Organisms Division, not wood destroying insect committee. Judging from your pompous nature, straying from the truth, and pseudo-intellectualism, I’m guessing you are some lowly sales rep for a mid-level pest control company.
I simply cannot see anyone asking you to be an “expert witness” in any courtroom setting; you’re just too emotional. You also exhibit a “how dare anyone disagree with me” attitude. I simply stated my beliefs about Sentricon and you went on the attack.
Once again, it’s Wood Destroying Organisms Division, not wood destroying insect committee. Check your facts before you decide to lie about them. Wait, maybe you ARE the perfect rep for baiting systems. LOL.
Homeowners beware. There are lots of pest control people like Cade out there. If you have termites eating on your home, don’t let some slickster like him/her shine you out of your money.
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I work in the industry and hands-down I would recommend Sentricon only if it is the always active technology if it’s not the always active technology I would highly recommend Termidor The good thing about the always active technology is our company will guarantee the system for life’s asking as the renewal was payed the bad thing with Termidor is that it’s only gonna last in the soil for a number years and usually after 5 to 7 years you have to have your home retreated
May 23rd, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Chase,,,,What do you mean by “the always active technology”?? When our home was built,(2007)they used Termidor…2 years ago, they said we needed another “dose” of termite killer and they recommended that I have Sentricon,,,,I went with it and I have had no problems ….yet…The question I have is “How long is Termidor supposed to last”? Was I ripped off???
We live in central Florida.
Thanks,
Rich P
May 24th, 2013 at 7:38 am
Rich P In my opinion you were not ripped off it’s always best to make sure your chemical barriers are at their recommended strength versus taking the chance of them to be broke down in certain areas so yeah it was a good idea to have your house retreated if you’re originally treated in 2007 And always active technology is the new version of sentricon where they Always have the bait inside of them versus them just putting wood in the station and check on them quarterly and once they have actives then placing in the bait If that’s the system you have I would contact the pest company that you’re dealing with and have them upgrade your system to always active
May 25th, 2013 at 2:08 am
Just my opinion…..no way I let anyone dig around my entire house plus drill holes through the floors then pour chemical that they claim to last 15 years…. I rather go bait system and get a warranty behind a reputable pest company….there no guarantee either system will work ( sentricon,Thermidor) but common sense says the less chemical the better for my family and the environment….plus if I worked for a pest control company I would never want to spray Thermidor…..I truly think that bait technique would phrase out chemical barrier technique….just my opinion…..
June 1st, 2013 at 8:51 am
If you don’t want chemical, baiting is the next best option. Ants love to get in those systems, and once there, termites will never enter them again. Termites will detect the ant’s pheremones and NEVER enter that bait tube again.
Pest Control companies make a tremendous amount of money on these bait systems for very little work. If they find that termites have infested your home afterwards, they come in and treat with chemical anyway. They may have $10 in chemical invested on this. The fact is that these baiting systems seldom work and all they are doing is selling you a VERY expensive warranty.
June 5th, 2013 at 4:38 am
What is the policy for Experts coming back to check the Sentricon Baits? Do I have to pay for each time they come back or is it covered in the initial cost? I guess I just want to know the process of how it all works. Any help is greatly appreciated.
June 5th, 2013 at 8:03 am
Different companies do the payments in different ways. Some charge quarterly and others yearly; most are yearly renewal warranties. My neighbor paid $375/year after an installment fee of $1200. In a sense, he pays the equivalent of a new termite job every three years. A termidor or Premise chemical treatment would last much longer and cost much less.
June 5th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Morg- With the new “Always Active” termites, it is baited, then inspected one time per year. Our company does the Sentricon. We have been around since the 1950s and have done thousands of Sentricon installations (as well as thousands of liquid treatments). I am not sure who that Ron guy is, but after reading through various posts, he doesn’t seem very knowledgeable, in my opinion. We charge around $600 – $900 for most Sentricon jobs. Then, we charge around $270 for the annual visit which includes inspecting all the stations, replacing the bait where it has been eaten and doing a full visual inspection of the home. Then, anytime within the year, we come back for free to inspect or treat. Alternatively, liquid jobs (ie Termidor) costs more for the initial application and less for the annual inspection, but the cost difference is insignificant. We don’t use Premise or any of the other cheaper brands because they don’t hold up as well. Not sure where Ron gets his “$10 per bait” number since he is not an Authorized Sentricon Dealer, but he is way off base on this. Advance bait is about $15 for EVERY bait tube (about $300 per job) and Sentricon runs a little over $300 to Dow Agrosciences for the initial material to install Sentricon, then $50 on up to Dow for the annual upkeep. Then, there is labor, vehicle, gas, insurance, etc.
June 6th, 2013 at 6:36 am
I don’t see where I ever stated anything about $10/tube. Hey Vern, why do you even use liquids if the Sentricon is so effective? Few homeowners know the difference, so why not just drill twenty holes in the ground and install those silly stations? The fact is that if termites are eating on a home are NOT going to leave to eat some nasty crap in a bait tube.
$270 per year? The homeowner has paid for another termite job after just four years. What these companies DON’T tell you is that they are just selling you a warranty. They treat the active infestation with Termidor or Premise. If termites pop-up elsewhere in your home, they will locally use chemical again. Don’t use any company that offers baiting stations; they’re not honest.
June 6th, 2013 at 6:39 am
I don’t see where I ever stated anything about $10/tube. Hey Vern, why do you even use liquids if the Sentricon is so effective? Few homeowners know the difference, so why not just drill twenty holes in the ground and install those silly stations? The fact is that if termites are eating on a home are NOT going to leave to eat some nasty crap in a bait tube.
$270 per year? The homeowner has paid for another termite job after just four years. What these companies DON’T tell you is that they are just selling you a warranty. They treat the active infestation with Termidor or Premise. If termites pop-up elsewhere in your home, they will locally use chemical again. Don’t use any company that offers baiting stations; they’re not honest. Vern says they replace the bait if it’s been eaten. Well, that should have eliminated the colony but anyone with any sense knows better. Don’t waste money on these ineffective stations.
June 6th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Ron- Please go back to working on cars or waiting tables or whatever it is you do for a living and leave the expertise on termites and other insects to the professionals. I am trying hard to not put you down, but you spew hatred and vengeance toward Sentricon, which is an excellent, green product. You offer “advice” on this thread, which is confusing and misleading about products you know very little about because you have never used them. The world is getting greener all the time and Sentricon is a product that works great and does not involve injecting a hundred gallons of pesticide into the environment. Authorized Sentricon Operators are not “just selling a warranty”. The stations are baited with a low-impact bait that eliminates all the termite colonies within 100 feet or so of a structure. There is labor and material and expertise involved in each Sentricon Installation. Most termite companies offer baiting systems, whether it is Sentricon or Advance. Why? Because they are progressive and care about the environment. They are highly effective or most companies wouldn’t use them. Only people like Ron, who are stuck in the 1980s are still using liquid termiticides as their only option.
June 7th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Don’t use any baiting system. Simply put, they do NOT rid a home of termites. They are a waste of your money and all the pest control companies care about is your money. They care nothing of “green” issues. They are in business to make money, Period.
June 7th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
That is just plain silly. Obviously, bait systems work! That’s why all the biggest companies use them (ie Orkin, Terminex, American, Massey, etc, etc and 95% of the other pest companies use them…. Because they are environmentally friendly AND they work. They work great! Only a tiny percentage of the pest companies (most who have a hard time understanding the technology) don’t use the baits. Welcome to the 21st century, Ron! Get green or become obsolete. You can’t keep spewing half-truths forever and get away with it.
June 7th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
I found this site while researching the effectiveness of Sentricon. I had a Sentricon baiting system installed after a plumber found termites under my home. The termite company said the bait would get rid of the termites that were eating my home. The HVAC man found them last week all under my home. I called a different termite company to check since the other company said they found no termites in March. This company said there were tubes all over and showed me pictures of the damage. Needless to say, but I have contacted an attorney and will never trust a termite bait again. In four years I have spent a total of $1,750 on this Sentricon crap. I do not advise using this type of bait.