A Reputable Subterranean Termite Control Service Provider

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The use of baits to control subterranean termites is very attractive.  Since all of the work is done outside of the building there is very little disruption.  And it has the appearance of being a more “eco-friendly” approach. 

These apparent advantages make subterranean termite baiting programs a very marketable product.  The can also be extremely profitable from a business standpoint.  As a result, several major termite control companies have marketed baiting programs very heavily.

However, our experience with termite baiting programs has left us with serious concerns about whether any of these products actually perform well enough to be reliably effective, and if they represent a good value to the customer.  Our commitment to giving our customers the very best services available for their hard-earned dollars requires us to examine every control method available in light of these concerns.  

Following are the concerns we have about stand-alone baiting programs:

1. Colony elimination is not a certainty.
   Although it has been proven that some subterranean termite baiting systems can kill a termite colony, we haven't found any system that guarantees it will kill any colony.
2. Different termites.
   Our Western subterranean termite's behavior is not the same as species found elsewhere in the U.S. (This has been well documented.) Baiting has been shown to be an effective tool combating Eastern and Formosan subterranean termites. Results I have observed while dealing with our Western species haven't been nearly as good.
3. Slow process.
   Baits can't work until the termites find the bait. This may happen fairly quickly or it may  take many months (years in some cases). Neither the customer or the termite control company has much control over how long this period will be.  Once the termites find the bait it may take several more months to gain a significant level of control. During all of this time additional damage may be occurring in the structure.
4. Expensive
   Baiting systems must be checked regularly to be effective. Some systems, such as Sentricon®, require a pre-baiting step that adds another level to the requirement for periodic and thorough inspection of the stations.  Service visits take time and "time is money.”  A proper service will be more expensive. A cheap service may not control the termites.
5. A baiting program is forever.
   Because termite baiting systems must be maintained regularly to work properly, if you stop the service, you lose your protection.  Meanwhile termites may still be active next to or even inside your home. At that point you have little or nothing for all the money you spent to that point.
6. What happens when the termites don’t feed on the bait?
   We've seen too many situations when, after many months, subterranean termites hadn’t found bait stations that had been installed right beside a structure! The customer had paid to install and service the baiting system but there was absolutely no observable termite control achieved. In effect, the customer paid a lot of money and received very little (if any) value for that money. Meanwhile, the termites continued to damage the structure unchecked.
7. It’s not all bad news.
   Stand-alone baiting programs do, in our view, have some usefulness. In certain uncommon construction types or where other unusual conditions exist, baiting may the best (or only) alternative. We consider many factors when deciding on products or processes we recommend to our customers.  When we do recommend a stand-alone baiting system, we will choose a system that we believe will provide our customer with the best value for their money.   This includes potential for initial effectiveness, cost of installation and appropriate maintenance intervals.  Our contract and the guarantee we offer with any stand-alone termite baiting system are very clear about the level of control the customer might expect.  Further, the guarantee we give with a subterranean termite baiting system is much more limited than the guarantee provided with our Guardian© program.

In all of this, our major concern is that you, the termite control customer, have a clear understanding about the values and limitations of your options for subterranean termite control.