Termite and Wood Boring Insects - Neighbor with termites!

As the title states.

I bought this home two years ago, and the previous owners treated the home prior to us moving in. I know this by the Sentricon systems in the yard around the house.

They said the exterminators left the treatment sticker on the water heater, but, the prior owners replaced the water heater and the sticker is obviously not there anymore.

My question is, how long does this Sentricon treatment work? Do I need to retreat?

I did pull the Sentricon yard doohickies out and noticed the "wood" was basically falling apart and most of them had those dang little ants in them. I had not replaced these pieces of bait wood since I moved in, and not sure if the prior neighbors did either.

I did not notice any termites, but not sure if the ants are forcing them elsewhere.

I inspected the exterior and interior of my home and did not notice any mud tunnels that termintes are known to create.

I will call a pro here shortly to inspect, but wanted any opinions, suggestions.

Sentricon is an ongoing treatment

Those stations house little wooden sticks that act as monitoring stations for termites.
The bait is only applied if live termites are found, that will be in plastic tubes that fit in the stations

If all you are finding is wood in single stations and not tubes in clusters of stations that would indicate that either no termites were found for the length of the initial contract and the home owner abandoned the project or that they moved on to one of the newer methods and did not remove the stations

Sentricon is not a DIY system unless you are creative because you have to be a certified installer to get the components

My advice has always been to create your senticon type monitoring system buy driving pieces of white pine (Sentricon usually uses balsa) at 8 to 10 foot intervals driven to about an 8inch depth around your home.
Check those stakes every month or so and check for mud tunnels.
(Terminix used to do this for free as a selling tool until Sentricon patented the idea)
If you find a problem call for treatment in the winter months when you get a better deal
You can also get inspections done for free by just about any PC company, but always get from three companies and let it be known that you are shopping
That keeps them honest

I appreciate your help.

I will definetly keep an eye on my home for the next few months and call in for some pro's in the off season.

It will be hard for me to inspect the exterior since it's concrete slab, then about 10 inches up from the ground, the siding starts. Hopefully they would leave a mud tunnel between the top of the slab and the siding so I can spot them little deamons and then nuke 'um.

I've heard such horror stories and that is why I am concerned.

Also, I think my home was sprayed. Every foot or so in the concrete, are holes that have been filled.

Some companies require that the siding be at least six inches above grade for that very reason, it makes inspecting for the required mud tubes easier and makes it harder for the termites to find wood

Those holes are definitely treatment holes so at one time there was a liquid treat done to your home they should be at about 18 inches, usually measured by the techs shoes. Two placed together in a line equal the correct distance.

If this was done prior to 1985 or so and the barrier was never disturbed you are most likely blessed with chlordane.

The slab itself is not treated. the concrete slab prevents them from tunneling up from under the house so they must come up from the sides where the chemical barrier is.

If you have a mature termite colony attacking your home you would most likely have had swarmers by now, depending on temp and humidity.

Just an update:

Had Terminix come out and inspect. He did not see anything, but then again, he didn't even look at the exterior...hmmmm....I did not see any mud tunnels either.

He was offering a contract for $279/ year. This $279/yr would cover me if I were to get infested. He said they would treat, and repair any damage done. I have not read the contract or paid him, yet.

Also, he thinks my home was treated before, either in the early 90's or late 80's because the drill holes for the previous treatment are about 16" or so apart. I guess today they space them 12" apart.


Anywho, anyone have any experience with these $279/yr contracts?

It sure does beat paying $1200+ for a already infested home.

Terminix has a good guarantee and $279 is a fair price these days, I remember when it was $25 and considered a nuisance fee

Read the contract three times and then have someone else read it twice

Some offices are notorious for the interior motto "Just say NO" when it comes to termite claims

They will try to find any reason that it is your fault

Have the salesman write up and point out in the contract and on the house any deficiencies that you are required to address

I'll ask my friend still involved with termites if there is a new standard for holes
As long as I was around it it was two boots equal the next hole