Termite Protection
Termite protection is a necessity for all homeowners to help keep their home termite-free. The Sentricon always active termite baiting system is a great option.
There are many different types of termite barriers for homes these days. The system most are familiar with is the soil barrier. There is also a reticulation system. And then there is a termite baiting system which is the one we’ll be discussing in this blog.
I will also run over the other termite barriers briefly later in this post.
Termite baiting systems have been around for many years. The way it used to be done was to place pieces of wood inside the stations. The station would then be monitored for signs of termite activity.
When termite activity is present in one of the stations it will then have a termite bait placed inside the bait station. The station then needs regular monitoring until all termite activity has ceased.
Once the termites have been eliminated the wood is then reset inside the station. The one problem with using wood in the stations is that it doesn’t kill the termites. The hope is that they are picked up during one of the routine bait station inspections. I know of cases where the termites have eaten the wood inside the station and then moved onto the house.
The great thing with the Sentricon termite barrier system is the bait is always there. Hence the name Always Active, this saves the customer a lot of money in monitoring fees.
Below is the Sentricon logo that states Sunnystate Pest Control is a certified installer.
Certified Sentricon Installer Sunnystate Pest Control Brisbane
Installing The Sentricon Always Active Baiting System
The process to install the bait stations is relatively easy. As far as the stations that go into the soil it is just a matter of digging a small hole.
The stations that have to go into the concrete will require the concrete to be core-drilled. The size of the hole that needs to be drilled is 90mm. Drilling through concrete can be a bit of a task, to say the least, but with the right tools, it’s not so bad.
The spacing for the Sentricon Always Active termite management system is 3 meters apart. They can be placed closer together but must be no further than 3 meters.
When we install them we tend to place the stations every 2.6 to 2.8 meters apart. This way we are well within the recommended guidelines of the systems label.
Installing The Sentricon Always Active System.
The use of an auger is the best way to install stations that are going into the soil. Here at sunnystate Pest Control, we use a 100mm bit when drilling in the soil.
Another great thing with the baiting systems is they can be placed anywhere on the property. For instance, if there is an area of concern found somewhere in the garden a station can be placed there.
Also if any landscaping or renovations are being carried out the stations can be easily removed. Once the works have been completed the stations can then be re-set.
To install a full system on an average size home of around 55 linear meters would take about half a day. The time taken to install a system will depend on how many linear meters of concrete there is. The more concrete core-drilling to be done the longer the install will take.
Bait Station Monitoring
Once the Sentricon system has been fully installed the stations will need monitoring every 3-6 months. The frequency of the monitoring will be determined by the factors surrounding the property.
Where a property has a high degree of risk to subterranean termite attack the inspections will be at 3-month intervals. If the risk of termite attack is not so high then the inspection visits can go to 6-months.
Your termite technician will advise on the most appropriate inspection intervals for your system.
In the video above it shows how we monitor the bait stations.
Inspecting A Bait Station
How The Sentricon Termite Protection System Works
The baits used in the Sentricon stations have an active chemical called hexaflumuron. The product hexaflumuron is a chitin synthesis inhibitor. What does this mean I hear you say; let me explain. The chemical interferes with the ability of the termite to produce chitin. Chitin is used by termites to build their exoskeleton.
Termites need to moult to survive, but the hexaflumuron prevents this from happening. Termites will die if they can’t complete their moulting stage.
Also as termites are social creatures they unknowingly transmit the hexaflumuron throughout the entire colony. This eventually results in the death of the whole colony including the egg-producing QueenJ
The other good thing about hexaflumuron is termites don’t know they have ingested it. It doesn’t matter how much they consume the toxicity isn’t evident until they moult.
Below is a video that explains all about the Sentricon Always Active System.
How Long Do The Termite Bait Rods Last
The Sentricon termite baits will last for up to 5-years in the ground. They are changed every 5-years or before that if more than 50% has been consumed by termites.
Changing the bait rod is very quick cheap and easy to do. This is another great aspect of this type of system. With other systems like soil barriers, it will require a complete re-installed of the system.
The bait rods are safe for the whole family and pets. They are locked into the bait station and a key is required to access them.
Other Termite protection Systems
As mentioned earlier there are plenty of termite protection systems available today. The one most people will have heard about is the soil barrier. This type of termite protective barrier is also a great way to protect a home. But there are differences in soil barrier systems.
The main difference between soil barriers is with the chemical used. The only one I recommend and use in my soil termite barriers is Termidor.
Termidor works in the same way that the hexaflumuron bait works that are inside the Sentricon system. Termites don’t know they have it on them and it also gets passed through the whole colony.
Cheaper products don’t work in the same way and there is a real risk of termites breaching the system. Companies that offer very cheap termite barriers DON’T use Termidor. Always use a professional well-experienced termite company to install a termite barrier.
The other system some may have heard of is called a termite reticulation system. This consists of a series of pipes being placed around a property. And then the pipes are filled with a termiticide.
The reticulation system can be refilled every 3 to 8 years. This will again depend on the chemical that is used in the system.
Conclusion
Many people are put off by the monitoring of the baiting systems, but it really isn’t that bad. The cost to have the bait stations monitored per year is around $270.00. That’s pretty cheap insurance and peace of mind.
No matter which termite barrier system is installed a termite inspection must be carried out.
If a termite barrier is installed but then no ongoing termite inspections of the home are carried out. There will be no cover if termites do breach the system. As I always say to my customers there is no silver bullet when it comes to termites.
Termite inspections are paramount in keeping termites out of your home. It’s also recommended to use a company with thermal imaging camera technology. Thermal imaging is a great way to detect early signs of termites in a wall.
I hope this post and the video within it have been of interest. For the best termite protection system, it best to contact a fully licensed & insured termite professional.
