Is Terminix Termite Treatment Worth It? Here's What We Know

While termites are pretty much harmless to people — they don't bite, sting, or spread diseases — they can be murder for your house. Experts estimate that a mature colony can chew through upwards of 10 pounds of wood per month. Imagine what that would do to the structure of your home. Unfortunately, by the time you spot signs of a termite infestation, a lot of damage might already have been done. Terminix is a pest control company that aims to prevent that problem before it gets started. But is Terminix treatment worth it? Let's take a closer look.

Terminix has been around since 1927 and started offering annual termite treatments to homeowners in 1955. In other words, the company has plenty of experience dealing with these destructive insects. In addition to termites, they now tackle just about every other pest you can think of. With a network of 380 franchises, it's likely there's one not far from your location. The initial inspection is free of change. If termites are found, the company will recommend a treatment, and if not, they will recommend a protection plan.

Something as simple as salt can be used to kill termites, but it only does so on contact, so unless you're lucky and spot them almost immediately, there could be a much bigger problem hiding inside your walls or under your floors. Boric acid is another way to get rid of termites. In fact, it's often used in insecticides. However, borax acid and commercial products containing borax are toxic to both pets and people. It will only kill the termites if it's ingested, so you need to find the colony. Unfortunately, if you can see the termites, it's quite possible that structural damage has already occurred.

Although Terminix is happy to treat an infestation, the real focus of their treatments is prevention with an annual plan. Terminix offers three options, the first of which is Nix, the basic annual inspection and treatment. Then there's Nix and Fix, which includes damage repair from any new infestations up to $250,000. Finally, there's PestFree365+, which covers 39 common household pests. A key part of the termite guarantee is where Terminix states, "If termites come back, so do we." Additional visits are at no extra cost.

There are no set Terminix prices because plans are individually tailored to each home. Factors taken into consideration are size and construction of your house, the type of termite (some are more aggressive than others), and where you live, because although termites will survive cold weather, they prefer warmer climates. The Terminix website says treatments vary between $400 and $1,500, with $1,000 as an average. That's a reasonable chunk of change, but when you're trying to decide if Terminix termite treatment is worth it, don't forget to consider the cost of repairs if you do get an infestation. With contractor rates at anywhere from $300 to $500 per day, plus materials, it soon adds up.

Of course, Terminix isn't the only termite treatment in town. Aptive Environmental, Arrow Exterminators, Orkin, and Viking Pest Control are among a number of nationally known competitors, and smaller regional businesses may offer similar services. It's always a good idea to talk to two or three companies, not just to compare prices but so you can also get a feel for the people you'll be dealing with.