How to prepare your home for fumigation

If you've found drywood termites in your home, and all other treatments have failed, you may want to look into having your home fumigated. Fumigation is the most common method used for the control of drywood termites in residential structures.

Although fumigation is the most common method used, there are other termite control options. A thorough inspection should be performed to determine which method is best for your home. We recommend and work with our family of brands that are knowledgeable about fumigation best practices. Learn more about how to prepare for a fumigation service.

How fumigation works

Fumigation is the process used by pest and termite control professionals in which insecticide is applied as a gas to penetrate wood to control drywood termites and other wood-boring insects. While fumigation could be used to treat a building for many types of pests, this treatment is most commonly used against drywood termites, which can embed themselves in furniture or hide in hard-to-access areas like beams, walls, or underneath floorboards.

When a structure is fumigated, tarps or other sealing methods are required to contain the gas within the structure so the gas reaches every area and deeply penetrates the wood structures where termites live and feed. After control is achieved, the seals are removed. The building is aerated to remove the gas and allow residents to return. While it is similar to other gases in form, it is specifically designed to eliminate termites and must be treated with care.

For certain types of infestations deep within the structure, fumigation may be an option to treat your home. Special precautions will be required in preparing for fumigation, including the removal of all people, pets, and indoor plants.

Fumigating a house usually requires tenting, which is when specialized tarps or a tent encase your entire home exterior. Tenting keeps the fumigant contained in the house until the fumigation process is complete. Because your home is tented, the fumigant penetrates the wood and can reach cracks and crevices between walls and floors where termites reside.

Is whole-structure fumigation needed?

The location of all drywood termite colonies can be difficult to pinpoint, which is why whole-structure fumigation is usually recommended to treat hidden and widespread termite infestations throughout an entire house or building. Regardless of where the infestation is in the home, the entire structure must be sealed in order to contain the gas. While the cost of this type of termite treatment might seem higher, it is a highly effective way to target an infestation and get it under control.

Tips for preparing for termite tenting and fumigation

While fumigants ultimately dissipate, you must take every necessary precaution when preparing your home. Your cooperation will be needed to prepare for an effective fumigation.

Your fumigator will provide you with a comprehensive list of preparation instructions. However, to help you along the process, here are some tips for preparing for termite tenting and fumigation.

Notify your neighbors

If your house is being tented for termite fumigation, your neighbors are going to notice, and they might have questions. Common questions include are the fumigants safe, if it’s okay to be outside when fumigation is going on, and whether they need to worry about termites migrating to their house. If your neighbors want reassurance from an expert, direct them to the company you’ve hired to fumigate.

Make sure you have somewhere to stay

Fumigants are toxic to humans, pets, and indoor plants, so it’s important that you plan to stay out of your home and remove pets and indoor plants for the duration of the service. The fumigator has safety protocols they must follow, so they won’t be able to make any exceptions. Once fumigation begins, you and your family will not be able to re-enter the house until the fumigator provides clearance.

Clearance typically takes 36-48 hours, so you’ll need to arrange for a place to stay. Talk to the fumigator ahead of time to be sure the schedule of events is clear to everyone. No one can enter the home for any reason until the fumigator has released it for re-entry.

Remove pets, plants, food and medication

Fumigants are toxic to pets, fish, reptiles, and house plants, so they must be removed from the house during fumigation. Experts also recommend turning off the air pump in tanks before fumigation. Be sure to follow the fumigator's instructions before bringing fish back into the home. You should also consult with your aquarium supplier for additional advice on safely moving your aquarium.

Some food items, animal feeds and medications will need to be removed from the structure. Follow all the instructions your fumigation technician provides. Avoid stocking up on foods before the fumigation to reduce the preparation required.

Open all doors between rooms

In order to help the fumigant reach every corner that termites might be hiding, it’s important to open all doors between rooms and all doors to cabinets, closets, appliances, safes, the attic, and the basement. Open drawers in furniture such as dressers and desks. Raise all the blinds and open drapes on your windows, so your fumigator can easily open windows.

Clear access to closets, storage rooms, and crawl spaces

For fumigation to be effective, the fumigant needs to penetrate every part of your home. Providing clear access to closets, storage rooms and crawl spaces will allow the fumigant to get into these hard-to-reach parts of your home, as well as proper aeration and fumigant clearance.

Turn off heat sources and unplug appliances

Some fumigant materials may have a corrosive or other reaction in the presence of a heat source. Extinguish pilot lights and if your home has natural gas service, it must be turned off and locked out at the meter by your gas company to prevent a dangerous natural gas buildup in the tarped structure in the event of a leak in the gas service lines. You will also need to arrange to have your gas turned back on and pilot lights reignited after the fumigation.

Your fumigator may direct you to unplug and turn off all heat sources, such as appliances, computers and heaters. You will also be required to extinguish all pilot lights and have gas service suspended during the fumigation. All ventilation systems (HVAC) need to be powered off as well.

Remove external fixtures

Remove or lower antennae, weathervanes, mechanical awnings,or anything on the roof that is bolted in place that might get damaged. All exterior devices must be removed, lowered, or retracted to allow for effective tenting.

Leave keys for your fumigator

Your fumigator will need keys for all doors locked and will lock up when finished. The fumigator will also use a secondary locking system on all doors to help prevent entry by anyone during the fumigation.

Additionally, you can consider hiring private security guards.

Stay away until the job is done

No person is allowed to enter the home for any reason until it has been cleared and released for re-entry by the fumigator. Check with your fumigator for detailed instructions on returning to your home once the process is complete to ensure the transition is smooth and safe.

Post-fumigation procedures

Once the fumigator has cleared your home for re-entry, you’ll be allowed to move back in. For more information and clarification on what you need to do next, ask your fumigation technician for details.

Need advice controlling termites and other pests? We can help with pest control strategies that are tailored to your needs.