- Tenting is necessary if the infestation is bad enough that direct wood application of pesticides is not sufficient. Tent fumigation reaches areas that are not accessible for local extermination. It penetrates the wood and gets to the termite nests in the cracks and crevices of your home.
- You have some work to do prior to the tenting process. Termites.com indicates that your pest control company should provide you with nylon bags to double-bag any food items that are in opened bottles, jars or cans. Double-bag packaged dry goods such as cereal and potato chips or remove them from your home. If you have waterproof covers on furniture or mattresses, or if they are sealed in plastic, the covers must be removed or opened. A plastic cover on a baby mattress, for example, can prevent it from airing out properly following treatment. Take your houseplants outside to prevent damage from the fumigation. Trim the shrubbery along your home to leave room for the tent structure. Contact your gas company to turn off the gas to the home the day before the fumigation. Also, water the ground 6 inches around the perimeter of your home the day before to protect your plants outside the tent.
- The pest control company will enclose your home in a tent that consists of vinyl-coated tarps to contain the fumigant and limit its leakage. The fumigant gas used to treat homes is sulfuryl fluoride, commonly known as Vikane, Zythor or Master Fume. You can expect to be out of your home for 24 to 72 hours, depending on the size of your home and the temperature outside. The company will monitor the gas levels to determine when it is safe for you to return.
- Sulfuric fluoride fumigants are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and considered safe for use in homes where there are children of all ages. In addition, pest professionals must be trained and certified for its use, Termites.com notes. They will use equipment to monitor the levels of gas throughout the process. No residue is left in your home following fumigation and after your home is aired and cleared by your pest professional, it is safe for you, your family and your pets to re-enter.
- It is important to know that tent fumigating your entire house will get rid of the current infestation, but it does nothing to protect you from future problems. Consult your pest control professional about preventive measures. If you are dead-set against using any kind of pesticides there is an option of heat treatment. While your home is tented, hot air is introduced o raise the inside temperature to somewhere between 120 to 140 degree Fahrenheit. The high temperature kills the termites as well as their eggs.
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