A Drywood termite infestation in your home is an emergency that you need to deal with as soon as possible. Drywood termites will continue to do damage to your home as long as they are allowed to stay. While there are several options available for termite extermination, the best option for your home depends on the severity of the infestation. For the most severe termite infestations, tent fumigation is the best way to effectively eradicate the termites.
What is tent fumigation?
Tent fumigation is a termite extermination process that involves encapsulating your house in a specially designed light weight vinyl coated tent. This tent can be secured to create a seal around your house. Once your house is sealed appropriately, the termite professional will release Vikane® gas (Sulfuryl fluoride). Vikane® is colorless and odorless and quickly penetrates allowing us to treat every part your home or business, even those areas that may be covered with drywall or plaster or be located in distant corners of your attic, eaves, or basement. The whole fumigation process usually takes three days and two nights and when finally completed the gas will have dissipated from a structure, leaving no surface residue, odor, or film behind. This means you will not have to wash dishes, linens, clothing, or furnishings after fumigation. Considered the No. 1 brand in whole-structure termite fumigation for more than 55 years, Vikane® gas fumigant has protected two million homes. Historical landmarks, churches, museums, research facilities, colleges, hotels, and ships have all utilized the fumigant in order to protect themselves from termites.
Why is tent fumigation a good way to exterminate termites?
Tent fumigation is so effective because it quickly penetrates allowing us to treat every part your home or business, even those areas that may be covered with drywall or plaster or be located in distant corners of your attic, eaves, or basement. Drywood termites can be active under your house, inside the walls, in your floors, and even in your wooden furniture. With a widespread infestation, it can be difficult to effectively treat every area where the Drywood termites are active. Tent fumigation can get to areas that are unreachable with other treatment methods.
Do I have to prepare for tent fumigation?
There are special steps you will have to take to prepare for Vikane® gas tent fumigation. Our licensed inspectors will discuss all the necessary steps for successful Whole home fumigation. While your preparation will likely only require two to three hours, the fumigation and aeration periods will mean two to three days and nights away from your home. Every year we fumigate hundreds of homes and commercial structures to control dry wood termite infestations. You can read in detail about how to prepare for tent fumigation by looking over the ‘fumigation preparation forms’ on the Nixtermite website.
Does my home need tent fumigation?
The California Structural Pest Control Board tells us in their literature that while not all homes with Drywood termites need to be fumigated, an all-encompassing treatment with Vikane® gas is by far the most effective way to permeate the entire structure, eradicating both visible infestations and termites that are otherwise inaccessible. That said, if an infestation is contained in a small area(s), the dry wood termites may be eliminated by localized treatment application. If treatments other than fumigation are recommended, you should be aware that localized treatments will not provide eradication of other hidden infestations in the building. The first step in determining if you need tent fumigation is to get a termite inspection by Nixtermite at your home. A thorough termite inspection by a licensed professional will reveal the severity of your infestation. One of our inspectors will talk to you about treatment options and recommend was is appropriate for your situation.
