When fumigation is the right choice
Fumigation is recommended when drywood termites are in more than one area, when they are inside walls or ceilings that cannot be opened, or when the inspector cannot confirm where all the colonies are. Local treatments only reach the wood the technician can drill into. Gas reaches everything.
Fumigation does not treat subterranean termites in the soil. If your home has both kinds, you will need fumigation for the drywood termites and a separate soil treatment or bait system for the subterranean colony.
How tenting works
The house is covered with heavy tarps that are sealed at the ground and clipped together. A licensed fumigator releases a gas fumigant, usually sulfuryl fluoride, inside the sealed structure. The gas moves into every piece of wood, including framing hidden behind drywall, and kills termites at every life stage.
After the set exposure time, the tarps come off and the house is aired out. The fumigator uses gas-detection equipment to confirm the air is clear before anyone is allowed back inside.
Seeing this at your place right now? A local technician can talk it through with you on the phone.
Call (626) 555-0142Preparing your Arcadia home for fumigation
Most of the work on your end is preparation. The fumigation company gives you a written checklist. These are the items on almost every list.
- Plan for everyone, including pets and indoor plants, to be out for about two to three nights.
- Remove or double-bag food, medicine and pet food in special fumigation bags provided by the company. Items in unopened factory-sealed glass or metal containers can usually stay.
- Arrange for the gas service to be shut off at the meter. The fumigator will usually coordinate this, and the gas company relights pilots afterward.
- Trim plants and shrubs back from the walls and water the soil around the house the day before. Wet soil helps keep the gas from escaping under the tarp.
- Open interior doors, cabinets, drawers and closets so the gas can circulate.
- Remove valuables and anything you do not want to leave in an unattended house. Fumigated homes have secondary locks on doors, but take valuables anyway.
- Tell your neighbors, especially in the tighter lots around downtown Arcadia where the tarp may come close to a property line.
Fumigation timeline
Inspection
Call (626) 555-0142. An inspector confirms drywood activity and measures the home.
Prep day
You bag food and medicine, water the perimeter, and move out. The crew trims back any branches or vines that would block the tarps.
Day one: tarps and gas
The crew covers the house, seals the tarps and releases the fumigant. Warning signs go up.
Day two: exposure
The gas sits in the structure for the required time, usually about a day.
Day three: aeration and clearance
The tarps come off, the house airs out, and the fumigator tests every room before signing off on re-entry.
Fumigation versus local treatment
| Fumigation | Local treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Reaches hidden termites | Yes, all wood in the structure | Only wood the technician can reach |
| Move out required | Yes, about 2 to 3 nights | No |
| Lasting protection | None after aeration | Limited to treated wood |
| Best for | Widespread or hidden infestations | One or two small, accessible areas |
Termite fumigation FAQ
Is it safe to go back in after fumigation?
Yes, once the fumigator clears the home with gas-detection equipment. Sulfuryl fluoride does not leave a residue on surfaces, so you do not need to wash dishes or clothing that stayed in the house.
Will fumigation kill my plants?
Indoor plants must be removed. Outdoor plants right against the walls can be damaged where the tarp touches them, which is why the crew trims them back and why watering the soil beforehand helps.
Does fumigation kill other pests too?
It kills most insects inside the structure at the time, including cockroaches and bed bugs, but it does not prevent new ones from coming in afterward.
How often do Arcadia homes need to be tented?
There is no set schedule. Some homes go many years between fumigations. Regular inspections and good exterior maintenance stretch that time out.