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Tent Fumigation Specialist
At Imperial Pest Prevention, we are proud to be recognized as a tent fumigation specialist, serving many locations in Florida. Our expertise in this area is unparalleled, and we are dedicated to providing top-notch fumigation services to a host of communities, including Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Ormond Beach, Ormond By The Sea, Holly Hill, Altamonte Springs, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Wilbur by The Sea, Ponce Inlet, South Daytona, Port Orange, Allandale, Longwood, New Smyrna Beach, Beverly Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Deland, Orange City, De Leon Springs, Winter
Springs, Cassadaga, Lake Helen, Debary, Deltona, Glenwood, Enterprise, Sanford, and Lake Mary.
Our tent fumigation service is a comprehensive solution, particularly effective against pervasive pest infestations such as termites, including drywood termites, which are a common problem in many of these areas. This method involves enclosing the affected structure with a tent and then introducing a fumigant that penetrates all crevices, ensuring complete eradication of the pests.
What Is A Tent Fumigation?
I am sure that living here in Florida, you have passed by a home that looked like a circus and had gotten a hold of it for some magical performance. Although it may look like the circus got a hold of that home, I can assure you that is not true. The big colorful tent around that home is in place because that home is in the process of or recently had tent fumigation. That home had either an infestation of drywood termites, wood-destroying beetles, bed bugs, or a severe cockroach infestation. It is called tent fumigation because there is a tent around the home, and a fumigant gas is administered into that home.
As the gas fills the cubic footage of that home, the gas cannot escape because of the tent. As the gas pressurizes in the house, it slips through cracks, crevices, and termite-infested locations. It will kill all insects and wood-destroying organisms. Tent Fumigation is the only method of insect control that can kill a target insect regardless of its location within a structure. Unlike other treatment methods, tent fumigation uses a gas penetrating every possible structure point. Drywood termites are dubbed the name because, unlike Subterranean termites originating from the ground, drywood termites do not need constant earth contact nor have to return to the ground for moisture.
They can extract enough moisture to survive from the wood they inhabit and feed on. Thousands of homes, businesses, and structures are infected/ infested by Drywood termites each year, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage. The longer Termites go untreated in your home, the more damage they cause. Termites are a pest-related concern that should not be taken lightly or ignored. Delaying will cause significant irreversible damage.
What Happens in a Home During a Tent Fumigation?
Tent fumigation with Vikane (sulfuryl fluoride) is a comprehensive process to eradicate pests, particularly termites, from a home. Here's an overview of what happens inside of your home during the tenting process.
Fumigation Phase:
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Introducing Vikane: Once the home is securely tented, Vikane gas is released inside. The gas penetrates all home areas, including hard-to-reach spaces where pests may hide.
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Exposure Period: The home typically remains tented for 24 to 48 hours to allow the fumigant to thoroughly penetrate the structure and eradicate the pests.
Aeration Phase:
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Removing the Tents: After the specified exposure period, the tents are carefully removed. This allows the gas to dissipate into the atmosphere.
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Ventilation: The home is ventilated to ensure all residues of Vikane are cleared out. This involves airing out the property for several hours.
Certification and Re-entry:
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Safety Checks: A trained professional conducts air quality tests to ensure the concentration of Vikane has fallen to safe levels.
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Certification for Re-Entry: Once the home is deemed safe, a re-entry notice is given to the homeowner.
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Reconnecting Utilities: Gas and other utilities are turned back on, and the home is prepared for normal occupancy.
Post-Fumigation:
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Follow-Up Inspection: After fumigation, an inspection may be conducted to ensure the pest problem has been completely resolved.
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Continued Monitoring: Homeowners may be advised to monitor their home for any signs of pest activity and to take preventive measures to avoid future infestations.
Tent fumigation with Vikane is a highly effective method for eliminating pests, but it requires careful preparation, execution, and follow-up to ensure safety and efficacy.
How Do I Prepare For A Tent Fumigation?
When preparing for termite treatment or tenting (For Fumigation), some prep work will need to be done by the homeowner.
Please note that these steps are imperative and must be completed for your safety:
The list you see here is a general index to allow you a quick idea of the process. Upon hiring Imperial Pest Prevention's subcontracted fumigator, we will supply you with a detailed prep sheet and checklist.
Exterior Tent Fumigation Prep Work:
A tent Fumigation process can require much homework for a homeowner. One of the most important things that need to be done is trimming back all shrubs around the house so the tarps will fall to the ground. (Hint: Wherever rainwater falls around your home is where the tarps will fall and where we need to work) Water the areas around the house near the structure and all plants surrounding the home. Tent Fumigation gas kills plants, which will help lessen the chance of damage. However, it will not prevent it.
Any trees that hang closely over the home will also require cuttings and trimmings so they do not hang over the structure(s).
Any Fence that touches the structure and does not have a gate or opening will also have to be detached before tent fumigation.
Pool enclosures are also recommended to be detached—those who cannot have to be covered in the treatment. A large pool enclosure adds considerably to the home's cubit footage, drastically increasing the tent fumigation price.
Any cracked windows or doors with inadequate weatherstripping must be repaired or covered to ensure the fumigant does not leak from these locations.
Any sharp objects attached to the home, like satellite antennas and window awnings, must be lowered or removed before the tent fumigation.
An authorized company must turn off homes with Gas utilities before tent fumigation.
Interior Prep Work For A Tent Fumigation:
Interior Prep Work for a tent fumigation is a little smoother process. All food in the home must be removed, including anything in the refrigerator and freezer. The Power will be off for three days, so it must be a location that will remain safe for a while.
Everything in your bathrooms needs to be also removed. Remove it if it is consumable or a product you put on your body.
Mattresses or furniture with plastic covers must be removed from the structure or the surfaces removed before Fumigation. (covers will hold fumigants and not allow for proper ventilation.)
Medications and valuables will also need to be removed before tent fumigation.
Items That Can Remain Indoors During a Tent Fumigation:
Bedding, Clothing, Furniture, and Dishes! Since this gas does not settle on anything, washing anything is unnecessary. (We at Imperial Pest Prevention still recommend removing the clothing, silverware, and dishes.
Imperial Pest Prevention will supply you with a customer prep sheet explaining what needs to be removed and what can stay. Of course, a good rule of thumb is, "If in doubt, take it out!"
Critical Circumstances That Will Not Allow For A Tent Fumigation:
Wood Decay locations with active leaks or moisture must be repaired before tent fumigation. Areas containing water will not readily accept the fumigant causing the gas not to penetrate those locations. If termites infest these locations and moisture is present, the gas will not effectively eradicate that colony.
How Long, Does A Tent Fumigation Take To Complete?
The duration of a tent fumigation process can vary depending on several factors, such as the property's size, the infestation's severity, and the specific fumigant used. However, a typical tent fumigation process generally follows this timeline:
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Preparation Day: This is when the home is prepared for fumigation. It involves clearing the property of people and pets and removing or sealing off certain items like food and medicine. This phase may take several hours.
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Tenting: The actual process of covering the house with a tent usually happens on the following day after preparation. This can take a few hours to complete, depending on the size and complexity of the structure.
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Fumigation Period: Once the house is tented, the fumigant is released. The property typically remains tented, and the fumigant is active for about 24 to 72 hours. This period allows the fumigant to thoroughly penetrate all areas of the house and effectively eliminate the pests.
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Aeration: After the fumigation period, the tent is removed, and the house is aired out. This aeration period is crucial to ensure that all fumigant residues are cleared from the house. The aeration process can take several hours to a full day, depending on factors like the fumigant used and weather conditions.
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Certification for Re-entry: Before the home can be reoccupied, a trained professional will test the air quality inside the house to ensure that it is safe to return. This process can take a few hours.
A typical tent fumigation process usually takes about 3 to 5 days from start to finish. It's important for homeowners to plan for this time frame, as it will be necessary to stay elsewhere during the fumigation and aeration periods. The pest control company performing the fumigation will provide specific timelines and instructions based on the individual circumstances of the fumigation.