A termite tent covering a building.If you do tent your home, keep in mind that you’ll probably have to leave your home for 3 days to 1 week or so. This allows for the chemicals to clear and the toxicity to disappear.
The Cost of Termite Tenting
You really need a detailed step-by-step guide which will walk you through it all. I can’t recommend this enough as it will save you a lot of time and effort, it’s worth investing in this one particular item.
As a rough figure, the average house costs around $2,000 to $3,000 for a termite tenting fumigation to be completed. Use this as a guiding principle and shop around for the best offers. However, the cost can depend on a variety of factors:
- The size and dimensions of the house are usually the factors which influence costs the most.
- What type of termite has infested your house? Is it drywood or subterranean?
- How far the termite exterminator has to travel (if you live in a remote location then an additional fee maybe included).
- What termite chemicals the exterminator will be using?
- Whether the fumigation includes a yearly fee and further protection?
- Plus many other factors…
Termite Tenting Dangers
Termite fumigation chemicals are harmful and hazardous to your health. They kill termites and they can harm humans. However, that’s only if you’re present in the house during the fumigation, or soon after it has occurred. If you wait a few days, the chemicals used during the fumigation will soon disappear and their toxicity diminishes. It doesn’t take long before it is safe to return to your home.
In fact, the bigger cause for concern is for the environment. Some termite fumigants used are very harmful to the ozone layer. Fortunately many of these have been banned and eliminated from pest control use.
Termite Tenting Safety
If you follow the preparation tips laid out in this guide (see the next column) then you’ll have a quick, safe and effortless termite tenting which should protect you for a long time to come. Its major downside is that it is just so expensive.
Termite Tenting Preparation
When you sign up for fumigation, the pest control company will give you a list of instructions that you need to follow. However, I’ve outlined below what information you’re going to be likely given:
- If you have any food then it’s important to store it away in air tight containers and plastic bags. If you’re using air tight plastic bags then make sure you double bag them. If the bag has any holes or cuts in it then use another one.
- Any fridges and freezers should be emptied.
- Pet foods and liquids should be removed.
- Plants should be placed outside in the garden or taken to a different house.
- Bottled waters should be removed from the house.
- Pills, tablets and medications, as well as cosmetics and vitamins should be removed.
- Take off any plastic covers on beds and remove the sheets, duvets, covers and pillows.
- Take away and empty any rubbish or litter left in the bins or outside your home.
- You will need to wash and soak the ground near your home the day before the fumigation company arrives.
- You should tell your neighbours that you’re going to be having a fumigation. This helps them to keep their children and pets away from your home. It’s nothing you should be embarrassed about as they are likely to have had the same problem in the past or will soon have the same problem in the future.
- Remove any important financial documents or data, you might want to remove your computers.
- Open the doors of any rooms and give the pest control company all your keys so that they can access all of your rooms.
- Turn off the electricity, gas and air conditioning systems around the house.
- Remove lawnmowers, cars, trucks, boats and other vehicles from your garage.
- Close all of your windows.
Phew! That’s a lot to remember so you might want to print this page off. The termite control company is also likely to give you a list outlining similar points to what I’ve just discussed above.
They’ll let you know what gas is being used and you’ll have to sign a piece of paper giving them the right to fumigate your home. Depending on the state, a notice may also have to be sent to the local fire department letting them know that your house is being termite tented. Don’t worry too much about this bit as the pest control company should inform you of what to do next.