Guide to Vikane Gas

Photo by Matt HobbsThe name of a chemical that pest control companies commonly use as a fumigant is called vikane gas. The name vikane is actually only a brand name and the real name of the chemical being used is Sulfuryl Fluoride. There competitors that also sell sulfuryl fluoride under a different names such as Profume, Zythor, Profume and MasterFume. However, the Vikane gas fumigant is the most famous of these brands and has been used by pest control businesse for decades.

The Vikane fumigant is odourless – it has no smell. Because humans cannot detect the gas, small amounts of tear gas are mixed with it so that any humans which accidentally come across this chemical will be informed of its harmful presence, thus being alerted to its dangers.

The gas is one of the most long running pest control products on the market and has been sold for well over 50 years. During this time it has built up a name for itself as being the go-to fumigant product that any fumigation process should use. If you’re interested in using Vikane gas as a pest control chemical (both for the elimination of termites and other bugs) then there are a couple of important things you should know.

First of all, exposure to Vikane gas is harmful to humans and when a pest control company is fumigating your house you’ll be required to leave the property for your own safety. Fortunately these toxic chemicals do not last long and once the house has been fully ventilated for a day or so, you’ll be able to return to your home again, without having to worry about any side effects. You won’t need to wash down the surfaces in your house afterwards, however many people still do so to give themselves peace of mind.

Steps For Vikane Gas Fumigation

Secondly, when using Vikane gas you need to make sure your house has been fully prepared for the extermination process. A tent will be placed over the home of the infested house and you’ll need to post signs surrounding the home, warning others that an extermination is taking place. In some states, you will also be required to inform the local Fire Station of what is occurring. There are certain items that should not be left in the home or at least need to be prepared in the correct manner.

All foods which are not sealed in an air tight container must be removed. This means taking everything out of the fridge or freezer. Alternatively if this is not possible then you may wish to double bag the food in sealed plastic bags or to place them in thick Tupperware as this should offer enough protection.

The use of Vikane gas is mainly effective when treating drywood termites however if you have a subterranean termite infestation then other techniques will be required. The Vikane gas will not be able to penetrate beneath the soil and so its effectiveness is limited in this area. To overcome this problem, subterranean termites can be killed by using other techniques such as baiting stations.

Finally, it’s important to note that traditionally Vikane gas was thought to cause no harmful effects to the ozone layer. However, recent research may suggest that it does in fact damage the earth’s atmosphere. Despite this, its contribution to any damage caused in the ozone layer is very minor compared to other gases such as carbon dioxide.