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What Do You Need to Know about Fumigation?:Consumer's Guide to Fumigation - The most unwelcome visitors are not those who show up for a weekend visit with a month's worth of luggage, those who eat all your food, or even those who commandeer your bedroom while you're camping on the couch. While certainly irritating, most people find pests of a different sort much more of an annoyance - and a health risk. Ants, fleas, termites, spiders, cockroaches, bed bugs, and other insects can make life in your home uncomfortable, infiltrate your food supply, even cause issues with the structural integrity of your home. In some cases, you can apply home remedies to remove insects, but for more persistant pests, fumigation may be necessary. Is this the right choice for your home, your needs, and your budget? This guide will take a look at the ins and outs of pest control so you can make the healthiest, safest choice.
Do You Need to Fumigate your Home?:Virtually any home will have pests in one form or another, whether fleas from dogs, mosquitoes from the open door, or bed bugs, which have made a tremendous comeback in recent years. While you may be able to "spot treat" certain pests; for example, if you have fleas, you can begin by sprinkling borax, baking soda, or salt onto your floors and furniture and vacuuming them thoroughly, and make sure to wash your pet carefully. Some people swear by rubbing brewer's yeast into their pets' skin to repel fleas. But there may be cases in which an infestation has gone beyond your capability to resolve it with do-it-yourself remedies. You may have an infestation of termites, for instance, that can cause substantial damage if not handled correctly. If there is a substantial infestation or it is located in an area that you cannot access, it may be time to call in the big guns and start the whole-structure fumigation process.What is Fumigation? - Fumigants are typically gases, though they can be solids or liquids that are lethal to pests. The specific type of fumigant used in the home will typically depend on the pest which is invading it, as well as the severity of the problem. Termites, for example, are typically treated with sulfuryl fluoride, or Vikane. A heavier fumigant, like chloropicrin or sulfuric phosphate, is generally used in situations where the home is highly infested. Lighter fumigants, like hydrogen cyanide and aluminum chloride, are often used when pests have begun appearing but haven't settled down and made camp in the entire home yet. A professional pest control service should be called in to identify both the specific problem, as well as the severity.
Preparing for Fumigation:Tent fumigation is a serious step and one that should not be undertaken lightly by homeowners. Toxic chemicals will be introduced into your home - while necessary to kill the pests, it can also be potentially harmful for your family. Taking the proper steps to prepare is essential in making sure your home remains a healthy place. Typical fumigation takes from 16 to 30 hours (though it can take as long as 72 hours, depending on the structure and the infestation), with another 8 hours for aeration; the first basic step is to have somewhere else to be. Make sure to do the following:
*If it is living, remove it from the home. People, pets, and plants need to be taken from the home. The Fumigation Process - Your home will be tented, which means that the pest control service will place tarps securely around the structure; it will look like a giant wrapped present. This prevents the toxins from being dispersed into the air - your neighbors will not appreciate it if you fumigate their homes as well as your own. Once your home is sealed, the fumigants are released. In the case of termites, your fumigator will usually release the warning agent, chloropicrin, into the home, and then Vikane through a special hose. After the fumigation and the aeration period, your pest control professional will have to certify that your residence is safe for return. Until then, you cannot enter, and the pest control service is required to put a secondary lock on the structure. No, you can't run in and grab something you forgot! While certainly an inconvenience, it is a small price to pay for the eradication of pests. The two most common questions about fumigation are: "Is it effective?" and "Is it safe?" The answer to the first is undoubtedly yes. A large-scale extermination may be an inconvenience for a day or two, but this does not compare to the damage termites or carpenter ants can do if left unchecked or the discomfort of itchy, red welts that bed bugs inflict. The second question is also a yes. Your home cannot be certified for reentry until the fumigant is present in quantities less than 3 parts per million. For comparison, lab animals have been exposed to 100 parts per million continually for 2 weeks with no ill effects, so this is a considerable margin of safety for homeowners. Once the tarps are removed, the gar disperses very rapidly. Within 6 hours of the tarps being removed, most structures have less than 1 part per million and levels are undetectable after 24 hours. There is no residue left behind, so you don't have to worry about touching surfaces.
How Much Does Fumigation Pest Control Cost?:Don't you hate when you ask how much something costs, and the answer is, "It depends"? We do, too, but unfortunately, that's the case. The pest control cost for your home will depend on several factors, including the size of your home, the type of pest, and the level of infestation. You also have to take into consideration the area in which you live, and the experience of the particular service you are using. In general, though, you can expect to pay between $1200 to $2500 for a 1250-square-foot home or $2200 to $3800 for a 2500-square-foot home. Don't forget to add in the cost of accommodations; you cannot live in your home for at least a day, so you will need an alternative. But there are also factors that mitigate the cost, including:
*The elimination of pests. Unlike spot treatments, you can be sure that all infestations have been handled. Check with the National Pest Management Association for online locators when searching for a fumigator. The peace of mind that comes with professional home pest control is well worth the cost.
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