How Do Termite Fumigations Work? (A Homeowner’s Guide)

如果您曾经看到过在居民区中的马戏团帐篷，那么您可能会很困惑。

Hopefully, you weren't too disappointed when you learned what wasreallygoing on:a termite fumigation.

What actually happens when a person takes this step to clear their home of termites? Are they in the house the whole time? Is the process expensive?

Keep on reading for everything you always wanted to know (but never thought to ask) about termite fumigation.

Should You Do Termite Treatment Yourself?

Right off the bat, the word "termite" is sending a chill down the spine of every homeowner--and for good reason.

这些小家伙会一次摧毁您的房屋，在害虫策略中，我们强烈建议您咨询训练有素的灭虫者，他们可以用专业知识来攻击您的白蚁问题（单击此处使用我们的工具在您的当地找到一个工具）。

We're all for recommending DIY methods to common pest problems, but when it comes to termites, we're in favor of calling in the professionals.

How Much Do Termite Treatments Cost?

Because termite treatments rely on a number of factors (including the size of the area to be treated, the extent of the termite infestation, the expertise of the exterminator, and the type of chemicals chosen), nailing down a specific price for every treatment is next to impossible.

出于这个原因,你总是会有一个检查员come out first thing. This person's job is to conduct a thorough walk-through of the space to be treated in order to write up an estimate and you know immediately how much you'll need to pay.

The inspector's estimate may seem steep, but keep this in mind: termites will eat your money one way or another, so take it from us: this is a problem youreallywant the pros to handle before it spirals out of hand.

我们进行了一些研究，并发现了一些白蚁成本的球场估计，我们在下面概述了这一点。请记住，这些是估计值，并且会根据很多因素而有所不同（我们稍后会介绍这些因素）。

For Drywood Termites?

这些小动物，因此，他们的名字主要生活在干燥的木材中。通常，它们主要是在家具中发现的 - 他们很容易通过毫无戒心的搬运工和欺骗性地淘汰而容易运输。

由于白蚁居住在他们的食物来源中，干木白蚁从周围的空气中吸收水分，这意味着它们大多在美国东南部等潮湿的环境中发现。

Pest control companies along the Gulf Coast and throughout the southern states know the market through and through. They'll generally offer contract deals to customers which treat a home with a fumigant for an initial price between $1000-$2000 (depending onseveral factors就像房屋的尺寸和熏蒸类型一样），此后每年的熏蒸仅为200美元或300美元。

For Subterranean Termites?

地下白蚁通常被称为大多数破坏性白蚁物种，生活在土壤中，并通过木材中的缝隙或通过掩体到木材的土壤中的避难所进入木结构。

These types of termites aren't limited to a certain area of the United States, dwelling in most areas with access to forest and soil.

Because the subterranean termites burrow up into the wooden structure of a building from the dirt below, they can be much more difficult to exterminate over a period of time.

这是灭虫者提供的年度合同派上用场的地方：以初始价格的一小部分，这些治疗方法确实可以随着时间的推移而避免成本。

熏蒸有毒吗？

So, if the fumes kill off the termites, what stops them from harming our household pets?

更好的是，那些真正住在家里的人呢？

继续阅读有关熏蒸过程如何影响居住在治疗区域的每个人的重要信息。

Should You Worry About Your Pets?

Yes!

当您与害虫防治公司安排熏蒸时，您需要做出规定以从家里删除任何和所有生物 -直到室内植物。

用来杀死白蚁的熏蒸者，一种称为的气体sulfuryl fluoride, is odorless, colorless, and deadly. Anything left inside the home will not survive the fumigation. Sulfuryl fluoride is a chemical used in popular termite treatments likeVikane®; Termafume®.

For this reason, we highly recommend that you create a checklist of all your plants before fumigating, and make sure to find concrete plans for your pets well in advance during the fumigation days.

那你的孩子呢？

Just like with pets, kids will evacuate the treatment well before the fumigation process begins.

However, it's jarring to think about a toxic chemical wafting through the walls of your home, then having your kids run right back in to play with all their freshly-sprayed toys.

我们听到你。

这是我们建议的：a few days before the fumigation, double-bag your kids' toys in zipper-seal plastic bags and store them in tied plastic shopping bags. This will help prevent the toxic gases from coming into contact with your belongings.

Bonus points:if you have plastic storage tubs with lids, these will work better than the plastic shopping bags. The goal is to take any measure you can in order to eliminate pockets of air where the gas can seep in.

如果你怀孕了怎么办？

It's certainly not ideal to have a termite infestation at any time--but especially not when you're expecting.

The thought of having to leave your home so that a team of strangers can come in to pump it full of toxic chemicals before your baby is born sounds absolutely horrific.

It's not all doom and gloom, though: scientific studies on pregnant rats exposed to sulfuryl fluoride have shown没有不利影响。小鼠和母鼠在呼吸较低的化学物质后，没有任何健康问题。

一旦完成熏蒸过程，房屋中就不会剩下挥之不去的气体，这意味着对怀孕大鼠的测试比任何人类从残留性质中遇到的任何人都要高得多。

What is Tented vs Tentless Termite Treatment?

A "tented" treatment is the casual term for the fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride; a moniker stemming from the circus-like tent placed over the entire property to contain the gas while the fumigation takes place.

"Tentless treatments" for termites, however, can mean a few different things.

Spot Treatment for Termites

This means, essentially, that a chemical agent is used in one specific area by a technician. A professional will drill a hole and infuse an insecticide into the structure, killing a colony of termites known to live there.

This method is really only cost-effective in large structures, not houses, where termite colonies are known to only live in one specific area.

Bait Method for Termites

The bait method to knock out termites is possibly the simplest choice for a homeowner, yet it's still a pretty involved process nonetheless.

An pest control specialist will come out to set a series ofbait trapsalong your property to lure termites away from the wooden structures of your home, and will need to make a few visits in order to monitor the system appropriately.

控制和预防的further infestations will take time--most likely around a year of proper management and baiting.

Barrier Method for Termites

控制这些讨厌的小动物的方法涉及在土壤和实际房屋或建筑物之间建造障碍（通常由混凝土制成，并充满沙子），然后用杀虫剂泵使用从外部钻出的孔。

一旦白蚁越过障碍物，他们就会立即死亡。始终可以注入更多杀虫剂，通常必须进行几次返回访问，以维持客户的障碍。

How to Find an Exterminator to Conduct a Termite Extermination

So, you've gotten this far and you realize that you need to hire a pro.

如果您将钥匙移交给房屋（更不用说其中的所有内容），那么您将要确保您有一个可以信任的人。

继续阅读一些精彩的技巧，以了解您需要在知名的害虫防治专家中寻找的东西。

First Things First: A Solid Reputation

You wouldn't eat at a restaurant with a 1-star Google rating, would you?

我们生活在一个基于评论的社会中，评分是当今时代的一切。确保您选择了一家具有出色客户满意度的公司，并详细介绍了其他人以前的经历。

Proper Qualifications

If a company knows how to keep its customers happy, they probably have all their ducks in a row when it comes to required paperwork.

Make sure the company you choose meets theregulations for your state和完全licensed to practice fumigation.

A Lasting Relationship

Do you live in an area with a nearly-constant cycle of termites?

If so, the yearly contract option offered by a majority of pest control specialists might be the best bet for you.

在承诺首次熏蒸之前，请检查是否可以签订协议，以低成本的价格使您的房屋每年熏蒸并与您的害虫防治专家保持合同。

一个回答每一个问题

If you have a question, they should have an answer. Period.

If there's a question on your mind for your pest control team, let them spread some of their knowledge. If the team you're considering can't answer your questions, move on to the next company.