Fumigation handles a whole structure at once. The building is sealed under a tent and filled with a gas that passes through walls, furniture and stored items. It is the most involved bed bug option and is kept for problems that have spread through a house or small building.
When Tenting Is the Right Call
- Bugs are showing up in most rooms, not just bedrooms.
- Heat or chemical work was tried and did not solve it.
- There are too many belongings to treat item by item.
- An entire small building needs treatment at the same time.
How Structural Fumigation Works in California
- AssessA licensed fumigator sizes up the building and provides a written checklist of what to bag or remove.
- TentThe building is sealed under a tarp and warning signs are posted.
- TreatA licensed fumigator releases the gas and keeps it in for the required time.
- ClearAfter the required exposure, the tarps come down, the rooms air out and testing confirms safe levels before anyone returns.
Fumigation in Hercules
Tenting fits a detached Hercules house far more easily than a townhome that shares walls with its neighbors. In an attached row, the whole building usually has to be tented together, which means HOA approval and every household leaving at once. A good quote explains why fumigation beats heat or chemicals for your particular home.
How to Prepare
- Pack groceries, pet food and medications in the special fumigation bags, or carry them out of the house.
- Book somewhere to stay for 2 to 3 nights for everyone in the home, including pets.
- Soak the soil next to the foundation and trim shrubs or vines that touch the siding.
- Unlock gates and clear side yards so the tent crew can work around the building.
Questions About Fumigation
How many nights away should a Hercules family plan for?
Plan on 2 to 3 nights away, until the building has been aerated and cleared by air testing.
Does fumigation prevent new bed bugs later?
No. It leaves nothing behind, so bugs brought in afterward can start over. Many companies follow up with a residual treatment.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves Hercules. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.