Termite Fumigation and Tenting in Northeast Florida

Termite Fumigation Questions We Get Asked Most

How long does it take to tent a house for termites?

Most Florida homes stay under the tent for at least 12 hours, and longer when the job calls for a higher dose of fumigant. After the tent comes off, the house is aired out and every room has to test at 1 part per million or less before anyone goes back in. Plan on being out for about two to three nights. Southern Fumigation will give you the exact schedule for your house at the inspection.

Is termite fumigation safe for my family and pets?

Yes, when a licensed fumigator follows the label. Everyone leaves the house, including pets, fish, reptiles, and houseplants. The house is locked and posted with warning signs while the gas is in, and a warning agent is added so no one can wander in by accident. Nobody goes back inside until every room has been tested at or below 1 part per million, the limit the EPA sets. Southern Fumigation's crew handles every one of those steps.

What do I need to remove from my house before termite tenting?

Take out all people, pets, fish, and plants. Food, animal feed, tobacco, and medicine need to come out or go into special double bags unless they're still in their factory-sealed glass, metal, or plastic packaging. Take waterproof covers off mattresses and pillows so the gas can reach them. Southern Fumigation goes over the full checklist with you before the date.

How much does termite fumigation cost in Lake City and Gainesville?

Termite fumigation is priced by the size of the structure, because the fumigant dose depends on how much space the tent covers. The height of the house, the roof, and how hard it is to seal also matter. Southern Fumigation measures your home during a free inspection and gives you one real price before any work is scheduled. Call (904) 259-9811.

Will termites come back after tenting?

Fumigation kills the drywood termites living in your house when it's tented, but the gas leaves nothing behind in the wood. That means it can't stop new swarmers from flying in later. That's why prevention matters after the tent comes off: sealing and finishing exposed wood, borate treatments on unfinished lumber, and regular inspections. Southern Fumigation can set up a prevention plan for your home after the job.

Do I need to tent my house, or will a liquid treatment work?

It depends on the termite. Subterranean and Formosan termites nest in the soil, so liquid soil treatments and bait stations are the right tools, and tenting won't reach their colony. Drywood termites live entirely inside the wood. If they're in one small, reachable spot, a targeted treatment can work. If they're spread through the walls, attic, or framing, tenting is the treatment that gets them all. Southern Fumigation identifies which termite you have before recommending anything.

Do you have to wash your clothes after your house is tented?

No. The fumigant is a gas that airs out of the house after the tent comes off, and it isn't expected to leave residue on clothes, dishes, or furniture. You can leave clothes in closets and drawers. The things that need attention are food and medicine that aren't factory sealed, plus waterproof mattress and pillow covers. Those get bagged or removed before the tent goes up. If you want to wash bedding afterward for peace of mind, that's fine.