Preparing for home fumigation takes one to two days of work before the pest control crew arrives. Most residential fumigation targets drywood termites, though the process also eliminates wood-boring beetles, bedbugs, cockroaches, and rodents. The gas used in structural fumigation is toxic to all living things, so thorough preparation protects your family, pets, plants, and food. Here’s exactly what you need to do.
How Structural Fumigation Works
During fumigation, your entire home is sealed under a large tarp, and a gas (most commonly sulfuryl fluoride) is released inside. The gas fills every air space in the structure, penetrating cracks, crevices, and pores in the wood where pests hide. Inside the insects’ bodies, the gas breaks down into fluoride, which disrupts their ability to metabolize energy. They starve at the cellular level.
The tarp stays on for roughly 24 to 72 hours depending on the size of your home, the severity of infestation, and local weather conditions. After the active exposure period, the crew removes the tarp and opens windows and doors to aerate the structure. You typically cannot return until the gas concentration drops below 1 part per million, which is the threshold required by EPA-registered product labels. In total, expect to be out of your home for two to three days.
Remove All Living Things
Every person, pet, fish, reptile, and houseplant must leave the home before fumigation begins. This is non-negotiable. Sulfuryl fluoride is lethal to all living organisms at the concentrations used during treatment. Fish tanks can’t simply be covered; the fish need to be relocated entirely. The same goes for any terrarium animals, birds, and outdoor pets that might shelter near the structure.
Let your neighbors know what’s happening. Ask them to keep children and pets away from the perimeter of your home during fumigation and the aeration period that follows. The pest control company will post warning signs, but a personal heads-up prevents confusion and keeps everyone safe.
Protect Your Food and Medications
Anything you eat, drink, or put in your body needs to be either removed from the home or sealed in special protective bags. Your pest control company will typically provide or sell “fumigation bags,” which are thick, gas-resistant bags (regular trash bags and zip-lock bags are not sufficient). Items that need bagging or removal include:
- All food, including canned goods, spices, condiments, and anything in your refrigerator or freezer (the gas penetrates refrigerator seals)
- Medications and vitamins, whether prescription or over-the-counter
- Pet food and treats
- Beverages, including open bottles of wine or liquor
Factory-sealed items in glass or metal containers with intact seals are sometimes exempt, but check with your fumigation company for their specific guidelines. When in doubt, bag it or take it with you.
Prepare the Exterior of Your Home
The crew needs clear access to every exterior wall to install the tarp. Cut back any plants, shrubs, or tree branches that touch or press against the house. If vegetation is growing right up against the foundation, trim it far enough back that workers can walk along the walls.
Water the perimeter of your home heavily before the tarp goes on. Saturating the soil around the foundation helps prevent the fumigant from migrating into the ground, which protects plant roots and landscaping from damage. If you have a garden bed along the house, give it a deep soaking the day before treatment.
Remove or relocate any outdoor items that will be trapped under the tarp, including patio furniture, grills, potted plants, and dog houses. If your home has a fence or gate attached to the structure, the crew may need you to detach sections to allow the tarp to drape fully to the ground.
Inside the Home: Access and Utilities
Open all interior doors, including closet doors, attic hatches, and cabinet doors. The fumigant needs to circulate freely through every room and enclosed space. If you have locked rooms, safes that are built into walls, or sealed crawl spaces, make sure they’re accessible.
Your pest control company will coordinate with your gas utility to shut off the natural gas supply before treatment begins. All pilot lights on furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces must be extinguished. Some companies handle this step directly, while others will ask you to schedule the shutoff with your utility provider yourself. Confirm who is responsible well before fumigation day so there’s no last-minute scramble.
You generally do not need to unplug most electronics or appliances, but ask your fumigation company about their specific requirements. Garage door openers should remain accessible so the crew can enter and exit during the process.
What to Take With You
Pack as though you’re leaving for a long weekend, because you are. Beyond the obvious (clothes, toiletries, medications), bring:
- Important documents like passports, insurance papers, and spare keys
- Valuables you’d rather not leave in an unoccupied home
- Children’s essentials including car seats, strollers, and comfort items
- Pet supplies including food, crates, and medication
Arrange lodging ahead of time. Hotels, a friend’s house, or short-term rentals all work. Some homeowner’s insurance policies or termite warranty plans cover temporary housing costs during fumigation, so check your policy before paying out of pocket.
What Happens When You Return
The fumigation company will test the air inside your home before clearing you to re-enter. Sulfuryl fluoride levels must measure below 1 ppm throughout the structure. You’ll receive a notice, often a posted card or direct communication, confirming it’s safe to go back inside.
Once the gas has been vented, it leaves no residue on surfaces. You do not need to wash your dishes, bedding, clothes, or countertops. The gas dissipates completely during aeration, which is why the prep work focuses on sealing food rather than protecting hard surfaces. Open a few windows when you first return to keep fresh air flowing, then unpack your bagged food and restock your refrigerator.
Call your gas company to restore natural gas service and relight your pilot lights. Some utility providers will send a technician; others will walk you through it over the phone. Plan for this step so you’re not without hot water or heat on your first night back.