What Is Tenting A House For Roaches?

You will agree when I say this:

Dealing with a cockroach infestation is difficult!

They can appear from out of nowhere when you are baking something in the kitchen or even in the bathroom when you shower.

It becomes a headache to have roaches in your house. Especially when you have already tried multiple things to eliminate these nasty insects.

Till now, you might have tried various traps for cockroaches or the best online product to kill them instantly.

But let’s face the fact:

Getting rid of cockroaches entirely from your home has become tougher.

But what if I tell you that there is a method that can make your home completely cockroach-free? Even if you have lost hope after trying all the solutions or other methods?

Sounds interesting?

I am talking about fumigation!

Fumigation is the last and final battle with cockroaches in your house, after that, you can say goodbye to them forever!

Want to know how tenting a house or fumigation works?

Read along to know how you can say goodbye to roaches forever with fumigation!

Let’s begin, shall we?

What Is Tenting Home For Roaches?

Tenting, popularly known as fumigation, is one of the pest control methods to get rid of cockroach infestation.

If you have tried everything till now to kill cockroaches, but nothing has worked, then fumigation can help.

However, this method is used in extreme cases where severe infestation occurs.

If you have exhausted all the ways to control cockroaches in your home, fumigation is the option you can look for to get rid of roaches.

With fumigation, you can be assured that all the cockroaches and their eggs will be vanished from your home as in fumigation, toxic gases and chemicals are used to kill cockroaches and their eggs.

And to make these highly toxic gases work, your home or area which needs to be cleared is covered with a vinyl-coated nylon tarpaulin tent, thus leading to the term ‘tenting’ for this whole process.

Also, the tenting process involves covering the entire structure for a few hours to several weeks until the treatment is not done.

But as I said, it’s the last option you opt for after exhausting all the other ways to remove cockroaches.

Therefore, it is an extensive process that involves monetary investment and a few days of hassle.

However, after fumigation, your home will be completely cockroach-free.

Now, we will be digging out various steps involved in fumigation along with its causes, results, costs, and experience of people that why it is the perfect option for severely infested areas.

Can Fumigation Kill Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are very clever, hard-to-catch, and disgusting insects that are hard to kill.

Also, according to Scientific Reports, cockroaches are now developing a resistance to insecticides. With time, they are becoming more resilient and even harder to kill.

However, fumigation is an effective method that can kill cockroaches quickly because a lethal chemical is released to vanish large cockroach colonies.

And fumigation method also works excellent due to the:

• The toxic chemicals can easily reach even narrow spaces where cockroaches tend to hide
• Fast-acting, and you will rarely need to do a follow-up treatment after fumigation
• Works against all cockroach species (German, American, etc.)
• Fumigation kills not only cockroaches but also their eggs (Ootheca)
• This method works perfectly for large buildings and spaces.

Even the fumigation method is ideally built for cleaning up the big building and spaces where these insects tend to hide.

Also, one thing to remember is that the fumigation process involves using chemicals, which can also be hazardous to humans and pets.

It is why fumigation is the method that should be used in case of severe cockroach infestation only when you have exhausted all the other options.

Does Fumigation Kill Cockroach Eggs?

When you are on a mission to clean the cockroach colonies from your home, you must also clean the roach eggs.

Otherwise, even when you have cleaned up your house from cockroaches through insecticides, the infestation can occur again if their eggs remain left to hatch.

Therefore, cockroaches and their eggs need to be cleaned for an insect-free home.

And fortunately, the fumigation process involves strong chemicals that can kill cockroach eggs.

The best part is that the fumigators know where the cockroaches hide their eggs; therefore, they are experts in cleaning up your home from roaches.

How Does Cockroach Fumigation Work?

As said before, the fumigation process is extensive and therefore requires planning as it can take 3 to 7 days to complete.

Therefore, you must know better about the process involved in fumigation to prepare your home and yourself for all the stages while keeping your family and belongings safe.

Also, there can be some different methods depending upon the professional exterminator company you choose, but the main steps involved in fumigation are:

1. Preparation

So, when you finally decide to fumigate your house, you should be aware that it can take around 24 to 48 hours to complete, which can go as long as up to 5 or 7 days.

The timing of completion for fumigation solely depends on the size of the building, house, and space you want to fumigate.

If you have chosen a pest control professional company, a professional from there may first visit your house to inspect the infestation situation.

If your house has a severe infestation, the pest control professional will recommend fumigation.

Depending upon the need, either of these processes of fumigation will take place:

• Sealing the structure with plastic tape or similar material, depending on the building
• Enclosing the structure with a vinyl-coated nylon tarpaulin tent

The next step is to remove all the belongings, pets, plants, and everything you want to keep safe during fumigation.

You must also can or seal all medicines, feed, and food in a metal, glass, or resistant container.

The pest control fumigator should provide or recommend sealed plastic bags to protect your items from toxic chemicals.

Once you have taken out your belongings and other stuff that you need to keep safe during fumigation, you can move with further steps.

The next step is to:

• Thoroughly clean your home by vacuuming, cleaning the dirt, and wiping grime from all surfaces.
• Clean your worktops of plates, cups, cooking utensils, etc.
• If you have children in your house, you must clear away their toys and possessions into sealed boxes. It is necessary to keep their belongings safe from chemicals.
• You must move furniture away from the walls
• Open cupboard and furniture doors.

After carrying out these steps, the pest control fumigators may ask you some questions related to your home construction, such as:

• Construction elements
• The drainage system in your house
• Conduits
• Vacuum systems, etc.

It is necessary to reduce any chances of the fumigant passing from your home to adjoining structures.

Once all of these steps are done, the fumigation process will start.

2. Process

After carrying out the preparatory steps, the fumigation process shall start. Your house will be sealed, so you won’t be able to enter until the fumigation process is over.

To ensure no one enters the house before they should, the fumigator will apply a secondary lock that only the company can access on all outside doors.

It is an essential step to keep you safe from the chemicals that are used inside. However, you will regain access to your home as soon as it becomes safe.

The primary purpose of keeping you away from your house is t keep you safe from the lethal chemicals.

These harsh chemicals can kill or injure anyone who isn’t fully equipped or trained to be inside the fumigation zone.

On top of that, fumigants are odorless, so that the fumigator will release a warning agent into the environment at the start and throughout the process.

Once the chemical gases are released into the house, these toxic gases will penetrate cracks and gaps easily to kill any hidden cockroaches. It is why fumigation works efficiently.

Also, once it is enough time for the gases to work and kill cockroaches, the fumigator will use industrial fans to remove the gas from your home.

They will also make you safely move into your home after cleaning your house from gas use.

3. Post Fumigation Process

As the fumigation process is done in your house, the fumigator will post a re-entry notice within the property’s boundaries.

The alert will make people aware that it is safe to enter their homes. The sign can state:

• Name of licensee
• Date of fumigation
• Fumigant used

It is a necessary step by the law and must be permanently attached to make future tenants or homeowners aware of the fumigation that took place before.

However, after fumigation, you won’t notice any adverse side effects. Still, to be safer, you should follow the ‘preparation’ step carefully and keep your required and essential stuff safe from the chemicals.

This step becomes more crucial when you have a child in your home.

What Should I Do After Cockroach Fumigation?

There is still some work to do even after fumigation has taken place.

The first step is not to clean your home for around 5 to 10 days, as the chemicals have started killing cockroaches.

If you clean your home, the residual chemicals will likely be less effective in killing cockroaches that may still be hiding somewhere.

Of course, you can perform light cleaning and wipe up spills.

After entering your home again, you can follow these steps:

• You must open all the doors and windows for excellent ventilation to prevent odor and issues from lingering fumes.
• You must keep your home clean and hygienic to minimize the risk of re-infestation of cockroaches.
• You can keep your laundry in zip-lock bags, as roaches eat fabric if nothing else is available.

Further, even if you see cockroaches after fumigation, don’t worry. It is common for roaches to remain a few weeks after treatment as fumigation does not instantly kill them.

Instead, it can take up to a few weeks before wiping up the whole cockroach colony as the chemicals slowly kill them.

Even if you are tempted, don’t use additional chemicals or treatments on the remaining cockroaches.

Doing so can interfere with the fumigation and cause the cockroaches to scatter into new spaces of the home.

However, you can remove any roaches by picking them up with gloves or paper or vacuuming them.

How Much Does It Cost To Fumigate A House For Roaches?

On average, the roach exterminator cost through fumigation is $1 to $3 per square foot.

Therefore, the cost to fumigate a house entirely depends on these two things:

• Size of the house or building
• The company you choose for fumigation

Therefore, with an average price range, you can expect to pay from $2,000 to $6,0000 for a 2,000-square-foot home.

Some professional exterminators also offer to treat bed bugs, pantry pests, and other treatments through tent fumigation.

On top of that, some companies charge separately for tenting the home.

And this cost can be anywhere between $1,000 to $3,500 for smaller homes and $2,500 to $7,500 for more significant buildings.

However, you can choose a company that quotes for fumigation and tenting together. Many companies offer the price including both procedures.

Further, you can also consider accommodation costs (unless you have a friend with a big house) because you will need to stay elsewhere for 2 to 7 days while the fumigation takes place.

You can stay in a hotel or opt for short-term tenants.

By calculating these costs, you can estimate your budget accordingly. However the price may seem expensive to you, but the damage that cockroaches cause can be far more significant in severe cases.

Therefore, fumigation is a worthwhile expense to make your home safe, sanitary, and free from disease-spreading cockroaches if your living area has a severe infestation.

How Long Does It Take For Roaches To Die After Fumigation?

The fumigation method involves the usage of harsh chemicals which can quickly kill cockroaches and their eggs, therefore, it is a highly effective method to get rid of cockroaches.

However, one thing to remember is that fumigation does not kill roaches instantly. Most cockroaches die after two weeks of treatment; therefore, you should be patient.

Even if you observe cockroaches in your house after fumigation, there is nothing to worry about.

The chemical kills these nasty insects slowly, which can take up to a few weeks to vanish completely.

Therefore, you must wait for 1-2 weeks, and then you will be able to observe cockroach-free space.

However, till then, you can perform these steps to stop roaches from becoming too much nuisance till chemicals are working to kill them.

• Ensure to dispose of your garbage and put a tight lid on the trash not to let roaches feed over them.
• Fill up the cracks, gaps, and crevices to stop cockroaches from entering your house.
• Clean all the food crumbs and spills, and don’t leave edible items open.
• Put your used dishes and utensils in the dishwasher or wash them by hand instantly after eating. Don’t leave dirty items overnight.
• Vacuum and clean all the corners of your home, and sweep and mop your floor.

After fumigation, it is less likely to get roach infestation again. Also, you don’t need any follow-up treatments.

However, you must keep cleanliness in your home and have some good habits for hygiene, such as keeping used utensils in the dishwasher or cleaning them instantly.

Good drainage and waste management can also reduce the chances of roaches getting into your house again.

Remember that cockroaches cannot enter your home until you don’t invite them of your unhygienic habits and dirty house.

FAQs

Final Words

Fumigation or tenting is a pest control method, and it kills cockroaches and keeps your house free from these nasty insects in case of severe infestations.

Therefore, it is a highly effective method for an extensive infestation.

However, fumigation is mainly preferred when there is severe roach infestation, or in old buildings, apartments, and spaces where removing cockroaches is tough.

On top of that, fumigation involves the usage of highly toxic gases which can kill not only cockroaches but also their eggs, so you must stay away from your house for 3-7 days.

All in all, cockroach extermination via fumigation is a hectic process for which you must prepare yourself.

So it is why you should only opt for fumigating your entire house when you have exhausted all the other ways to exterminate roaches.