Drywood termite fumigation
Fumigators in Tucson for Drywood Termites in the Whole House
When drywood termites have spread through the house, a sealed tent treats every board at once. We inspect first, tell you straight whether you need it, and arrange the fumigation.
Open Monday to Saturday. We answer the phone or call back the same working day.
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- Inspection before any treatment
- Whole job quoted before we start
Whole-house termite treatment
Fumigators in Tucson
Fumigators treat the whole structure at once: the house goes under a sealed tent and a gas is held inside it, so it reaches termites in every board, seen or unseen. It is the treatment we recommend when drywood termites are spread through a home rather than sitting in one spot.
Drywood termites live inside the wood itself, in framing, trim, eaves and furniture, with no "mud tubes" leading back to the soil. What gives them away is "frass", the droppings that look like salt and pepper below infested wood, and the "swarmers" that fly out in season. When the inspection shows they have moved through the house, we recommend fumigation and arrange it.
Get a Free EstimateResidential and commercial fumigation
Tent fumigation treats any structure with drywood termites in it, from a single-story house to an apartment building or a commercial building.
These are the buildings we arrange it for:
- HousesHomes of every size, with the whole house treated at once.
- Apartment buildingsMulti-unit buildings, with every tenant out until the building is cleared.
- Commercial structuresOffices, shops and other business buildings with drywood termites.
Tent or spot treat?
When drywood termites call for fumigation
Fumigation can be the right call when the inspection finds drywood termites in several parts of the house that a spot treatment cannot reach. Each termite species needs a different treatment, so the inspection always comes before the recommendation.
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Activity in one area
Spot treatment
The termites are confined to one piece of wood or one part of the house, and we can reach all of it.
- Treats the infested wood directly where we found it
- No tent, and nobody has to move out
- Only works when the activity really is in one spot
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Spread through the house
Tent fumigation
The termites have moved through framing, trim and eaves, and treating spot by spot would leave some behind.
- Treats the whole structure at once under a sealed tent
- Reaches termites inside walls, framing and trim you cannot open up
- Recommended only when the inspection shows it is warranted
From inspection to all-clear
How tent fumigation works
A fumigation job runs from the inspection and preparation through tenting, the gas hold and aeration, and it ends with clearance before anyone goes back inside.
You know each stage before it starts, and we quote the whole job up front, with no surprise charges after.
These are the stages of a tent fumigation, in order:
Inspection
We confirm the termites are drywood and map how far they have spread, because that decides whether you need a tent at all.
Preparation
You bag or remove food, medicine and plants, and plan where the family and pets stay until the house is cleared.
Tenting
The house is covered with tarps that are clamped at every seam and weighted down at the ground to seal it.
Gas hold
The gas is released inside the sealed tent and held long enough to work its way deep into the wood.
Aeration
The tent comes off and the house is aired out so the gas clears from every room.
Clearance
The air inside is tested and the house is cleared before anyone goes back in.
Before the tent goes up
Preparing the house for fumigation
Before fumigation, you should bag or take out food, medicine and plants, and people and pets should leave the house until it is cleared.
We go over the list with you at the estimate, so the day the tent goes up holds no surprises.
Request a Pest Control EstimateHere is what to do before the tent goes up:
- FoodBag or remove food and drink, pet food included, so nothing open stays under the tent.
- MedicineTake medicine and vitamins with you or bag them along with the food.
- PlantsMove houseplants out of the house before the tarps go on.
- PetsTake every pet with you, fish and birds too, and keep them out until the house is cleared.
- PeopleEveryone leaves the house and stays out until it has been aired out and cleared.
What it costs
How fumigation is priced
Fumigation is priced by the size of the structure, and only after an inspection. We give you the typical range for Tucson up front and the exact price once we have seen the house.
Cost depends on property size, the type of pest and how far the infestation has spread. The longer termite signs are ignored, the more the treatment costs, and repairs get added on top. The estimate is free, and we quote the whole job before we start.
Typical ranges in Tucson
$1,800 to $4,200
Whole-structure fumigation
$1 to $3.05
Per square foot, for termite treatment priced by area
These are typical ranges, not a quote. Your price comes from the inspection, with no surprise charges after.
Get a Free EstimateWhat neighbors say
Reviews from Tucson customers
Great customer service. Arrived on time, answered questions I had.
Sean was helpful and explained in detail the type of termites we’re dealing with and how to best treat them. He explained where we had/didn’t have damage, what to look for in the future and why they were missed by the previous home owners. Highly recommend Sean and this company!
RKC Pest Management LLC is excellent. Have had them for many years and no pests. Sean is very thorough and conscientious. Would definitely recommend this company without hesitation.
Where we work
Fumigation around Tucson
We arrange fumigation in Tucson, AZ, and the towns around it, from South Tucson and Flowing Wells to the Catalina Foothills, Casas Adobes, Oro Valley, Marana, Vail and Sahuarita.
That footprint is our commitment. If your address sits just outside it, ask on the call and we will tell you straight.
What you can count on, Monday to Saturday:
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- We answer the phone or call back the same working day
- We show up when we say we will
- We quote the whole job before we start, with no surprise charges after
- We clean up when the work is done
Not every house needs a tent
Alternatives to tenting the whole house
When the activity is confined to one area, a spot treatment can replace the tent, and subterranean termites need a soil treatment instead of fumigation.
Can spot treatment replace fumigation?
Spot treatment can replace fumigation when the termites have stayed in a single board or a short run of trim that we can reach end to end. We treat the infested wood directly, and you stay in the house. If the inspection finds them in several places, a spot treatment will miss some, and that is when we recommend the tent.
Do subterranean termites need fumigation?
No, subterranean termites live in the soil, so we treat them with a "termiticide" barrier in the soil around the foundation, which kills the colony and blocks reinfestation, or with "bait stations" that intercept the colony at the source.
Termite Control in TucsonOther pest control services we offer
We also treat the other common household pests, each with its own service and the same inspection first.
The other pest control services we offer:
- Termite control
- Fumigation
- Scorpion control
- Bed bug treatment
- Mice
- Rats
- Mosquito control
- Bee removal
- Bird control
- Commercial pest control
Questions we get
Fumigation questions from Tucson homeowners
What is a fumigator?
A fumigator treats a whole structure with a gas held under a sealed tent. It is the treatment for drywood termites that have spread through a house, and we recommend it only when the inspection shows it is warranted.
Is fumigation harmful to humans?
The gas is meant to kill pests inside the wood, which is why people and pets leave the house before the tent goes up. Nobody goes back in until the house has been aired out and cleared.
Can you fumigate your house yourself?
We do not advise it. Sealing the tent, holding the gas and clearing the house for re-entry are jobs for a fumigation crew, and the first step is an inspection to see whether you need a tent at all.
What pests are killed by fumigation?
Drywood termites are the reason we recommend a tent, because they live inside the wood where a spray cannot reach. Subterranean termites live in the soil and get a liquid barrier or bait stations instead.
Think the termites have spread?
Call for a free estimate. We inspect first, tell you whether the house needs a tent or a spot treatment, and quote the whole job before we start.
- We show up when we say we will
- We answer or call back the same working day