How Will My Neighbor’s Fumigation Affect Me?

There’s no question what’s happening when you see a home in your neighborhood covered in colorful tarps. You know that for one reason or another that home is being fumigated. And when you live in Florida you can bet your money on the fact that the fumigation is hoping to eradicate termites from the structure.

Termites cause millions of dollars in damage to American homes each and every year, so having your home fumigated shouldn’t incite fear, but rather give you a sense of relief. But what are you supposed to think when your neighbor has her house tented? Does it say something about your home and the other homes on your street. Here are some questions we get asked frequently on this subject.

Is My Family Safe?
Your neighbor’s house is undergoing fumigation and all you can think about is how those gases might impact your family. Is it safe? Should you keep your kids inside until it’s over? We’re happy to say that you have nothing to worry about. The whole purpose of the tent is to contain fumigation substances within the structure thus concentrating it so that it is most effective. This effort to concentrate the treatment chemicals also prevents it from seeping out and impacting your property. So, the answer to your question is yes. Your family is safe

Can We Catch Their Termites?
There is a common misconception that when your neighbors home is tented all of the termites and other pests simply fly over to your house to set up shop. We’re not sure where this rumor started, but it doesn’t make much sense. The whole purpose of the tent structure is to trap not just the chemicals, but the pests themselves. You may think your particular swarm of termites is extremely clever, but we promise you they don’t have the sense to leave when they see the tent coming. So, no. You’re not going to catch your neighbor’s termites when they have their home tented. However, if they have termites you might already have them as well. We encourage you to reach out to a termite control service to evaluate your home and ensure that you don’t have a blossoming termite problem that will need to be dealt with eventually.

The hot and damp climate of Florida is the perfect breeding ground for termites. And finding you have a termite issue doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. But, there are things you can do to make your home and property a little less desirable. Clean up any wood debris like fallen tree limbs and rotting stumps, and cut back tree limbs that create dark and damp zones of your yard. The more you can eliminate a termite-friendly habitat the better. When you do find yourself with a termite infestation, move quickly to eliminate it with home fumigation services from a trusted local pest control company. If you’d like a free cost estimate, contact us today.