Have you just discovered that you have a serious termite infestation? Have you just been told that you will need to use gas on them because it is the fastest means of termite control and you do not have any time to lose? If so, poisonous gas probably is the only answer.
However no one would condemn you for being a bit concerned about having your house fumigated with toxic gas. It does not sound a very healthy environment to have to live, eat and sleep in afterwards, does it? The good news is that there is little reason for anxiety, especially if you use a reputable firm with a history of using gas on termites.
Vikane is one of the most frequently used gases for the fumigation of termites. It is typically used with a practice called tenting. Tenting means quite literally putting a tent over the whole structure concerned, say your house.
The tent is then sealed as much as feasible, the Vikane gas is pumped in and fans are used to make sure that it is circulated throughout your house, including your attic and basement. The gas is left to do its deadly work for a day within the sealed up tent and within your house.
On the second day, the tent is taken off and the house is aired making use of the fans again. Delicate instruments are used to determine the levels of gas in all parts of your home and when the pest controller is convinced that the levels of gas have dropped to where your house is safe for human habitation, you will be allowed to move back in. That will usually be on the third day.
Vikane does not leave a sticky residue, so it will not leave a film on your furnishings which you will have to clean off later. When the house has been properly ventilated, all the gas will have disappeared, although there may still be a few innocuous pockets left behind rafters and joists in the attic and basement.
Tenting your house may give you grounds to think that the gas must be dangerous for surrounding wildlife or your neighbours, but this is not the reason for tenting. The tent is put up in order to retain the gas against the outside of the exterior walls of your house as well, so that it is treated from inside and out, although it does help prevent wasting gas also.
This tenting system of fumigation with Vikane is a very successful method of getting rid of an infestation of termites from a building. In fact, it is so efficient that your contractor should issue you with a guarantee, although you may have to have the procedure repeated every year or two in order to maintain the guarantee.
Vikane is aimed solely at termites, so it will not eradicate any other eco-system that has established itself within your house. It will not exterminate spiders, ants, bed bugs or cockroaches. More’s the pity, I can hear you saying.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is at present concerned with pictures of termites. If you are interested in this or if you are wondering: What Does A Termite Look Like?. Please go to our web site now for further details.
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