Fumigation treats the entire structure in one pass. The building gets tented and filled with a gas that reaches into walls, furniture and stored belongings alike. It is the most thorough bed bug option and comes into play when the infestation has spread throughout a home or building.
When Tenting Makes Sense
- Bed bugs have turned up in most rooms, not just the bedrooms.
- An earlier round of heat or chemical treatment did not clear it up.
- There is too much furniture and stored stuff to treat piece by piece.
- A small apartment building needs all of its units tented in one pass.
How Structural Fumigation Works in California
- Measuring upThe company sizes the building and hands over a prep list.
- TentingThe structure gets covered and warning signs go up.
- GassingA licensed fumigator releases the gas for the required amount of time.
- Airing outThe tent comes off, the building ventilates and the air gets tested.
Fumigation and National City Homes
Plenty of homeowners here have already seen tent fumigation used on termites in the city's older 1940s and 1960s housing stock, and the bed bug version follows much the same playbook. It comes up for heavy infestations spread through houses and small apartment buildings near downtown and the port area, and it takes some coordination with tenants and neighbors beforehand.
How to Prepare
- Bag or remove food, medicine and pet food in approved bags.
- Line up somewhere to stay for 2 to 3 nights for people and pets.
- Trim back plants and anything touching the walls.
- Arrange access for the tenting crew and the clearance check.
Questions About Fumigation
How many days will the household be displaced?
Plan on 2 to 3 days, which covers the gas exposure time plus the airing-out and clearance testing before the building is safe to re-enter.
Will fumigation stop bed bugs from coming back later?
No. Fumigation leaves no residue behind, so a bug carried in later on luggage or furniture can start a new problem. Many companies pair it with a residual treatment for that reason.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves National City. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.