What You Need to Know to Prepare for Whole House Fumigation

House Fumigation — Newburgh, IN — Pass Pest Control

Do you need whole house fumigation for a serious pest problem? While standard, targeted pest control measures are sufficient for many homeowners and business owners, fumigating the entire structure may be the only way to permanently solve a pressing and ongoing infestation.

However, whole home fumigation is not something with which most people are familiar. So, what should you do to prepare for yours? And what happens during and after the fumigation? Discover what you need to know.

What Is Whole House Fumigation?

Applying a fumigant to your entire home is a big process that professionals generally handle. Commonly known as tenting a house or structure, the large and colorful tarp that goes around the entire building is its most identifiable feature.

Most residential fumigation uses sulfuryl fluoride, which is colorless, odorless, and toxic to living things — including the pests you want to get rid of. An additive mixes with the gas to alert people if they are exposed to it.

The pest control pros will help you ready the house for this invasion of toxic gas, which can reach into just about any crevice or crack to complete the job. They then cover the home and release the gas. When the process is done, the service will monitor the levels of gas to ensure that everyone is safe before reentry. Finally, they remove the tarp and clean up after the procedure.

How Do You Prepare for Tenting?

Filling your home with fumigant is a big task, and you will need to take multiple steps to prepare for it. First, know that no one can be inside the home while it is fumigated. So you, your family, and your pets will all need somewhere to stay for a few days or even a week. Some homeowners schedule fumigation to coincide with something fun, like a family vacation or a trip to Grandma's house.

In addition, the home must be clear of organic materials that the gas could affect. For instance, move all your houseplants to a temporary location. Remove food that is not in protective original packaging in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. The pest control company may provide protective bags for any food you need to leave in the house. And they will advise about shutting off gas and pilot lights.

Then, help the sulfuryl fluoride do its job by facilitating its reach into every possible hiding spot for pests. This often includes removing bedding or plastic covers that might shelter bedbugs and other fabric pests. Open cabinets, drawers, and closet doors. Raise blinds or window treatments. And unlock interior doors so that the exterminators can ensure the widest reach.

The final step is not about the gas itself but rather about securing the tarp that will enclose it. To get a good seal, you may need to remove landscaping and hardscape elements from the immediate area around the outside walls. This could include plants, bushes, landscape rock, organic and inorganic mulch, or fences.

Unfortunately, fumigating an entire structure is not a small task. It can sound very daunting to most property owners. But it is also the best way to get rid of major infestations and start moving forward. If you may need it, learn more about the specifics of how your home will be affected. A qualified pest control service will guide you in prepping the house and your family.

Pass Pest Control can help. With over 40 years of experience, we assist home and business owners find the right solutions for all their pest problems. Call today to learn how we can help you with your pest control needs.

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Hand holding a magnifying glass over a bed, enlarging a bee illustration near a bedroom scene

BED BUGS: What They Are, How to Identify Them and How to Eliminate The

August 19, 2026

Bed bugs are small, parasitic blood feeding insects that can a comfortable home into a very unpleasant residence. Although they are not known to transmit diseases to people, their bites can cause itching and irritation, and an infestation can be difficult to correct without a complete application. However, in larger infestations the problem can cause open wounds due to scratching that can become infected. What are Bed Bugs? Bed bugs are small, dark brown insects that feed on blood. Adult bed bugs are about the size of apple seed where younger bed bugs are about the size of a grape seed and lighter in color. They are compact insects, allowing them to hide in cracks and crevices that are about the width of a dime. Despite their name, bed bugs aren’t limited to beds. They can hide in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, couches, chairs, carpets, cracks and other areas where individuals might rest. How to Identify Them? Bed Bugs can be difficult to spot because they are good at concealing themselves. Most common indications of an infestation are: Blood stains on bedding and mattresss Small dark spots indicating bed bug droppings Small eggs or cast skins Active bedbugs around tufts in the mattress, couches, chairs and cracks and crevices Red bites that occur in lines Where do they originate from? Bed bugs are excellent travelers. Bedbugs have a claw like hook similar to a tick which makes them the ultimate hitchhiker. They can enter a home through luggage, clothing, used furniture, bedding, and other personal belongings. They may also spread between rooms or apartments through cracks and other openings as well as person to person. How do you eliminate bed bugs? A few steps to take reduce your exposure to bed bugs: Inspect used furniture before you place it into the home. Use caution when traveling- inspect head boards, mattresses and all hotel furnishing before removing your items from your suitcase. Carefully check contents of luggage when returning home. Keep rooms organized which will make inspection easier in case of infestation. If you are suspicious of an item treat it for bedbugs before you place it into your home What Do I Do if I Find Bedbugs? Don’t discard of your furniture. Moving the items around can spread the infestation and make the problem worse. Start by carefully inspecting the area where bedbugs were observed. Wash and dry bedding on the highest setting available. Vacuuming is a valuable tool in helping to control infestations but can’t eliminate bedbugs on its own. Bed bugs can conceal themselves in cracks and crevices. Professional pest management may be necessary if the infestations is well established. What to Do? Bed bugs are an unpleasant, but they are a manageable pest problem. Early detection makes treatment easier. If you suspect and problem, inspect carefully, avoid spreading potentially infested belongings and consider contacting a qualified pest control professional for an appropriate treatment plan. If you are experiencing a reoccurring bed bug problem it is likely that you are coming into contact with an infected person or infested item. The key is to act in an organized manner rather than relying on a single treatment for moving to another room. With careful inspection and the correct treatment protocol bed bugs can be eliminated. There are many types of treatments for bedbugs and all of them work to a certain extent depending on the level of infestation and the condition of the home being treated. Heat is a very common way to control bedbugs but it only has about an 80 percent success rate. High clutter and easy avenues to avoid heat impact the ability of heat treatments to be successful. Temperatures have to be maintained at a level of 140 degrees or higher for at least three hours to see optimum results. Uncontrolled heat applications that maintain heat at 150 degrees for higher can result in serious damage to furniture, wiring and belongings. Chemical applications tend to perform very well in small to medium infestations but are challenged by aggressive, more populated bed bug infestations. Cryogenic applications do an excellent job of killing bedbugs on contact but do very little in controlling hidden infestations and leave no chemical residual for long term control. Fumigation is likely the most reliable method. Performed at the proper dosage rate a variety of insects and rodents can be eliminated with fumigation. However, fumigation tends to be more expensive that other applications and leaves no residual as chemical applications will.