Fumigation handles an entire structure in one treatment. Crews wrap the building in tarps, then release a fumigant that seeps into wall cavities, furniture and boxed belongings alike. It is the most thorough bed bug option and is reserved for infestations that have spread across a house or small building.
Signs Tenting Is the Right Fit
- Bugs have reached most rooms, well beyond the bedrooms.
- Heat or chemical treatment has already failed.
- Belongings are too many to treat item by item.
- A small multi-unit building needs every unit done together.
How Structural Fumigation Works in California
- WalkthroughThe fumigator sizes up the building and gives you a written checklist of what to bag or remove.
- TarpingThe house disappears under sealed tarps and posted warning signs.
- Gas releaseLicensed staff introduce the fumigant and keep it contained for the time the label requires.
- AerationTarps are pulled, fresh air is circulated and testing confirms the house is safe.
Fumigation for Petaluma Properties
Tenting an old wood-frame Victorian or a converted downtown building takes careful planning, especially where buildings stand close together. On a ranch, ask whether cottages and outbuildings where people sleep are included, or whether they will be handled another way. A good quote explains why tenting beats heat or chemicals for your property.
How to Prepare
- Pack away groceries, pet food and medicines, or double bag them in the special fumigation bags provided.
- Book a place for everyone, pets included, for 2 to 3 nights.
- Soak the soil beside the foundation and cut back shrubs that brush the siding.
- Leave gates unlocked and side paths clear for the tarp crew.
Questions About Fumigation
How many nights do we need somewhere else to stay?
Plan on 2 to 3 nights, until the structure is aired out and air testing clears it.
Does tenting prevent future bed bugs?
No. The gas leaves no residue, so bugs carried in later can start over. Many companies add a residual treatment afterward.
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 Petaluma. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.