Tent fumigation is the industry standard for eliminating termites from your home. However, it’s not always necessary. Sometimes, a spot treatment will do just fine. The only sure way to know what type of service you need would be to get an inspection from an experienced pest control team, but there are always signs. Here are a few signs that it might be time for a full-on tent fumigation:
Sign #1: Damage in Multiple Areas
Seeing termite damage or activity in one hot spot is a clear sign that you have termites, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate an active infestation. However, finding it in more than one room or on more than one level of the home can be a telltale sign that termites have infested. Look for signs like blistered paint, pinholes in drywall and hollow-sounding wood in different locations. Tenting may be needed in this case because widespread locations suggest termites are in areas where localized treatments may miss pockets of activity.
Sign #2: Swarmers or Discarded Wings
You can have a termite swarm without having major damage, but when you continue to see signs of swarming, it could mean that you’re having recurring swarms, suggesting that you have a persistent infestation. Seeing winged termites or piles of translucent wings near windows or lights can indicate that a mature colony is established inside the structure. Tenting could be necessary in this case because there’s no way to pinpoint every spot where these termites have set up camp.
Sign #3: Finding Frass in Several Places
Termite frass is usually one of the first signs of an infestation. Their frass, or droppings, look like sawdust that’s either sand- or pepper-colored, and it can be found below holes in the walls, on window sills and beneath trim. When you see multiple piles of frass, it means termites are active in multiple places. Unfortunately, when this is the case, spot treatment is unlikely to work because it’s difficult to address every spot individually or know if it covers all active areas.
Sign #4: Issues with Doors, Windows and Floors
When parts of your home aren’t working properly, you know there’s a problem. Strange problems like tight door frames, windows that won’t close smoothly, buckling trim and newly uneven floors can all be signs of termite damage. These signs can indicate that structural wood has been compromised and that damage may extend beyond the visible surface. Unfortunately, these often show that you have advanced damage or multiple affected areas. Termite tenting penetrates wall voids to stop ongoing feeding while repairs are planned.
Sign #5: Spot Treatments Aren’t Working
The last thing you want after a termite treatment is to see signs of new activity. If frass reappears, you see new kick-out holes, you find new damage near treated areas, or you suspect new swarmers after treatment, it’s time for a tenting. This often means that the infestation is larger than the treated zone or that there are multiple colonies. Whole-structure fumigation can eliminate termites across the entire home at once, which is especially important for combating drywood termites living inside framing.
If you’re seeing any of these signs, Command Pest Control, a veteran-owned company that provides tent fumigation in Pompano, has you covered. Call us at 954-943-0008 or contact us online for a free inspection.
