There are two types of termites that can damage your home – drywood termites and subterranean termites. Each type is different and must be treated separately. A professional termite inspector can help you determine whether or not you have a termite problem and, if so, what kind of termite infestation you have.

Drywood termites build their colonies above ground, in the walls, floors, and contents of your home. They spread throughout the neighborhood through swarming – endangering not only your home but any home in the vicinity.

Drywood termites are the focus of this site. Here, we’ll help you identify signs of a termite infestation, provide tips for finding the right fumigation professional, and explain how Vikane® gas fumigant works. Vikane has been proven to effectively eliminate 100% of drywood termite infestations for over 50 years.

Subterranean termites require moist conditions (such as those found in homes with faulty plumbing or gutters) and are found in every state except Alaska. Subterranean termites nest in or near the soil – in fact, their colonies can span up to a half acre. Their vast network of tunnels leads them to even the tiniest of cracks and crevices in your home, where they leave a pheromone scent trail that leads others from their colony to the food source.

• Discarded wings of swarming drywood termites may be found in windowsills, in and around light fixtures, in the attic, or in similar places where swarmers (winged reproductive termites) can exit a termite colony to begin a new one.
• Little piles of pellets, called frass, can also be found in these areas.
• Damaged wood that is severely blistered or sounds hollow when tapped.
• Pin-sized holes in walls and woodwork where termites “kick out” frass.
• Live, swarming (flying) termites in your home.
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There are several factors that might indicate it’s time for a termite inspection and possible fumigation. You might want to have an inspection to ensure your peace of mind if:

• Your building is 5 to 10 years old,
• It has been 5 to 10 years since the last termite treatment, and/or
• Other homes or buildings in the neighborhood have drywood termites, which can spread to your home during swarming season.

Because it is nearly impossible to locate all of the drywood termites in a structure, contact a professional termite inspector to accurately identify if you have a drywood termite infestation in your home. Should you find you have termites, do not treat the problem lightly, as you not only risk damage to your own home but to any nearby structures – the termites could leave your house to establish colonies elsewhere. Whole-structure fumigation with Vikane® gas fumigant rids your home of 100% of the termites – the first time.

Remember, too, that if you are selling or buying a house, termite inspections or documented treatment for termites may be a legal requirement for the completion of the sale.

When conducting whole-structure fumigation with Vikane® gas fumigant, your fumigation professional will follow a proven process that has been used successfully for over half a century to ensure all the drywood termites are eliminated. Here’s how the fumigation process works:

• The fumigation process starts with preparing your home for fumigation.
• Once you’ve prepared your home and left, the fumigation crew will cover your home with tarps or plastic sheeting. This is called “tenting” the home.
• Once tented, a warning agent is released into the home as a precaution.
• Next, all doors are secured using deadbolts and secondary locks to help prevent unauthorized entry.
• Now, fumigation begins.  Vikane® gas fumigant is released into the home. The gas enters into the wood through pores and minute cracks, filling all air spaces and voids in the wood, walls and floor. Vikane moves through all of the termite galleries – the tunnels and passages chewed into the wood – killing all the termites as it goes.
• Finally, the tarps are removed and your home is aerated with fans. Your fumigation professional will check the home with sophisticated equipment, designed specifically for detecting Vikane, to ensure the fumigant has dissipated from the structure before allowing you to return.

Because it is an inorganic gas, Vikane® gas fumigant completely dissipates from a structure following fumigation, leaving no surface residue, odor, or film behind. This means you will not have to wash dishes, linens, clothing, or furnishings after fumigation.