Day 1 — Morning · Tarp set
Crew arrives ~7 AM. Roof tiles get protective monitors, gas-tight tarp sections seal over the structure, sandsnakes weigh down the perimeter. Sealing complete by midday.
Pompano Beach tent fumigation
The only termite treatment that reaches 100% of drywood activity — including the satellite colonies you can’t see.
Whole-house tent fumigation with Vikane® (sulfuryl fluoride) is the only Florida-licensed treatment that penetrates every cubic inch of structural wood in your home. Performed by a Florida-licensed Operator in Charge, cleared by gas-meter reading below 1 part per million, warranted in writing. Visit Pompano Termite Control for the company background, or read on for the full process.
How fumigation actually works
Sulfuryl fluoride, the tarp, and the gas-tight envelope.
Tent fumigation is the most misunderstood treatment in the termite industry. Most homeowners think the tarp is the treatment. It isn’t. The tarp is just a containment system — the actual treatment is the colorless, odorless gas (sulfuryl fluoride, sold under the trade name Vikane®) introduced under the tarp and held at concentration long enough to penetrate every piece of wood in the structure.
Sulfuryl fluoride was developed specifically for structural fumigation because it has three properties no other termiticide combines:
- Penetration: the gas diffuses into the deepest galleries of every drywood termite chamber in the structure. There is no “hidden satellite colony” it cannot reach.
- No residue: sulfuryl fluoride does not bind to surfaces, fabrics, or food. After aeration is complete and gas levels are confirmed below 1 ppm, your countertops are not contaminated. No washing required.
- Measurable clearance: the licensed Operator in Charge measures residual gas with a calibrated meter at multiple points throughout the structure before re-entry is authorized.
Vikane® alone does not control subterranean termites — they are protected in soil. If your inspection shows both drywood and subterranean activity, the fumigation is paired with a Termidor® or Sentricon® perimeter treatment to address the subterranean side.
Three days, four phases
The fumigation timeline, hour by hour.
Day 1 — Afternoon · Gas introduction
Vikane® released into the envelope at a label rate calibrated by cubic footage and target half-life. Concentration monitored at multiple interior points.
Day 2 — Overnight hold + aerate
Gas held at concentration through the night for full penetration. Aeration begins next morning with passive ventilation.
Day 3 — Clearance & re-entry
Operator in Charge measures residual at multiple points with calibrated detector. Re-entry authorized once levels read below 1 ppm.
Prep checklist
What you bag, what you remove, what stays.
We send a printed checklist after the inspection. The summary version:
Bag and remove from the home
- All opened food (pantry, fridge, freezer that will be off >24 hours)
- Opened medications, vitamins, and supplements
- Pet food and treats (sealed or unsealed)
- Live plants — all of them (sulfuryl fluoride is fatal to plants)
- Pets — every species, including fish, reptiles, and chickens
- Mattresses with non-breathable plastic covers (the cover, not the mattress)
Stays in the home
- Sealed glass, metal, or plastic containers
- Unopened canned and bottled goods
- Refrigerator and freezer contents if they will stay closed and powered
- Furniture, clothing, books, electronics, instruments — all unaffected
- Artwork, photos, important documents — all unaffected
Pre-tent walkthrough
- Open all interior cabinets, drawers, closets, and pantries
- Pull back or remove mattress covers
- Turn off pilot lights (we’ll relight on re-entry)
- Lock all interior locks and arm only what you’ve been instructed to arm
The most common reason a fumigation gets rescheduled is unexpected rain or wind. We track NWS forecasts and reschedule freely — there is never a penalty for weather delay.
Safety profile
Why fumigation is safer than the alternatives.
No residual contamination
Sulfuryl fluoride does not bind to surfaces. Once aerated to below 1 ppm, the home is safe for return without washing countertops, laundering clothes, or replacing food.
Measured clearance
Re-entry is authorized only after instrument-verified gas reading below the EPA threshold — not by timer, not by smell, not by guesswork.
Whole-structure kill
One treatment eliminates every drywood termite, beetle larva, carpenter ant, and wood-boring insect present in the structural envelope.
No chemical applied to surfaces
Unlike spot treatments and barriers, fumigation introduces no liquid residue to floors, walls, countertops, or framing surfaces. The gas exits the home during aeration.
Licensed supervision
Every fumigation is supervised by a Florida-licensed Operator in Charge. The license number is printed on your treatment contract.
Warning agent included
Chloropicrin (low concentration) is introduced with Vikane® as a sensory warning agent — it produces sharp eye irritation that makes accidental occupancy effectively impossible.
Tent fumigation pricing
By square footage, with the line items shown.
| Home size | Typical cost (Pompano Beach) | Vacate window |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $2,500 | 24–48 hours |
| 1,500 – 2,500 sq ft | $2,500 – $4,000 | 48 hours |
| 2,500 – 4,000 sq ft | $4,000 – $6,000 | 48–72 hours |
| Over 4,000 sq ft / 2-story | By quote (call for site visit) | 72 hours |
Pricing factors: cubic footage (not just square), roof complexity, mature trees on the tarp drop path, HOA coordination for condos, and add-ons like subterranean perimeter or attic clean-out (which we will tell you whether you need or not).
Warranty & re-treatment
What our tent fumigation warranty covers.
Every Pompano Termite Control tent fumigation ships with a written 1-year retreatment warranty. If new drywood activity appears anywhere in the treated structure within 12 months of the clearance date, we retreat at no charge — fumigation again if widespread, no-tent injection if localized.
The warranty is transferable to a new owner if the property sells, at no transfer fee. Most national chains charge $150–$300 for a transfer; we don’t.
To keep the warranty active beyond year one, an annual re-inspection contract is available at $185/year — well below the cost of a single drywood spot treatment, and the cheapest insurance on the market against a recurring drywood problem.
Tent fumigation by neighborhood
Where we tent most often.
Tent fumigation correlates with widespread drywood activity — historic stock, coastal corridors, and 2,000+ sq ft single-family homes where multiple-room frass calls dominate.
Tent fumigation FAQ
Questions homeowners ask before the tarp goes up.
How long does tent fumigation take?
Plan on a 24 to 72 hour vacate window, with 48 hours being typical. Tent on day one, gas overnight, aerate day two, clearance and re-entry day three after the licensed Operator in Charge measures residual gas at below 1 ppm.
How much does tent fumigation cost in Pompano Beach?
$1.00 to $2.00 per square foot of conditioned space. $1,500 for a small 1,500 sq ft home up to $5,000+ for a 2,500 sq ft home. Two-story homes, complex roof lines, mature trees, and HOA coordination drive cost up. Add-ons (subterranean perimeter, attic clean-out) quoted line by line.
What do I have to do to prepare?
Bag and remove all open food, opened medications, pet food, and live plants. Sealed glass, metal, and plastic containers stay. Remove pets, fish tanks, and all people for the entire vacate window. Open all interior cabinets and closets so the gas reaches every space. Printed checklist provided after inspection.
Is tent fumigation safe?
Yes, when performed by a Florida-licensed Operator in Charge following Vikane® label specifications. Sulfuryl fluoride does not bind to fabrics, surfaces, or food. After clearance to below 1 ppm, the home is safe for full re-entry with no washing or laundry required.
Will tent fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
No. Tent fumigation only kills termites and wood-destroying organisms physically present inside the structure during gas exposure. Subterranean colonies live in soil and only send foragers above ground through mud tubes — the queen and bulk of the colony remain in the ground. Combined drywood + subterranean activity requires fumigation paired with a Termidor® or Sentricon® perimeter.
What if it rains during my fumigation?
Light rain is fine — the tarp is gas-tight. Heavy thunderstorms, high winds, or named tropical systems cause us to reschedule. There is never a penalty for weather delay; we track NWS forecasts and call you 24–48 hours ahead if a reschedule is needed.
Will the tarp damage my roof tiles or landscaping?
Roof tiles are protected by foam pads at every tarp contact point. Plants directly under the tarp drop line are tied back or wrapped; mature trees on the perimeter sometimes require limb trimming before tenting, which we will tell you about during the inspection and quote separately.
Need to tent? Or not?
The inspection answers that question — and we’re honest about when no-tent treatment will do the same job for one-third the cost.