Anyone had their house fumigated?

[begin_within]

I feel kind of creeped out knowing that on May 21 the very spot where I am sitting typing this will be enveloped in a lethally toxic gas. Anything that is alive in this house at that time will be killed. And that we will be allowed back in just 2 days later. I've read a few of the horror stories, about the gas remaining in pillows and mattresses, and the incident described on this page:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sulfuryl_fluoride.mmwr.1987.htm

Other information I have come across says, "Because Vikane is a gas, it doesn’t leave surface residues behind, but the gas can become trapped in insulation, plastics (including the rubber in baby bottle nipples), mattresses, cushions, pillows, sleeping bags, ventilation ducts and closed-in spaces. These residual amounts of gas can be hazardous, especially for small children, pregnant women, or people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses. Vikane is also absorbed by foods, plastics, wood, and other materials, and off-gasses from these materials continue for some time after the fumigation is over. This process has been measured to last as long as forty days after fumigation."

I almost have the creepy feeling that I am living in a death zone even though it is almost 4 weeks until this procedure is going to happen. I look at my CDs and tapes and think about the gas going into them, only to come out when I open them. Anyone else had their home fumigated and then moved back in?

[Lil Missy]

1. Why are you getting your home "fumigated"? n/t

[begin_within]

4. Drywood termites

The house is 71 years old and the annual inspection by Terminix found 3 areas of current termite activity

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear bob_weaver...

Well, we did have our house fumigated, but it was before we moved into it...

It still felt a little funny when we first walked around inside, afterwords...

I'd suggest just really thorough airing-out before you move back in permanently!

And remember...the nasty creatures that were bedeviling you will be gone...

I hope that helps!

:hi:

[begin_within]

5. Well it's supposed to kill all the spiders too, so that's a good thing.

I'm looking forward to a spiderless summer for a change. Thanks!

[mike_c]

3. drywood termites?

There aren't that many insects that warrant full scale fumigation, IMO, but some drywood termite infestations do. Still, I'd advise you get multiple opinions about the extent of the infestation. Fumigation is expensive and if the infestation is small, spot replacement of affected wood might be less costly and just as effective. Pest control operators are not always entirely scrupulous about this when there's a big profit in fumigation. If it's subterranean termites fumigation is unlikely to do much good except to pump money out of your bank account.

Vikane fumigation has no residual effect, i.e. it kills termites only when high concentrations penetrate throughout structures-- this means that the fumigation must be 100 percent effective because there is nothing left behind to continue killing termites, and it also means that once the Vikane has been dispersed, there is no toxic residual left on surfaces.

Heat treatment is an alternative, but Vikane is easier and less likely to cause damage itself.

[begin_within]

6. Thanks

Yes, it's for drywood termites. The house is 71 years old and I'm sure it hasn't been fumigated in at least 25 years because that's how long I have lived here. The fumigation is covered under our plan with Terminix. We pay nothing for it, beyond our annual coverage fee which I think is $339 per year. Every year they come and do an inspection and usually end up treating a small area here and there. But the guy who came the other day found at least 3 areas with current termite activity, and looking up the history (we have had a contract with Terminix since time began) decided it was time for a complete fumigation. So it isn't costing us anything, except for the inconvenience. Actually we are going to go up to Yosemite NP during this and our neighbors 2 houses down are going to take my cat and keep him at their house.

[orleans]

7. get a second opinion. make sure there isn't any other alternative

before you start spraying all over your house.

that's my opinion.

[Connonym]

8. yeah I kind of agree with a second opinion

especially when you're dealing with a toxin. If you do go ahead and do it might be a good idea to remove your pillows and bedding and perhaps put a plastic cover around the mattresses. But what about your food? I wonder if would be contaminated? My advice should be taken with consideration that I'm scared of shit like that.

[begin_within]

12. Plastic covers over the mattress are something they specifically warned about...

... it seems that the gas seeps into plastic covered mattresses and then can't get out when they go to aerate the house. So in the list of things to do, they specifically ask you to remove all plastic coverings over mattresses, pillows, chairs and sofas. Plastic mattress covers such as those used to protect against bedwetting must be removed from the house.

As far as the food, they gave us a supply of Nylofume bags. These are large clear plastic bags which the gas can't penetrate. We are supposed to take all foods, spices, medicines, etc. and put them in the bags, twist the open end, fold it over and seal with masking tape. Then double-bag it with another Nylofume bag.

All food, even that in the refrigerator and freezer must either be bagged or removed from the house. (Canned foods, and jars that have been opened don't have to, but anything in boxes, bags, jars, anything that has been opened, even spice jars, and all medicinies have to be either bagged or removed.) It seems like it's easier to just put everything in a box and take it out of the house.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Since you have time

Pack up some things you don't want contaminated...like your CDs, your dishes, glassware, your food, spend the $40 or so, and rent a small storage unit for your refrig, washer/dryer, mattresses, etc.
The termites aren't in those things, so get'em out before the fumigation.

[begin_within]

13. Thanks... I'm going to. They told me the gas leaves no residue.

And that even dishes exposed to the gas are still OK to eat off of, wihout having to wash them. The gas is highly volatile and doesn't leave anything on any surface. The problems occur when the gas enters something and gets trapped and can't get out. Such as plastic bags, insulation, air ducts, enclosed spaces, feather pillows, some containers, etc. Anywhere that air can get in but is difficult to circulate.

[orleans]

10. see post 8--it was for you. n/t

[Jamastiene]

11. I have bug bombed a building and slept in it the next day.

To this day, I still fall over on my back and start kicking like I'm in death throes when I see a can of Raid. Other than that, I'm perfectly ok. I was never normal to begin with, so I can't say I'm normal, but I'm ok other than that cockroach impersonation I do whenever I see a can of Raid. :P

[orleans]

14. check out this website

the dirt doctor (i was just listening to this guy on wcpt outside chicago)

maybe there is some advice you could get from his website

there are 73 matches when i did a search for termites
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/cgi-bin2/htsearch
here's the first one:
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=51

but there appears to be some more good ones.

check it out.

[begin_within]

15. Thanks