Preparing for pest control

By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer

Bobbie Kema double-bags her food before her Kane'ohe home gets termite tented the next day. The company that will do the fumigation provided a special grade of plastic bags. Her granddaughter, Alyson Alana, helps with the tape. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

A tent covers a Hawai'i Kai home being fumigated on Tuesday by Hauoli Termite & Pest Control. A home being fumigated is usually covered for about 24 hours by a tent. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Bug busters Diversified Exterminators: 841-5855 Sandwich Isle Termite and Pest Control Inc.: 456-7716

Plagued by the common local culprits — ants, cockroaches and termites — the breaking point for Kema came in the form of some nasty little discoveries.

"I saw droppings here and droppings there ... and I wasn't sure what they were," said Kema, 65.

That's when she sought the help of pest-control professionals at Diversified Exterminators. Their answer: tent fumigation.

"Usually summer is our busiest time," said Eddie Tabangcura, operations manager with Diversified Exterminators. "Normally we'll tent anywhere between six and nine houses a day."

Kema's happy with the results, but she had to do her fair share of prepping. In fact, getting the home ready for treatment is a key part of the tenting process. If this isn't done properly, as instructed by the pest control company, the fumigators may have to postpone the tenting.

How to prepare

A significant part of home preparation is double-bagging (special bags are provided by the company) or removing certain items from the home before treatment. These include foods packaged in plastic bags and cardboard boxes; items where the seal has been broken and items are stored in a resealed container; eggs, fruits and vegetables; opened bottled drinking water; and bags and opened cans of pet food and bird seed.

Experts say a good rule of thumb is, "when in doubt, take it out."

Items that don't need to be bagged or removed include unopened cans; cosmetics, such as lipsticks; unopened soda cans and glass bottles; shampoo, soaps and unopened toothpaste and mouthwash; and unopened bottles of liquor and wine (stored horizontally).

On average, bagging "can take two hours in a household that consists of two people," said Susan Kromer, service manager at Sandwich Isle Termite and Pest Control Inc.

Kema spent two days bagging items throughout her home; a task she said was a lot of work.

"For me it was because I wanted to be sure I got everything," said Kema. "I probably bagged more than I should have because I have a granddaughter, so I bagged her diapers, food and toys."

What happens

Tent fumigations can take 16 to 48 hours, pest control experts say.

The basic process involves professional fumigators tenting a home with large tarps, preparing the interior by placing fans and fumigation gear inside, and sealing the tarps.

Fumigators release a warning agent called chloropicrin — which causes tearing of the eyes and throat irritation — into the home before introducing the critter-killing gas, Vikane. "Because Vikane is colorless and odorless, we have to use a warning agent so if anybody tries to go back in or something, they know that there's a toxic gas inside," Tabangcura said.

At the end of the fumigation, the fumigator aerates the gasses from the structure, then certifies that the building is ready to re-inhabit.

The popular structural treatment — which can cost $30 to $45 per thousand cubic feet —is highly effective, Kromer said. "It's actually really successful and it does the job," she said.

Tent fumigation eradicates drywood termites, as well as rodents, carpet beetles, cockroaches, bed bugs and clothes moths, Tabangcura said. But the treatment will not protect residents from future pest infestations.

"This isn't a preventative treatment," Tabangcura said. The tenting method only kills what's already there.

Still, Kema felt it was necessary. "I had the house tented more than 10 years ago ... and I haven't really had a problem until now," she said. "I think it's worth it."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.

How to prepare for fumigation

The day before fumigation:

• Make arrangements for you and your pets to stay overnight elsewhere, as your home may be under fumigation for up to 48 hours.
• Cut back foliage, shrubbery and landscaping at least 18 inches from the house to allow room for the tarps.
• Water the soil up to 18 inches from the outer walls of your home to protect outdoor plants and shrubs.

The day of the fumigation:

• Remove all plants from your home, including those on outdoor patios.
• Evacuate all people and pets.
• Remove mattresses enveloped in plastic, such as baby mattresses with waterproof covers, or remove the covers.
• Remove or double-bag any food, feed, drugs and medicinals in special bags your fumigator provides.
• Double-bag cold and frozen foods and leave them in the refrigerator and freezer.
• Remove shelves from the refrigerator and freezer to make it easier to stack the bags inside.

After the fumigation:

• It is unnecessary to wash dishes, linens, clothing, etc., as Vikane is a gas and will dissipate.

Source: Sandwich Isle Termite and Pest Control Inc.