Fumigation treatment is one of the most common methods used in pest control and elimination. It involves the use of pest retardants in gaseous forms and pesticides to poison pests infesting a residential area or a business complex. This process is also employed in agriculture to prevent the soil from being infected and to get rid of worms, insects, and other unwanted organisms.
Fumigation Process
This process is commonly done in a phased manner. The first step is to cover or seal off the entire area to be treated. The next step is to fumigate the area, i.e., release the chemicals in the covered space which may be a home, a warehouse, an office space, etc. In the third step; the fumigant is allowed to fill the entire enclosed region and kill any rodents that are present. Lastly, the area is ventilated with fresh air and sunlight to remove any traces of gas or chemicals. Once this is done, a thorough inspection is carried out, and the area is certified as pest-free.
The Chemicals used in fumigation Treatment
The list of commonly used fumigants are:
1. Phosphine
2. Sulfuryl Fluoride
3. Formaldehyde
4. Chloropicrin
5. Hydrogen Cyanide
6. Methyl Isocyanate
Fumigation Methods
In general, the methods of fumigation can be classed into surface and sub-surface treatments. The surface treatments include fumigation procedures done to exposed surface areas while sub-surface fumigation involves treatment using chemicals or gases to spaces like soil, storage tanks, and cargo containers just to mention a few. These methods are used to destroy bugs, ants, and critters of all kinds.
Examples of sub-surface fumigation methods include trenched, tubing, long probe, short probe, re-circulation, and combination.
The methods utilized for surface fumigation treatment vary depending on the situation, nature of the pest or pesticide and even the circumstance. For residential homes, the Tenting Method is applied, which is basically placing a rubber tent to seal off the area. In larger complexes, other options such as the size and the infestation severity come into play.
Safety
Fumigation can be very harmful and so, it needs to be done in the safest way possible. Ideally, the exterminator who carries out the procedure needs to be certified and possess skills and knowledge of the chemicals and how to use them appropriately. The process has to be done while ensuring maximum safety to the property and owners. The exterminator needs to know the ideal proportion of fumigants to use in regards to the area in question, the type of chemicals to use, the duration of the procedure as well as complete ventilation after fumigation.
As such, you should ensure that you use the right company for such a task.