Content updated: October 12, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Termite fumigation preparation may include arranging temporary housing, removing people, pets, and plants, and properly securing or packing away food and medications before treatment begins.
  • Your fumigation preparation checklist may also include shutting off natural gas, turning off appliances, opening cabinets and drawers, and clearing access throughout the home.
  • While preparing for termite tenting, you should trim plants away from the house and remove exterior items that could interfere with the tent.
  • Stay out of your home during fumigation and aeration, and only return once your fumigation technician has officially cleared the structure for re-entry.

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How does fumigation work?

When is whole-structure fumigation needed?

Your termite fumigation and tenting preparation checklist

When is it safe to return home after fumigation?

If you've found drywood termites in your home, proper preparation is an important part of the fumigation process. Before your home is tented, you'll need to plan where you'll stay, remove people and pets, prepare food and medications, shut off the natural gas, and ensure your fumigation technician can access the areas to be treated.

A professional termite control inspection can help determine whether fumigation is the right treatment for your home. Your technician can look at the extent of the infestation, where termites are active, and conditions around the home that may attract termites. Other termite treatment options may also be available depending on where the infestation is located and how widespread it is. If fumigation is recommended, use our termite fumigation preparation checklist to help you get your home ready.

How does fumigation work?

Fumigation uses an insecticide gas to penetrate wood and control drywood termites and other wood-boring insects. Often called tenting, the process involves covering the entire structure with specialized tarps or other sealing methods to contain the fumigant while it works.

Unlike treatments that reach only visible or easily accessible areas, fumigation allows the gas to penetrate cracks, crevices, and other hard-to-reach spaces where termites may be hiding. This can include termites hiding inside walls, beams, and floorboards, as well as termites in furniture.

Once the required treatment period is complete, the tarps and seals are removed, and the structure is aerated. Your fumigation technician follows required safety procedures to determine when the home is safe for re-entry. Since fumigants can be hazardous to people, pets, and plants, everyone must leave the structure before fumigation begins, including pets, fish, reptiles, and indoor plants. Your fumigation technician will provide specific fumigation preparation instructions based on the fumigant being used and your home.

When is whole-structure fumigation needed?

The location of all drywood termite colonies can be difficult to pinpoint, which is why whole-structure fumigation is usually recommended to treat hidden and widespread termite infestations throughout an entire house or building. Regardless of where the infestation is in the home, the entire structure must be sealed to contain the gas. While the cost of this type of termite treatment might seem higher, it is a highly effective way to target an infestation and get it under control.

Your termite fumigation and tenting preparation checklist

Proper termite fumigation preparation includes getting both the interior and exterior of your home ready for treatment. Your fumigation technician will provide a detailed fumigation preparation checklist with instructions specific to your treatment. However, to help you along the process, here are some tips for preparing for termite tenting and fumigation.

Your termite fumigation and tenting preparation checklist

Proper termite fumigation preparation includes getting both the interior and exterior of your home ready for treatment. Your fumigation technician will provide a detailed fumigation preparation checklist with instructions specific to your treatment. However, to help you along the process, here are some tips for preparing for termite tenting and fumigation.

Notify your neighbors

Let your neighbors know about the fumigation before your home is tented. If they have questions about outdoor safety, fumigants, or termites moving to their property, direct them to your fumigation technician handling the treatment.

Make sure you have somewhere to stay

Plan to stay elsewhere during fumigation and clearance, which typically takes about 36 to 48 hours. No one can re-enter the home until the fumigation technician completes the required safety checks and officially clears it for re-entry.

Remove pets and plants

Remove pets, fish, reptiles, birds, and indoor plants before fumigation. Follow your fumigation technician's instructions for aquariums, including whether to turn off air pumps, and consult an aquarium specialist if you need help safely relocating fish.

Remove or seal food and medication

Food, animal feed, and medications may need to be removed or sealed in specialized fumigation bags. Follow your fumigation technician's instructions for what can remain, and avoid large grocery hauls right before treatment to make fumigation preparation easier.

Shut off natural gas with your utility provider

Natural gas must be turned off and locked out at the meter by your gas utility provider before fumigation. Homeowners should not attempt to do this themselves. Schedule the shutoff before treatment and arrange with your utility provider to restore service afterward.

Extinguish pilot lights and unplug appliances

Pilot lights, heat sources, appliances, and ventilation systems may need to be turned off before fumigation. Follow your fumigation technician’s instructions for unplugging appliances, computers, heaters, and other equipment, and make sure HVAC systems are powered off as directed.

Open all doors, cabinets, and drawers

Open interior doors, closets, cabinets, drawers, appliances, safes, and other enclosed spaces to allow the fumigant to move freely. Raise the blinds and open the drapes so your fumigation technician can easily access the windows during treatment and aeration.

Clear access to closets, storage rooms, and crawl spaces

Clear clutter and obstacles from closets, storage rooms, crawl spaces, and other hard-to-reach areas. Your fumigation technician needs access to these spaces for fumigant penetration, aeration, and required clearance checks.

Remove external fixtures

Remove, lower, or retract exterior fixtures that could interfere with tenting or become damaged. This may include mechanical awnings, antennae, weather vanes, and other roof attachments.

Prep your landscaping

Trim branches, vines, and shrubs at least 18 inches from the home so the tarps can reach the ground. Your fumigation technician may also ask you to thoroughly water the soil and plants within 18 inches of the foundation the day before treatment.

Leave keys for your fumigation technician

Leave keys for all locked doors and areas your fumigation technician needs to access. The fumigation technician will also use a secondary locking system to prevent entry during treatment. You can ask about additional security options if needed.

Stay away until the job is done

Do not enter your home for any reason during fumigation or aeration. Fumigant levels may still be unsafe, so wait until the fumigation technician completes the required clearance process and officially releases your home for re-entry.

When is it safe to return home after fumigation?

You can return home once your fumigation technician has completed the required aeration and officially cleared the structure for re-entry. This typically takes 36 to 48 hours, but timing can vary. During this process, the home is ventilated and checked to make sure fumigant levels meet requirements for safe re-entry.

Once your home is cleared, follow any final instructions to restore utilities and bring pets and plants back inside. If you need help with termites or other household pests, Terminix offers professional pest control services to help protect your home.