Fumigation

Pros:

• A successful fumigation eliminates all living termites in a home.
• Although fumigation does not penetrate egg casings, termite offspring cannot digest wood without ingesting protozoans from adult termites. Since the fumigation kills all adults, the colony cannot regenerate.
• The most comprehensive treatment available, reaching all wood structures in a home, including studs inside walls, framing within ceilings and floors, inaccessible attic spaces, garages, crawlspaces, and roof sheathing.

Cons:

• Fumigations can fail if the home is not properly measured and the incorrect amount of gas is used.
• Leaves no residual protection—new termites can invade as soon as the tent is removed.
• While fumigation kills subterranean termites inside the home, it does not reach the nest, allowing the problem to persist.
• Sulfuryl fluoride, the primary fumigant, is a known greenhouse gas.
• The fumigation process is inconvenient—homeowners must double-bag all ingestibles and vacate the home for at least two nights.
• Some homes are challenging to fumigate, such as townhomes requiring neighbor cooperation or houses with fragile roofs that risk damage from the process.

Termite Local Treatments

Pros:

• When applied correctly with effective termiticides, worker termites carry the treatment back to their colony, leading to extermination.
• Provides long-lasting residual protection—certain termiticides can remain active in wood for up to ten years, offering ongoing prevention in moisture-prone areas where termites thrive.
• Hassle-free—requires minimal homeowner preparation beyond moving belongings for accessibility.
• More cost-effective—local treatments are generally less expensive than fumigation and do not require temporary housing or additional costs like tile insurance.

Cons:

• Limited to accessible wood—termites in hidden areas, such as behind walls or within sealed structures, may not be treatable.
• Even with visible evidence of termite activity in places like attics or chimney framing, the exact source may be inaccessible.
• Some homes have little to no accessible wood for treatment—boxed eaves, stucco-covered structures, and lack of attic or garage framing exposure can limit local treatment effectiveness.

Early Detection is Key

San Diego homeowners should accept termites as an inevitability. Instead of thinking “Death and Taxes,” it should be “Death, Taxes, and Termites.” The best defense is early detection.

A full-structure termite warranty with annual inspections is the best way to prevent small infestations from turning into major problems.

Regular inspections and local treatments can keep termite populations under control, reducing the need for fumigation.

Ignoring termite activity allows infestations to grow, making fumigation the only effective solution.

The key takeaway? Proactive prevention and early treatment save money, time, and hassle in the long run.