Scheduling
You’ll need to pick a date. Since termite companies subcontract fumigations, your inspector will check with the fumigator’s schedule. Tents typically stay up for two nights. If you choose a Friday or Saturday start, the tent will remain up an extra night because fumigators don’t work Sundays. Some fumigators also charge more for Saturday starts.

If your fumigation is scheduled for a Saturday, your gas must be shut off the day before—SDG&E won’t do shutoffs on Saturdays. And no, you can’t turn it off yourself. It’s too dangerous. The risk is a gas leak and a large tent filled with natural gas. In 1996, an apartment complex in Santa Clara blew up. In 2002, a house in Torrance. The gas company has to do it. 

Bagging Food and Items
You’ll need to bag all “ingestibles”—anything you might eat, drink, or put in your mouth that isn’t factory sealed in a can or bottle (water bottles excluded). This isn’t about trapped gas inside containers—it’s about preventing contamination from the fumigant. Your termite company will provide the bags. They’re expensive, close to a dollar per bag, and everything needs to be double bagged. Frequently, homeowners will ask for extra bags, but anyone who’s been in the industry for any length of time, is conditioned to be less than generous with the bags because of their expense. 

Paperwork
There’s no way around it: fumigation comes with a stack of forms. You’ll sign off on risks covering everything from roof damage to vandalism. The fumigator needs these documents on-site in case County Agriculture inspectors show up. In practice, this means a lot of printing, scanning, and emailing. Combine that with the fact that fumigation gases are greenhouse gases, and it’s easy to feel a little conflicted about the process.

Where to Stay
Where to go? Some people book hotel rooms. Others stay with family. Some people move into recreational vehicles parked in their driveways. Wherever you end up, it’s always best to meet with the fumigator to hand off a key. This is because no matter how prepared you think you might be, there’s always something that comes up, the day of. A locked door, unbagged items, improperly bagged items, weather, decks… Something that could be dealt with quickly can turn into delays, rescheduling or financial penalties. Most fumigators charge a fee if the job needs to be rescheduled or they need to bag food items left unbagged. 

The Tent as Advertising
When your house gets tented, it becomes an instant billboard. Fumigators carry company banners, and termite companies (including mine) want theirs hung front and center. I haven’t personally landed a customer because of a banner yet, but I still make sure mine is up every time.

Coming Home
Plan to return by noon the day the tent comes down. By then, the gas has completely dissipated and leaves no residue—so you don’t need to wash dishes, clothes, or furniture. Just make sure to contact the gas company in advance to restore service. If you forgot, you may be waiting a couple of days for hot water.