Termite tenting should follow inspections, not a 10-year clock
Species, spread and a licensed inspection decide treatment; leaks, drainage and fire hazards still need attention.
SAN JOSE - Termite treatment should follow a professional inspection, not a 10- or 20-year tenting schedule. University of California Integrated Pest Management, or UC IPM, Quick Tips recommend inspections every three to five years and say to call a professional sooner if activity is suspected. Flying swarmers do not always mean a building is infested, according to the same guidance. Skipping tenting can be reasonable when licensed inspections find no need — that is not the same as never checking. Drywood termites live inside wood; colonies can be small and scattered; and California's minimum inspection is a visual search of accessible areas, so hidden activity can be missed.
Species and spread drive the choice. Drywood termites nest in wood above ground; subterranean termites nest in or near soil and often reach wood through earthen shelter tubes, so they need separate soil-barrier or ground-directed strategies — not tent fumigation alone. UC and the California Structural Pest Control Board, or SPCB, say correctly performed whole-structure fumigation can kill existing drywood infestations, including hard-to-reach ones, but it does not prevent later reinfestation, control subterranean colonies or repair damaged wood. SPCB says fumigation is not always required; if only a small area is infested, localized applications may be used, and the inspector decides — though localized work will not eradicate hidden infestations elsewhere. If infested wood is load-bearing, UC says consult an architect, engineer and/or general contractor; permits may be required.
At a high level, SPCB describes fumigation as a lethal gas inside an enclosed space — sealed or covered with vinyl-coated nylon tarpaulins. People, pets and plants must leave first; unsealed food, feed and medicines must be removed or bagged as directed. Jobs can last about six hours to a week. No one may re-enter until the licensee posts a re-entry notice. Fumigants leave no lasting residue, so pests can return. California licenses fumigation firms through SPCB; check a company at pestboard.ca.gov or (800) 737-8188.
Related maintenance still matters. UC advises fixing plumbing leaks, keeping substructures dry and ventilated, repairing foundation cracks and exterior wood defects, and keeping structural wood off soil. A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development exterior guide flags loose roof flashing and drainage aimed away from foundations. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, recommends a yearly professional check of fuel-burning heating systems, vents, flues and chimneys, and says stop using unusually warm outlets until an electrician checks them. The U.S. Fire Administration says test smoke alarms monthly; CPSC also urges working carbon-monoxide alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas. This summary is general education — not an inspection of any San Jose property and not a substitute for a licensed pest inspection or structural assessment.
Source: UC drywood; UC inspections; California fumigation; HUD exterior; CPSC heating; CPSC electrical; USFA alarms; CPSC CO.