Is fumigation 100% effective?

Is fumigation 100% effective? Fumigation is not 100 percent effective in all situations, though it is one of the most effective methods for certain pests when done correctly. Whole-structure fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride can achieve 99 to 100 percent kill of drywood termites, bed bugs including eggs, and wood-boring beetles inside a sealed structure if dosage, exposure time, temperature, and sealing are optimal. However, effectiveness drops if tent has leaks, if temperature is too low, if exposure time is too short, if materials are too dense for gas to penetrate, or if reinfestation occurs immediately after from infested items brought back. Fumigation also does not prevent future infestations, it has no residual effect, so new termites or bed bugs can return. For bed bugs, some studies show fumigation alone may leave survivors in cluttered homes, so combination with residual sprays, heat, and encasements is better. For stored products and soil, effectiveness is high but not absolute. So fumigation is highly effective near 100 percent for target pests in sealed space, but not guaranteed permanent.