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What does the current Vikane Label specify for Bed Bugs?
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 12 months ago
Mon May 28 2012 13:28:19
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Hi Everyone
We are moving towards fumigating our house.
I have been hearing/reading that the vikane label is in the process of changing from 3x to 1x the amount of gas to kill bed bugs.
My questions are:
1. Has this change already occured on the label?
2. If I still would like 3x the amount of Vikane to be sure to kill all the eggs, how can I ensure that the fumigator does this? should it be written onto the contract? What would I look for in the logs to be sure that it was done at 3x?
Thank you
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oldtimer
Joined: May '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Mon May 28 2012 14:37:42
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Where did you hear about the changes to the label?
I would suggest calling Dow directly for questions about the label.
You can contact Dow at 1-800-352-6776
Specifying a 3x concentration (drywood termite dosage) in your contract and getting a copy of the fumigation log should be sufficient, if the PCO is reputable.
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
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Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 8:50:33
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Thank you for the telephone number to DOW. I will call them.
When I spoke to the rep at ISOTECH in the LA area he said the label was in the process of changing. If the label is about to change, I just don't want to be among the first to get it just in case 1x isn't proving sufficient to kill the eggs.
thank you
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 9:00:26
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Does the log say 3x specifically or is the amount expressed in some other way?
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takecareofit
newbite
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Posts: 27offline
Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 9:35:17
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I just called the number above for DOW and spoke to a customer service rep.
I asked what the current label says for the amount of Vikane to use for bedbugs and the lady told me 3x. She said she was not aware that it was going to change to 1x.
She said that the amount of gas pumped in does not affect the length of time the tent stays on. As I talk to PCOs I have been hearing different lengths of time for the tent to be left on and so I was thinking that perhaps a PCO would use just 1x or 2x the amount of gas but then leave the tent on longer.
What does a slower vent time (leaving the tent on longer) accomplish?
Thank you
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 12:17:25
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takecareofit - 2 hours ago »
She said that the amount of gas pumped in does not affect the length of time the tent stays on. As I talk to PCOs I have been hearing different lengths of time for the tent to be left on and so I was thinking that perhaps a PCO would use just 1x or 2x the amount of gas but then leave the tent on longer.
I am not an expert on this and I think you should ask Dow that too. I would not assume 1x strength for longer was as good as 3x for a shorter period, though. If Dow says 3x, that would seem to be the label instructions.
Are you sure you were speaking with someone authoritative at Isotech?
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oldtimer
Joined: May '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 14:30:23
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takecareofit - 5 hours ago »
Does the log say 3x specifically or is the amount expressed in some other way?A 1x treatment is the dosage utilized for subterranean termites... 3x is specified on the label for drywood termites and bed bugs... Powder post beetles require 10x, for example... These are standard terms that are used for gas fumigation.
The exposure time plus the amount of gas that is injected is measured in ounce hours.
A software program is utilized to calculate the amount of gas and time that is required for the treatment... Several factors such as temperature, cubic footage, target pest and other environmental variables determine the amount of gas and time that is required... The fumigation log will document this information.
A longer exposure time will reduce the amount of gas that is required by the program for a given temp... The seepage of gas from the treatment area is tracked by the half loss time (number of hours to reach 50% concentration)... There are practical limits on the balance of exposure time vs the amount of Vikane that is utilized for a tented structure.
I have spoken to people in the industry that claim a 1x treatment can be effective, but the "Label is the law"... and it must be followed precisely... especially when we are talking about fumigation... A 3x treatment is required by the current label for treating a bed bug infestation.
I am surprised that a 1x concentration would be recommended to a consumer because it would not comply with the current label requirements.
One question to ask is whether the treatment will be monitored with instruments that measure the gas concentration... Monitoring adds another level of quality control to the process.
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 12 months ago
Tue May 29 2012 20:24:18
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Thank you for your answers. I have an update.
I talked to 1 PCO that I am considering using and he explained that they use Masterfume, which is the same sulfuryl flouride gas as Dow's Vikane gas.
The PCO said he would send me what the Masterfume label specifies for bed bugs.
Does anyone have experience with Masterfume or know anything about it?
thank you
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