Microwave method

The microwave method is a heat treatment that uses electromagnetic energy to eliminate insects that infest wood and other organic materials. Unlike pesticide-based techniques, it requires no chemical products: it relies on the heat generated by microwaves to reach lethal temperatures inside the infested material. It is particularly well suited to controlling drywood termites, woodworms, and other wood-boring insects in both their larval and adult stages.

How it works

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves that produce dielectric heating: they make the water molecules present in wood and in insect tissue vibrate, generating heat from inside the material outward. This raises the core temperature of the infested piece quickly and evenly, unlike conventional heat, which takes far longer to penetrate and rarely reaches the heart of the wood.

When the internal temperature of the material and of the organisms living within it exceeds the lethal threshold (typically around 55 to 60 °C sustained for the necessary time), the insects die from protein denaturation, regardless of their stage of development. The treatment is localized: the equipment is applied only to the infested area, allowing specific furniture, beams, frames, or structural pieces to be treated without evacuating the entire building or applying chemical substances.

When it is used

Microwave treatment is the preferred option when the goal is to eliminate pests without resorting to chemicals and the infestation is localized in the wood. It is especially useful in the following cases:

• Drywood termites and woodworms lodged in furniture, flooring, beams, or frames.
• Items of historical, artistic, or sentimental value, such as antiques, musical instruments, and museum holdings, where exposure to fumigants is not desired.
• Occupied spaces, offices, schools, or food facilities where avoiding chemical residues is a priority.
• Focused infestations that do not justify sealing and fumigating an entire structure.

Advantages and considerations

The main advantage is that this is a completely chemical-free method: it leaves no toxic residues, requires no lengthy re-entry periods, and the treated area can be used shortly after the procedure is complete. Because it works through heat, it is effective against every stage of the insect, including eggs and larvae sheltered inside the wood, and it is gentle on sensitive pieces when applied with proper thermal control.

As an honest consideration, the method is localized in scope: it treats the material to which it is applied directly, so it does not replace perimeter control when there is an active colony in the subsoil or in walls. Time and power are calculated according to the thickness and density of the material, and temperature must be monitored so as not to damage finishes, adhesives, or delicate pieces. For this reason, its application must always be carried out by trained personnel who measure and control the process.

Safety and regulations

Although the method uses no pesticides, it is always performed by trained, certified technical personnel, with the appropriate personal protective equipment and under the safety protocols required for operating microwave-generating equipment. As a pest control company, Fucesa operates in accordance with NOM-256-SSA1-2012, the Mexican standard governing sanitary conditions for urban pest control services, and holds a sanitary license from COFEPRIS. Each treatment is documented and carried out following the safety measures applicable to the property and its occupants.

Why Fucesa

With more than 40 years of experience in pest control, disinfection, and fumigation, Fucesa integrates microwave treatment into an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. This means that before applying any technique we carry out an inspection to identify the species, the extent of the infestation, and the most appropriate method, combining heat treatment with preventive and monitoring measures when necessary. Our goal is to solve the problem at its root, protect the treated wood, and reduce the likelihood of reinfestation, with technical service from our base in Toluca and coverage in Querétaro.