Bed Bugs
Bed Bug Infestation
Bed bugs are one of the worst types of infestation a person can have in their home. What makes bed bugs so repulsive is that fact that bed bugs feed on blood, including those of your loved ones. Additionally, they reproduce extremely fast with each female laying up to 5 eggs each day. That means in a bed bug’s 300 day lifespan a female bed bug can lay over 500 eggs.
Treatment Options
Heat Remediation
Time to turn up the heat on Bed Bugs!
Not all heat equipment is the same. We ONLY USE an industry approved electric heat system. DO NOT TRUST home-made propane or gas induced systems.
Why Use Heat to Treat Bed Bugs?
- All insects have lethal temperature thresholds when all stages of the insect’s life cycle are killed. Heat allows us to reach these lethal target temperatures and eliminate bed bugs throughout the home.
- Heat limits the total amount of pesticides used.
- Preparation of the home is minimized compared to conventional treatment methods.
- Can re-enter the home soon after the heat treatment has been performed.
- Personal items and furniture can be retained following treatment that otherwise may have been discarded with conventional treatment methods.
How Does Heat Eliminate Bed Bugs?
- Electric heaters are placed throughout the home to heat the space between 120 – 135 degrees Farenheit.
- Wireless sensors are strategically placed throughout the home to ensure lethal temperatures are reached throughout the space and to identify cold spots.
- High temperature fans are introduced to move the hot air throughout the space and reach the cracks and crevices bed bugs hide.
Conventional Bed Bug Solutions
Conventional bed bug treatments are also known as chemical treatments. This method is more of a traditional approach in the treatment for bed bugs.
This treatment is designed so that different pesticide formulations are utilized in strategic areas of the home. These formulations may include liquids, aerosols and dusts. Each formulation is designed so that each work a little differently. One product may provide a more instant knock down effect while another product may give a longer residual effect.
We implement this approach to provide the most successful treatment possible.
The pros and cons of conventional treatments
Pros:
- This method is typically more cost effective than heat remediation.
- The multiple formulations provide both an instant knock down while also providing a longer residual effect.
- Our service commitment carries a 90-Day Service Commitment and also includes two services performed within a 30 day period.
Cons:
- This method requires significantly more preparation for the homeowner. The preparation is more intensive because of the need to handle and process all the furniture, personal items and clothing during the treatment. Many have related the preparation process as if they were moving. This preparation can be time consuming, but without preparation success can be difficult to achieve.
Canine Inspection
Bed bug sniffing dogs have become a trending topic when dealing with bed bugs. Canine inspections can be useful in certain situations or circumstances where human inspections may be more difficult to achieve.
Please refer to the NPMA Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs as a guideline in which pest management professionals should follow with their bed bug practices especially when dealing with bed bug scent detection canine teams.
There are several key points to remember when dealing with canine inspections:
- Canine inspection teams can be useful in circumstances such as building wide inspections when a large number of rooms must be inspected in a time sensitive situation. They can also be useful in non-bedroom sites such as offices, theaters, schools, public transportation, & other unconventional areas where human inspections may be more difficult to peform.
- Canine teams must have the ability to detect both live bed bugs and bed bug eggs.
- Inspections should be performed by a canine team that holds a current, independent, third party certification in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Minimum Standards for Canine Bed Bug Detection Team Certification. This certification demonstrates the canine team’s competence by an independent, third party. This is not a do-it-yourself training program.
- Canine handlers should be trained in bed bug biology, behavior, inspection methods and identification.
