Top 3 Bed Bug Treatment Methods

Bed bugs never get tired of invading your home unless you would never give them an opportunity to do so.  Remember these nuisance pests come to your home not because it is dirty but because they see an entry towards a potential sanctuary where they can feed freely and then reproduce. These nocturnal parasites always go to where their host is and discreetly attack during the night when their host is in deep slumber. They gorge on blood for survival and stay within close proximity to their victim. It is no wonder that you often find these critters inside people’s bedroom particularly on areas surrounding the bed.

Though very tiny and hardly noticeable by the naked eye, bed bugs aren’t that easy to get rid of. They multiply fast and make people suffer from lack of sleep and restlessness. Bed bug bites are annoying, too, since they could be so itchy and ugly to see. That is why when it comes to dealing with bed bugs, only one thing comes to mind: EXTERMINATE.

Bed Bug Removal

You may do some DIY treatments at home and follow some preventive measures but nothing is more effective than the expert assistance provided by pest control professionals. As far as bed bug removal is concerned, these three treatment methods are believed to work best:

1. Heat Treatment/Heat Remediation

Heat treatment, also called heat remediation, is often the basic method preferred by pest control professionals to treat bed bug infestation. Applying heat treatment entails heating the bed bug-infested room and maintaining a room temperature of 130 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the extent of the infestation. This level of heat is lethal enough to kill bed bugs including their eggs and larvae. Moreover, heat treatment equipment such as remote thermometers and wireless sensors are placed throughout the infested zone to make certain that the desired temperatures are achieved. It usually takes just 4 to 10 hours to complete this method. Using high endurance fans, the heat inside the room is then circulated well to penetrate through cracks and other areas where bed bugs could be hiding. However, prior to heat treatment, homeowners are advised to take away their pets and whatever items that could be damaged by the heat. Careful consideration and proper planning and coordination with the pest control company must therefore be done before conducting the heat treatment process. It is known that heat remediation has 95-100% effectivity rate. Still, experts suggest that follow up prevention steps shall be taken, such as the application of residual insecticides, to prevent the bed bugs from coming back.

2. Chemical Treatment

As its name suggests, chemical treatment involves using insecticides to control or eradicate bed bugs. There’s a wide range of insecticides in the market but the most commonly used chemical compounds proven to be deadly to bed bugs are pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Unfortunately, some bed bug populations happen to be resistant to these chemicals and instead of getting killed, these resistant bugs may simply just transfer to another place to hide. Experts therefore recommend combining different types of pesticides with other chemical classes to increase effectivity in removing the bugs. Also, the chemical treatment method requires more than just treatment session. After the initial treatment, two or more follow-up treatments must be conducted in the next two to six weeks. Moreover, a thorough inspection and cleaning of the area or room has to be done before applying the chemical insecticides to make sure the bed bug removal is a success.

3. Fumigation

Fumigation is another highly effective bed removal method. The best thing about fumigation is that it has no adverse effects on people, animals, and home structure. It also leaves no residue, making it safe for all your household items and the environment in general. According to wise homeowners, if you really want your home to become 100% bed-bug free, fumigation serves as a good back up strategy following bed bug heat treatment. It involves the use of inorganic gas called Vikane fumigant, which contains the active ingredient sulfuryl fluoride. Pumping Vikane gas into an enclosed room or environment allows for deep and thorough penetration of the gas into any cracks or voids, thereby suffocating and killing all exposed bed bugs. Two days is all it takes for pest control experts to complete the fumigation service. A follow-up inspection is also required one month after fumigation.

Bed bug heat treatment, chemical treatment, and fumigation are definitely your top choices to address bed bug issues. It has to be noted, however, that the procedures involved when applying these methods have to be left to the hands of professionals. Homeowners must coordinate well with a licensed pest control company for the preparation and planning before performing any of the three treatment methods.