Why Heat Is the Most Effective Bed Bug Treatment

Anyone who’s had bed bugs will tell you that they can be a real nightmare, which is why it’s important to choose an extermination solution that works. In recent years, the use of heat has proven to be the most effective bed bug treatment available. This process works by placing multiple heaters around your home to raise its temperature to 140° F, which is above the temperature that bed bugs can survive.

Here are the reasons why this process works so well for bed bug control:

Treat the Entire Home

Bed bugs are often difficult to kill because they can hide in small cracks and crevices inside your furniture, walls, and even electrical outlets. This is why a chemical treatment must sometimes be done more than once because some of the bed bugs manage to hide from the poison. Since a heat treatment is done throughout your entire home, no place will keep these insects safe.

Kills All Life Stages

As bed bugs feed on human blood, they go through multiple life stages. Once they reach adulthood, they can quickly reproduce and cause a full-on infestation. A heat treatment will effectively kill bed bugs and their eggs no matter where they’re located and no matter which stage of life the insects are in.

Uses No Chemicals

Older methods of eliminating these blood-sucking creatures involved a bed bug spray with active ingredients that were often toxic. A heat treatment is an organic pest control solution that doesn’t use any chemicals which makes it safer for kids and pets. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the process negatively impacting the environment.

Safe for the Home

Despite the fact that this organic bed bug solution uses a high level of heat, the process will not damage your home. There are certain delicate items that will need to be removed, but most things in your home – including electronics – will not be harmed even though the temperature will be raised up to 140° F. The items that do need to be removed will be explained to you prior to your appointment.

Short Process Time

In certain situations, such as when you have a tent covering your home to eliminate an infestation, everyone in your household may need to leave for a long period of time. A bed bug heat treatment, however, is a relatively quick process, taking only between three and six hours. This means the disruption will be minimal and you’ll be able to get back to your daily routine very quickly.

Signs That Your Home Has Bed Bugs

Although we already know that the most effective bed bug treatment is the use of heat, this won’t do you a whole lot of good if you have no idea that you have a problem in the first place. To get you started, here are some of the most common signs that your home may have a bed bug infestation:

Sleepless Nights

Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal, which means they’ll feed on your blood as you sleep. In some cases, the sensation is enough to wake you up multiple times, but even if this doesn’t happen, you may still have a restless night. If you can’t explain why, you’ve been having trouble sleeping, bed bugs may be the cause.

Red, Itchy Spots

The most common telltale signs of a bed bug infestation is finding red, itchy marks on your body. As you’ve probably guessed, these are the areas where the bed bugs have been feeding. Although other insects also bite, most won’t do it multiple nights in a row like bed bugs will.

Stained Sheets

As you might expect, the process of feeding on your blood will sometimes leave behind small, red stains. You may also discover rust-colored stains, which would indicate fecal matter. If you notice either of these things, there’s a good chance that it’s time to call a professional exterminator.

Musty Scent

Whether or not you experience an unpleasant, musty odor will often depend on how many bed bugs are nearby. In large numbers, the pheromones released by these insects will smell similar to a wet towel. Basically, if your bedroom starts smelling like a dirty gym locker, you may have a problem.

Bugs & Shells

The best evidence of any type of insect is seeing one with your own eyes. Although bed bugs are great at hiding, it’s possible that you may spot one inside your furniture upon inspection. You may also find an exoskeleton that has been left behind as a bed bug moved from one life stage to the next.

Avoiding an Infestation in the Future

Dealing with bed bugs is certainly one of the more annoying challenges that a homeowner can face. Knowing that, here are some quick tips that you can follow to help avoid an infestation in the future:

Routine Checks

The best way to prevent bed bugs in the future is to always remember that they exist. This is especially important if any guests stay over at your home because they could inadvertently bring bed bugs along with them. Be sure to check your personal items if you stay overnight somewhere.

Travel Precautions

It’s very common to bring bed bugs back home with you once you’ve returned from a trip. To help avoid this, make sure you carefully inspect any beds or other furniture you use while on the road. When you get back, place your clothes into plastic bags and then wash them in hot water as soon as possible just to be safe.

Furniture Guidelines

In a perfect world, we’d all get brand new furniture every time we were looking for a new couch or bed. But, as we all know, purchasing used furniture from a guy who lives down the street or across town is quite common. If you don’t feel comfortable inspecting a piece of furniture for bed bugs in front of the seller, do it before bringing the furniture into your home.

Fill Cracks & Gaps

Like many other pests, bed bugs can enter your home through small cracks and crevices on the exterior of the structure. It’s also common for a bed bug infestation to start in one room and then continue in another as they multiply. You can reduce the chances of this happening by filling in these areas with weather-stripping, spray foam, or caulk.

Act Right Away

Bed bugs can multiply quickly, turning just a few of these loathsome creatures into an infestation. If you see any signs of bed bugs in your home, don’t hesitate to call a professional pest control company right away. The sooner you act, the sooner your household can get back to normal.

Contact ProHealth for the Most Effective Bed Bug Treatment

Since the use of heat is the most effective bed bug treatment available, ProHealth Pest Control made it a part of our services long ago. In addition to bed bugs, we can also handle residential and commercial pest control issues involving cockroaches, ants, rodents, arachnids, bees, wasps, mosquitoes, and more. If you have any questions or would like a free, no-obligation estimate, reach out by calling (727) 308-4087 to schedule a free consultation.