When you discover you have Bed Bugs, it’s extremely important to act quickly. You can eliminate Bed Bugs, it just takes more work, however, it becomes very difficult to eliminate large infestations. The sooner a problem is addressed, the simpler and less costly the solution will be.
After it is determined that you have Bed Bugs, do not remove or relocate items in your home. This can potentially spread the Bed Bugs over a larger area making it more difficult to eliminate the Bed Bugs.
Property Managers and Owners
There are many pest control companies declaring their methods as ”the best” option for you. The truth is, there is no such thing as “the best”. Every Bed Bug situation is different and requires attention to details that if overlooked will prolong your problem. Every Bed Bug infestation needs to be assessed to determine the best course of action. If you’re spending a lot of money on failed treatments, STOP.
We’ll recommend whichever method, or combination of methods, is best for the situation. Standardization and processes often ignore your on-site realities, and wastes your money on failed treatments.
Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Control
The world is now filled with products that claim to eliminate Bed Bug infestations. Most of them don’t and make misleading claims. Aerosol bug bombs, botanical oils (cedar spray), and other magical concoctions are examples. These do-it-yourself options can make the problem worse and should never be used. It’s our advice to seek professional help when dealing with Bed Bugs.
Bed Bug Treatments
There are a number of methods being used by pest management companies to eliminate Bed Bugs. Chemical treatments are the most common. Below are brief descriptions of each type of treatment. None of the treatments are completely effective every time. Treatment methods usually need to be combined with other methods. A second treatment is often required with most methods. The exception being Fumigation.
Chemical Insecticide Bed Bug Treatments
The use of insecticides is the most common form of Bed Bug control. Depending on where you live in the world, the selection of pesticides varies. In the United States, most pesticides used are synthetic pyrethroids. Pyrethroids work by disrupting the insects nervous system. Describing the process simply, they kill the insect by keeping its nerve channels from closing, thereby paralyzing the organism causing a weakened state followed by death. Bed Bugs have been found to be resistant to some Pyrethroids.
Other possible pesticide choices could be insecticides such as chlorfenapyr, or desiccant dusts such as Silica or Diatomaceous Earth, which are effective at killing insects by dehydrating them.
Insecticide treatments are a repetitive, time-consuming process with the need for pest control technicians to pay attention to very fine details. The treatments are expensive and involve extensive preparation prior to application. The success of the treatment is often dependent on the efforts of the pest control technician.
Pros:
Generally the service is available everywhere, effective if done properly, and affordable for most.
Cons:
Resistance to pesticides is increasing among Bed Bugs. Success is largely dependent on the applicator’s thoroughness. Treatment often fails in homes with a high amount of clutter.
Cryonite (Rapid Freeze) Bed Bug Treatments
Cryonite is a system that shoots a jet stream of dry ice snow. The Cryonite machine sprays the CO2 snow at -110 F. The CO2 isn’t poisonous and leaves no residues. It freezes the Bed Bugs to death.
Pros:
Nonchemical, and the snow is able to penetrate larger crevices.
Cons:
Direct contact is needed to kill Bed Bugs and their eggs. Direct contact with 100% of the Bed Bug population is unlikely.
Thermal Remediation (Heat Treatments)
Thermal remediation involves heating an area for a prolonged time. Generally, pest control professionals like to obtain a temperature between 120 to 140 degrees F to kill Bed Bugs and their eggs. While raising the temperature, the air needs to circulate. The process takes hours, and in some cases can take as long as 20 hours to uniformly heat a space.
Pros:
Non-chemical, and usually effective if done correctly.
Cons:
Expensive, no residual to prevent future infestation, prohibited in some areas, risk of advanced aging of some building materials, risk of activating fire sprinkler system.
Steam Treatments
Steam is a possible option in some situations. If the steam makes direct contact with the Bed Bugs and their eggs, the steam will kill them from its high temperature. Steam treating is tedious work and contact with the entire Bed Bug population is unlikely. It can however be an effective means of control in situations where there aren’t many places for Bed Bugs to hide. Hospitals and nursing homes, where rooms are sparse (clutter-free), may have a better chance at success using this method.
Pros:
Non-chemical, anyone can do it.
Cons: Steam must make direct contact with the Bed Bugs and their eggs. There is a good chance that Bed Bugs will be missed. It is a tedious and laborious process.
Fumigation Treatments
Fumigation is often confused with aerosol bug “bombs”. Fumigation and bug bombs are not the same thing. Fumigation is a gas. Bug bombs are tiny liquid droplets. Fumigation is a serious process and can be very dangerous. It requires specially skilled technicians and is a job that requires a lot of money and personnel.
Fumigation introduces gases into a space and the gas penetrates all objects in the space killing anything in the space. It is 100% effective.
Pros:
Considered to be 100% effective.
Cons:
Not easily available in northern states, expensive, requires specially trained team, can be dangerous, leaves no residual to prevent future infestations.
Botanicals (cedar oils, etc.)
Botanicals work by asphyxiating the Bed Bugs by covering their spiracles. There are many botanicals for sale on the internet for control of Bed Bugs. Many make various questionable claims of effectiveness. Many have not gone through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We currently know of no-one who has successfully eliminated their Bed Bug problems with botanicals.
Pros:
Natural and regarded as” safe”.
Cons:
Many questionable claims by manufacturers.