6 Questions You Need to Ask Your Bed Bug Exterminator
If bed bugs are a problem in your home, working with an experienced exterminator is essential. We won’t sugarcoat it: getting rid of bed bugs costs money. Even though you might want to handle the issue alone, most DIY bed insect removal methods are useless. However, there is some positive news.
Assuming your exterminator is trustworthy and qualified to deal with these pests directly. Then they can help you remove those pesky pests fast and painlessly.
What type of treatment will you use?
Choosing a bed bug exterminator requires first identifying the type of treatment that will be used. Although many other bed bug treatments exist, heat and chemical applications are the most common.
Heat Treatment
To heat treat your furniture, you have to put it in a locked room and heated to more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) for a few hours or until all live eggs and adults have died. Heat is usually used on big things like mattresses and box springs because reaching the right temperature can take a long time without hurting your home’s structure or walls.
Chemical Treatment
Pesticides must be sprayed straight onto surfaces, like carpets and bed sheets, where you think there may be an infestation. Depending on the material’s strength, this method will kill surface bugs immediately.
How much time will the treatment require?
The length of a bed bug treatment depends on several factors.
How big is the infestation?
If you have a few bed bugs, an exterminator can get rid of them quickly. If your home is overrun with thousands of bed bugs, it will take longer to eliminate them all.
How thoroughly you want them treated.
This factor becomes crucial in estimating the entire length of treatment. Suppose you want to treat every nook and cranny carefully. In that case, they will need extra time to do comprehensive inspections before moving on to other locations because even one insect could result in another infestation later.
What is the typical cost of treatment?
The price of bed bug treatments can range from $100 to $500 depending on the size of your house and the severity of your infestation. For instance, treating a few tiny areas can cost several hundred dollars. However, if many rooms have bed bugs or other pests, it may cost hundreds of dollars per room.
The price will depend on several elements, including the following:
- The total number of treated rooms (smaller rooms cost less than larger ones)
- The type(s) of treatments undergone (some therapies cost more than others)
How do I get ready for the treatment?
Before the treatment begins, it is essential to make sure your room is clutter-free. As a result, the exterminator will locate bed bugs more swiftly and efficiently. The chamber must be evacuated of any pets to avoid accidental chemical spraying or injury from sprays that might linger after treatment.
Eliminate any food and drinks from your bedroom before treatment because they are bed bug magnets. You should store these items in a different location of your home until the pest control specialist has finished treating all areas.
It is also helpful if you aren’t using any other chemicals in this area while we are working, especially if pets are around.
What obligations do I have after receiving treatment?
Following bed bug treatment, you need to take specific steps to stop the infection from returning.
Never introduce new goods into your home.
Because they can swiftly spread on clothing or other items, bed bugs should not be brought outside of your home. If you are going on vacation, leave your clothing behind (or store it somewhere).
Avoid moving furniture around in rooms where an exterminator recently treated bed bugs.
Bed bugs may be sufficiently startled when you move a couch from its usual placement that they will leave other hiding places. To avoid being disturbed and attacked by predators like ants or spiders, bed bugs prefer to hide near walls and in cracks.
Vacuum the entire house thoroughly.
Perform this at least once weekly, beginning three months after your last treatment. Use a powerful vacuum with a hose attachment to get too tight spaces like under furniture or mattresses.
Clean the beds and clothing.
Additionally, wash and air dry your bedding and garments in hot water for 30 minutes. This will remove any bugs or eggs still present after treatment.
Purchase a new mattress.
Imagine finding bed bugs within your mattress. They can hide there before emerging later to resume feeding, so it is best to replace it in that situation.
Keep pets out of certain rooms.
Pets may occasionally bring bed bugs into the house on their fur or paws, so keep them out of certain rooms until the treatment is finished. This also means keeping cats off of furniture, particularly if they scratch at their claws while sleeping, and keeping dogs off of beds and couches.
Will my insurance pay for the services of a bed bug exterminator?
The answer is yes, but it depends on your policies. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of pesticide treatment if bed bugs are found. Specific insurance packages even cover heating and fumigation.
If you do not have bed bug extermination insurance or your policy does not cover this type of treatment, ask the exterminator whether they provide a discount for cash payments.
Take Note: If bed bugs are not treated immediately, how harmful are they?
While bed bugs are not known to spread disease, they can sometimes lead to life-threatening allergic reactions. If left untreated, they can result in psychological problems like anxiety, despair, and trauma. Scars from bed bug bites can occasionally linger for several months or even years after the edges heal.
Make use of an exterminator who has a lot of experience.
Most bed bug management companies, like experts in bed bug heat treatment in San Jose, CA, will typically respond to these inquiries. Do some research to see if the individual you selected can or will look elsewhere.
The environment surrounding your home is one of the most important places to check. However, treatment benefits can only sometimes be noticeable. Ask as many questions as necessary to ensure your exterminator is highly skilled.