The Cost of Bed Bugs
| Treatment Costs | Common Treatments | Thermal Pest Eradication |
| Out of pocket costs: | $200 Per Room per Treatment (2-3 treatme ... | $1 to $2 per square foot |
| Time restricted from access to your home ... | 2 to 4 hours per treatment (2-3 treatmen ... | 6-8 hours for Propane treatment 12-24 ho ... |
| Preparation time: | Heavy infestations require throwing away ... | Remove heat-sensitive belongings, like c ... |
| Fabric and linen laundering: | $50-$75 and Untold Hours | None |
Full Answer
How effective is heat treatment for bed bugs?
Bed bugs die when exposed to high temperatures for an extended period. If performed properly, heat treatment for bed bugs can be a highly effective procedure. When bed bug control professionals do a full-room heat treatment, the temperature in your home rises to as much as 145 °F.
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
During a bed bug heat treatment, industrial-sized electric heaters are used to maintain high levels of heat to help ensure all bed bugs are eliminated. The entire process can be completed in about 6–9 hours. there are, in some instances, cool spots where some bed bugs may look to in order to escape the heat and survive.
How does Terminix kill bed bugs?
Rather than heating the entire house, Terminix professionals use targeted heat in the form of steam in infested areas, alongside other techniques to kill bed bugs. During a bed bug heat treatment, industrial-sized electric heaters are used to maintain high levels of heat to help ensure all bed bugs are eliminated.
How does dry cleaning kill bed bugs?
By placing items such as shoes, dry cleaning, blankets, bags of clothing or even luggage into a hot box, sustained heat is used to kill bed bugs. Generally, a dryer is used for clothing and linens, and a heat chamber is used for the items that can’t be put into a dryer. In both instances, the heat penetrates small crevices that cannot be inspected.
How much does thermal heat treatment for bed bugs cost?
Homeowners typically pay $2,000 to $4,000 (or $1 to $3 per square foot) for heat treatment to get rid of bed bugs. Heat treatment is a chemical-free process in which hot air is pumped into the infested space to raise the temperature to over 120 degrees.
Is heat treatment for bed bugs more expensive?
The type of bed bug treatment has a major impact on cost. Chemical and pesticide treatments are some of the most affordable and effective options, but they're also the harshest. Heat treatment is chemical-free, but it may leave behind surviving eggs and insects, resulting in the need for additional treatments.
Do I have to take all clothes out of house for heat treatment for bedbugs?
All boxes and other stored items must be removed from closet and placed in center of room. Excessive clutter and stored/boxed items restricts equipment placement, air movement and heat penetration and many times causes treatment failure.
How accurate is heat treatment for bed bugs?
Whole room heat treatments involve a Pest Management Professional (PMP) bringing in specially designed equipment to raise the temperature in your home to kill the bed bugs. Bed bugs and eggs die within 90 minutes at 118°F (48°C) or immediately at 122°F (50°C).
Do bed bugs come back after heat treatment?
Yes, bed bugs can come back after a year. If you used a DIY treatment that didn't eliminate all the bed bugs in the colony, then there's always the chance that they'll remain in hiding until they've reproduced.
Can bed bugs survive after heat treatment?
A bed bug will die within an hour or two if it's exposed to temperatures in the 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit range. They'll die instantly once the heat increases beyond that.
What should you do before bed bug heat treatment?
DO turn off air conditioners, fans, and close windows. Before our professionals arrive at your house for your bed bug heat treatment, double-check that these items are turned off and closed.
How long does it take to heat treat a house for bed bugs?
Bed bugs ex- posed to 113°F will die if they receive constant exposure to that temperature for 90 minutes or more. However, they will die within 20 minutes if exposed to 118°F. Interestingly, bed bug eggs must be exposed to 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100% mortality.
How do you tell if bedbugs are in your clothes?
Signs of InfestationBlood stains on your sheets or pillowcases.Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls.Bedbug fecal spots, egg shells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide.An offensive, musty odor from the bugs' scent glands.
How many treatments does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
2-4 treatment sessionsIt typically takes anywhere from 2-4 treatment sessions over a period of 3-6 weeks to completely eliminate bed bugs, depending on the level of infestation and the size of the house.
How do I know if bed bugs are gone after treatment?
One of the questions that we are frequently asked is: “when can I be sure the bed bugs are gone?” The short answer is that if you have had a professional treatment and if it has been three weeks since the end of the treatment with no signs (i.e. bites, live bugs, new fecal matter or casts skins) of continuing ...
Can you heat treat one room for bed bugs?
Here is a tip for heat treating an infested room with portable electric bed bug heaters: direct the air low to the walls around the perimeter of the room and use fans to keep it moving around the room and recirculate back into the heater. Each time the energized air recirculates through the system it gains more energy.
How much does bed bug heat treatment cost?
Prices for bed bug heat treatments can vary, depending on factors such as the type of heat treatment used, the size of your home, and the severity...
How does heat treatment kill bed bugs?
Bed bugs die when exposed to high temperatures for an extended period. If performed properly, heat treatment for bed bugs can be a highly effective...
Will heat treatment for bed bugs damage my home?
While whole room heat treatments can take hours, the temperature isn't high enough to cause permanent damage to the structure of your house. Althou...
Can a hot box kill bed bugs?
Another treatment method used to control a bed bug problem is the use of a hot box. A hot box uses sustained heat to get rid of bed bugs on items l...
Will steam kill bed bugs?
Technically, yes. Steam is another form of heat that can help kill adult bed bugs along with their larvae and eggs. However, the types of steamers...
What should I do if I think I have bed bugs?
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of. If you think you have bed bugs in your home, don't wait to contact a bed bug control professional...
Breaking Down The Theory Of Heat Treatment
In theory, the heat treatment is pretty general. It is a well-known fact that bed bugs cannot stand up to specific amounts of heat. When exposed to 140 degrees temperatures or higher these bugs will dehydrate out and die. However, they have to be exposed to these temperatures for no less than 90 minutes.
Properly Monitoring The Heat
You can see how and why heat treatment is becoming a go-to solution for many. However, nothing is foolproof, and the heat treatment is no different. One of the drawbacks, although a minor one, is that bugs must be exposed to these temperatures for 90 minutes or more. If there are any fluctuations too great the bugs will not properly die.
Evacuating The Home
Another potential drawback to this treatment is that you will have to evacuate the home. During treatment, all pets and humans will need to be out of the home. Indeed, people do soak in saunas at higher temperatures than these, but this is only done for a few minutes at a time.
How effective is bed bug heat treatment?
That’s why a bed bug heat treatment can be one of the most effective solutions. Costs will vary depending on the type of treatment used and the size of the infestation. Successfully getting rid of bed bugs relies on early detection, proper preparedness and correct treatment methods. That’s where heat treatment comes in.
What temperature do bed bugs die at?
Lethal temperatures for bed bugs range from 117–122° degrees Fahrenheit. The walls of hot boxes reach a higher temperature than the suggested lethal range, though, to permeate the belongings placed within. This can help kill all bed bugs in all their life cycle stages. How the box is heated is important.
How long does it take for a dryer to kill bed bugs?
The heat of the clothes dryer alone can kill bed bugs. It's recommended that you dry items on high heat for at least 20 minutes. Be aware that some items cannot go in the washer or dryer. Always refer to the manufacturers’ laundering instructions.
Where do bed bugs nest?
From your mattress and box spring to your carpet and baseboards, bed bugs can nest almost anywhere in your bedroom. In fact, most bed bug infestations occur within a few feet of their human blood meal host, like your bed or other furniture.
What temperature does steaming work?
It can even be used on several items without causing destruction. That said, steaming utilizes high heat (up to 230° Fahrenheit) and could damage certain items.
Can you use a heat box to kill bed bugs?
This can help kill all bed bugs in all their life cycle stages. How the box is heated is important. The wrong or misused heat source can cause fires, so caution must be used with this method. Also, some items may become damaged by the heat source if it's too close or too hot.
Can a dryer kill bed bugs?
As discussed above, regular residential clothes dryers can also destroy bed bugs. In fact, the washing machine and hot soapy water can help kill them. There are many items that cannot be washed, though. Instead, these items may be able to run through a dryer cycle without damage.
