Bed bugs live in cracks and crevices, emerging to feed on humans while asleep. These nocturnal creatures disturb your rest and leave you covered in itchy bites. If you have bed bugs in your home, the question on your mind is, “How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?”
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Eliminating bed bugs from a home is a challenging and often costly undertaking. It generally takes three to six weeks to eradicate these critters with the help of a residential pest technician. The initial extermination session lasts one to three hours and kills the majority of bugs present. Eggs take two weeks to hatch, requiring a second treatment. Bed bugs can burrow deep, making them difficult to reach. They can survive up to six months in hiding. A severe infestation may require three or four treatment sessions, resulting in several visits from a pest control expert. Repeat sessions eliminate all stages of the lifecycle (eggs, nymphs, adults).
Effective Treatment Options
There are several treatment options, often used in combination.
- Insecticide: For this treatment option, hire a professional. Their knowledge of insecticides and their specialized equipment ensures thorough treatment and quick results. They understand the life cycle of bed bugs and their behaviour. They’ll provide advice regarding preventative measures that reduce the possibility of future infestations. Pest experts abide by safety regulations and ensure no damage occurs to your property. They treat mattresses, picture frames, baseboards, bed frames, drawers, dressers, walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture. A pest control expert saves you time and effort.
- Heat treatments require heating your home to 49 degrees Celsius or higher. Heating units and fans circulate hot air evenly through your home, killing the adults, nymphs, and eggs in approximately 1½ hours.
- Cold: Freezing temperatures (approximately minus 15 degrees Celsius) kill all stages of bed bugs after approximately 80 hours of exposure.
- Biological controls: Some fungal spores can eliminate bed bugs. Products containing these spores are only available to professional pest control companies.
How Will A Pest Control Expert Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Professional pest control technicians:
- Inspect your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs and determine the severity of the infestation.
- Develop a customized treatment plan based on the inspection. This plan includes methods, techniques, and products for pest control and eradication. It may involve a combination of chemical, heat, cold, and biological treatments and sanitation recommendations.
- Undertake treatments: Professionals apply treatments according to the customized plan.
- Monitor and follow-up: Following treatment, monitoring is critical for assessing the effectiveness of the pest control measures. It ensures population control. Follow-up visits are generally needed to evaluate the situation, make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan, and address remaining pest activity.
- Employ preventive measures: Residential pest control experts also implement preventive measures to minimize the possibility of recurring infestations. They make recommendations regarding sanitation practices and eliminating attractants.
- Provide education through valuable tips, information, and advice regarding preventing pest problems. They can tell you how long it takes to get rid of bed bugs.
Think you have a bedbug problem? Want to know how long it takes to get rid of bed bugs? Contact One Man and a Ladybug. We can help!
