Frequently Asked Questions about Bed Bug Infestations and Heat Treatment Extermination
Frequently Asked Questions about Bed Bug Infestations and Heat Treatment Extermination
- Can you see bed bugs?
- What do bed bugs look like?
- Do bed bugs spread diseases?
- Do bed bugs live in dirty homes and hotels?
- How did I get bed bugs?
- How fast do bed bugs reproduce?
- What does a bed bug infestation look like?
- Do I have to throw out my furniture and mattress?
- How do I get rid of bed bugs?
- Will heat treatment hurt my home?
- Can the cold kill bed bugs?
Can you see bed bugs?
Yes. Many people assume that bed bugs are too small to see, but this assumption is incorrect. Newborn bedbugs are very small, translucent, and difficult to see, but adult bed bugs are about the size of a small apple seed. The bugs are dark brown and can be spotted easily if you know where to look.
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small, flat, and round-shaped bugs that range from translucent to brownish in colour depending on their life stage. Bed bugs do not have wings and cannot jump; they crawl from room to room or person to person and lay white oval eggs tucked away in the areas where they feed.
Do bed bugs spread diseases?
No. Bed bugs have not been found to transmit diseases to humans. Bed bugs are generally not considered a threat to your health, however, bed bugs bites will cause itchy red marks or skin rashes to develop which can lead to infection. Infestations are also known to cause psychological problems for many victims.
Do bed bugs live in dirty homes and hotels?
No. Bed bugs can and will live anywhere as long as humans are present to feed on. They will inhabit any home no matter how clean you keep it. You can find bed bugs in budget motels as well as 5 star executive suites.
How did I get bed bugs?
Bed bugs are commonly picked up and brought home from travelling. Bed bugs outbreaks are common in large cities and downtown areas. You may have picked up bed bugs from schools, hospitals, movie theatres, even coffee shops. You can also get bed bugs from living in multi-unit housing or apartment buildings. If a neighbour brings home bed bugs they can travel through walls or ductwork into other apartments.
How fast do bed bugs reproduce?
Female bed bugs will lay 1-5 eggs per day and eggs will hatch within a week. The average lifespan of a bed bug is 6 months, but bed bugs are known to live up to a year even without food.
What does a bed bug infestation look like?
You will find exoskeletons on the ground that bed bugs have shed during their molting phases. Look for white eggs in the creases of your mattress or beddings as well as brownish blood stains and fecal matter in your sheets from feedings. You will also have red spots develop on your skin and it’s likely that you will see bed bugs crawling around if the infestation gets worse.
Do I have to throw out my furniture and mattress?
No. Many people throw out furniture and mattresses because chemical pest control companies tell them to. If you choose heat treatment, the safer alternative, you can treat your home and all of the contents and furnishings inside your home, saving you thousands of dollars.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Bed bugs grow at a rapid rate; you should hire a professional exterminator to get rid of bed bugs at the first signs of infestation. You can use chemical or heat treatment to exterminate bed bugs. Chemical treatments are only somewhat effective, but bad for our health, and it takes multiple visits to clear up an infestation. Heat treatment can clear up bed bugs in one visit but some types are better than others. Find out why we only use the most advanced Propylene Glycol heat system.
Will heat treatment hurt my home?
No. Aside from a few items that will need to be removed prior to your service, heat treatment is safe for your home. Some of the items that will need to be removed are items that cannot withstand high levels of heat including: candles, crayons, oil paintings, aerosol cans, plants, and stringed musical instruments. Review the full heat treatment item checklist here.
Can the cold kill bed bugs?
Findings have shown that bed bugs will die if kept in the freezer at -17 degrees Celsius for 3 ½ days. If kept at -20 degrees Celsius they will die in just 2 days. You can place infested items in sealed bags in the freezer but this will not exterminate an infestation; bed bugs will hide in all kinds of spaces in your home and could even be hidden behind electrical outlets and in the walls.
