In the news…
“Three people were hospitalized and several others lost their homes after a woman accidentally started a fire inside a multifamily building while trying to kill bed bugs with alcohol…”
“Homeowners in South Jersey attempted to “heat” bedbugs out of a piece of furniture using a space heater, a hair dryer and a heat gun when the fire started.”
“Police sources said that the man, his wife and their daughter had been admitted to the hospital with similar symptoms Oct. 22, shortly after the poison was laid by the girl’s father. He told doctors he thought the poison would combat a bed bug infestation in their home, sources said.”
“Mayor’s office spokesman says the sofa and the man’s body caught fire when he tried to burn one of the bed bugs.”
“Family of 6 displaced after bed bug killing chemicals and smoking start fire.”
Are Diy Bed bug treatments safe? Are they really worth the risk?
The first instinct people have when they find out they have bed bugs is to try and treat it themselves. Bed Bug victims typically panic the moment they find out they have been the feast of the blood sucking little vampires while they sleep. The initial thought is to run out to the store and buy a steamer and every bed bug killer spray imaginable. After that doesn’t work (In most cases it makes the problem worse), the next thought is to buy harsher chemicals or a heater. The problem with DIY methods is that most of the time they are not effective and a waste of time, money and frustration. More importantly, DIY methods have proven to be very dangerous.
There seems to be no end to the stories of bed bug treatments gone wrong. But what is often not discussed is why DIY treatments lead to such horrible outcomes.
Here are some things you should know before you decide to take on DIY bed bug extermination efforts:
- There are many chemicals that can kill bed bugs, but killing bed bugs will not stop an infestation unless those chemicals are applied properly. The behavior patterns of bed bugs help these insects prevent complete extermination from chemical treatments. This leads some people to apply more chemicals than are safe to use.
- Over time, bed bugs can build up an immunity to chemicals. This is because they shed their skins between each of their 5 instars (developmental stages), and new skins are more tolerant to chemicals the bugs have been exposed to.
- When pest control poisons are used to kill bed bugs, not only are they ineffective, they can cause accidental ingestion by children and pets.
- While a heat treatment is an effective way to get rid of bed bugs, they should be done with professional, temperature-controlled units and temperature sensors to prevent an accidental fire from occurring. Opening an oven door and turning the oven on high will only drive bed bugs deep into wall voids. It will not raise the temperature of an apartment or home to the 120 F needed to kill bed bugs. If heat is used in a home where alcohol has been applied to floors and other surfaces, the risk of fire is even greater.
There are various methods listed online of DIY bed bug heat treatments (Heater rentals, steamers etc.) However, it’s almost impossible to reach every corner, crack and crevice of your home safely on your own.
We understand how tormenting these blood-eating insects can be, but the application of chemicals and the use of heat to destroy bed bugs should always be done by a professionally trained and experienced bed bug expert. Not all pest control companies have the extensive training and experience when it comes to bed bugs. Choose a bed bug expert based off of professional experience and bed bug extermination customer reviews. The proof is in the pudding!
Rest assured, our certified technicians use the safety protocols and guidelines established by industry experts ensuring a successful bed bug heat treatment. We are the ONLY pest control company in Florida holding a Level 3 Certification, the highest level of education as Certified Master Heat Professionals for Bed Bug Extermination.
Don’t let your story be a story of tragedy. When bed bugs appear in your home, contact FL Bed Bug Experts. Not all pest control companies are created equally and hold the level of certification necessary to safely heat and remove the bed bugs from your home.
Please contact us for more information and a free estimate. We can help you you safely remove all of the bed bugs in less than one day. Guaranteed.
