When trying to get rid of bed bugs, you have several treatment options: pesticides or heat treatments are the most common. Both have pros and cons, but which is the best option for you? In this article, we’ll compare and contrast pesticide treatments and heat treatments. We’ll look at the benefits and drawbacks of each method and help you decide which is the best option for your needs.
Pesticide Treatments
Pesticide treatments are a popular method of bed bug control mainly because the upfront cost is less. There are a variety of pesticides that are effective at killing bed bugs, including chlorpyrifos, pyrethrins, and carbamate insecticides. These pesticides can be applied as sprays or dust to cracks and crevices where you think the bugs may hide.
Pesticides may reduce bed bug infestation, but typically it will take several treatments and months to get it under control. Studies have shown that bed bugs have developed a chemical resistance to pesticides, reducing their effectiveness.
Once an infestation is under control, there’s no guarantee it will remain so. You may have success for a time, but eventually, your bed bug problem will return if you don’t take action to prevent reinfestation by maintaining normal pest control measures like vacuuming frequently and avoiding clutter in your home.
The downside to pesticide treatments is that they can harm humans and pets. Additionally, they don’t always work, which can be frustrating. Many people choose the pesticide application route typically because the upfront cost is less, however, paying for months of pesticide services over time can come close to or exceed the cost of the heat treatment.
Heat Treatments
Heat treatments for bed bugs are a great way to solve the problem without using toxic pesticides. First, it’s important to know that bed bugs cannot survive in the heat. They die in temperatures over 120ºF. It’s also important to note that the heat will permeate throughout the location, reaching in between the wall voids and other hard-to-reach areas. So, if you decide to use a heat treatment at home, you’ll be able to kill all of your bed bugs—from adults to nymphs and eggs in less than one day.
Heat treatments are a non-toxic way to get rid of bed bugs. They’re also very effective and can eliminate a bed bug infestation in just ONE treatment if serviced correctly. However, they can cost more upfront than pesticide applications. Heat treatments also guarantee bed bug removal, whereas most pesticide application services will not offer this type of guaranteed service. Why? Simply put, pesticides are just not as effective.
Which One is Better for Your Home?
So, you’re trying to decide whether to use a pesticide or a heat treatment. Both have pros and cons, but which is the best option for your home? Let’s take a closer look.
Pesticide treatments may work to get rid of bed bugs in some cases, but there are more cons than pros. It is a proven fact that bed bugs have become increasingly immune to pesticides, making it a less effective solution. Additionally, using pesticides will take longer to exterminate the bed bugs. Liquid applications are not able to effectively reach the hard-to-find hiding spots, such as wall voids or under the carpet, commonly where bed bugs will hide. More importantly, they can also harm your health. The active ingredient in pesticides can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even poisoning in some cases. If you’re considering using pesticides in your home, be sure to find out whether it’s safe for you and your family.
Heat treatments, on the other hand, are a newer technology. They’re becoming increasingly popular because they’re non-toxic, fast-acting, and very effective. Plus, they’re a great choice for people who have sensitivities to pesticides. The only downside is that they can be slightly more expensive upfront than pesticide treatments. Fortunately, some professional bed bug exterminators offer professional bed bug exterminators that offer finance options to help offset the upfront cost which helps alleviate the stress endured by having to deal with bed bugs in your home.
Conclusion
Regarding pest control, there are a few different options to choose from. You can use pesticide treatments, which involve spraying chemicals that kill the pests, or heat treatments, which involve heating the house to kill the pests.
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Pesticide treatments can harm your health and often don’t work as well since pests may develop resistance. Heat treatments are more expensive upfront, but they are safer for your health and will get rid of bed bugs faster.
So, which one is right for you? That depends on your needs and your budget. If you’re looking for a service that is less expensive upfront, the length of time to get rid of the bugs is not a factor, and the health and safety aspects are not important to you, then pesticide treatments are the way to go. If the pesty bed bugs are driving you crazy and you want your home back quickly with a one-and-done service, heat treatments are a safer, quicker, and more effective solution to get rid of bed bugs. Overall, after comparing both pros and cons, heat treatments are the smarter choice to exterminate bed bugs
If you have questions regarding bed bug heat treatments or would like a consultation from an expert, please contact FL Bed Bug Experts at 813.922.8475.