Phoenix Bed Bug Treatment

/in /by

Bed bugs have been increasing in Phoenix since 2007, and in 2015 we expect to see the highest number of bed bug occurrences to date. Don’t be surprised when bed bugs are found in your home. With the increased number of bed bug occurrences comes with increased numbers of companies “specializing” in bed bug treatment in Phoenix.

There are half a dozen companies in Phoenix providing bed bug treatment only. Some of these companies are one or two man operations that have only held pest control licenses for a very short time. Other companies specializing in bed bugs are more established and have a large number of employees.

Most of the general pest control companies also offer bed bug treatment of some kind, however many of them are not as experienced with bed bugs as they are with cockroaches, scorpions, bees, and other pest control that is common in AZ.

Only companies who are confident in their bed bug treatment methods will offer guarantees on their bed bug treatments for extended periods. You should look for companies that offer bed bug warranties that last longer than one year. Although it is easy to reintroduce bed bugs into a home that has been properly treated, a reputable Phoenix bed bug company will offer a hassle-free warranty that covers you in the event of re-infestation.  Many companies in Arizona only offer 30 to 90 day warranties with their bed bug treatments. This is not enough time to tell if a bed bug treatment has been effective. Bed bugs can hide and lay dormant for periods of time, and then re-emerge later. Also, bed bugs can be reintroduced from items that are brought into the home after treatment.

These are the different types of Phoenix Bed bug Treatments Offered:

Phoenix Bed Bug Treatment – We use Heat

phoenix bed bug treatment using gas heat

Arizona Heat Pest Services heats the entire space so no bed bugs can escape.

Bed bug heat treatment is only the most effective bed bug treatment if it is performed correctly. There are many different types of heat treatment for bed bugs that are offered from various pest control companies in Phoenix.

Gas heating of the entire space – What We Do

Using the correct style gas heater to quickly heat the entire space and kill all bugs and eggs. Most efficient, effective, and complete treatment. Only choose a company to perform the gas heating if the are highly experienced and hold liability insurance of $2 million or more. (like Arizona Heat Pest Services, the Phoenix bed bug treatment specialists also serving Tucson AZ)

Localized Heat – The “$150 per room Blow Dryer Treatment” (Very Inefficient)

Using a blow dryer, heat wand, heat gun, or steamer to kill all bed bugs that can be found. The heat will not reach all bed bug hiding areas in the furniture, flooring, linens, and walls. Least effective heating option.

Electric Heating of the entire space – The least efficient Phoenix bed bug treatment.

Using electric heaters that are left unmanned inside the home for at least 24 hours. This is one of the most inefficient ways to heat an infested space. It also seems very dangerous to leave a heating device inside a home without anyone there in case of emergency.

Phoenix bed bug treatment using Chemicals – The “no heat” method

Arizona Heat Pest Services can kill all bed bugs without using heat by using very specific pesticides. These pesticides must be applied in certain areas to prevent human exposure to them.

You can not kill bed bugs using over the counter chemicals or bombs as bed bugs are highly resistant to most pesticides. It will actually make the problem worse if performed incorrectly.

The success of a chemical treatment for bed bugs all depends on the type of chemicals that are used and the way that they are used. Most pest control companies in Phoenix fail at chemical treatment for bed bugs because they use the wrong types of chemicals in the wrong areas.

Mega Bed Bug Nest Found By Arizona’s Bed Bug Experts

/in /by

In September 2014, Arizona’s bed bug experts, Arizona Heat Pest Services found a bed bug mega nest. This was a mother ship for bed bugs. The elderly occupants of this home had no idea it had gotten this bad. They tried everything do it yourself remedy they could find. Finally a concerned family member called us to treat the home.

In the picture you can see the molted exoskeletons of the bed bugs. As they mature they shed their exoskeleton. All of the black spots are the bed bug feces.

In the creases of this chair you can see a large nest of bed bugs. From the center of the above photo follow the center seam to the right. Every amber colored thing you see there is a bed bug ranging in size from .25mm up to 4mm in length. You may be able to see the very flat bodies of the bugs at the extreme right side of the picture in the crease. All of those white spots are likely two different things, diatomaceous earth (DE) and bed bug eggs. The black fecal stains can be seen on the left side of the above picture in the shadowed area.

2470130

Every square inch of the wood framing inside the recliner is covered in black fecal stains. There are even fecal stains on the metal components as you can see on the screw at the top left quadrant of the above picture.

We can usually save all furniture when we treat a home for bed bugs however sometimes its best to throw it away.

180522

In this scenario, Arizona Heat Pest Services treated the structure with heat and salvaged all remaining furniture and personal belongings in the home. A long term warranty was granted just in case any bed bugs somehow survived our treatment. This family is covered by their warranty even if the bed bugs are brought in later from the original source.

Heat treatment was the only way to battle such a severe infestation. Once the problem persists this long, the bed bugs can penetrate the framing of the structure.

Bed Bug Specialist VS General Pest Control

/in /by

Who do you think will do a better job killing your bed bugs; a bed bug specialist, or a general pest control company? The common sense answer is to choose the company that specializes in bed bugs.

General pest control companies do not have the experience an knowledge that is gained from working to kill bed bugs every day for several years. Most companies apply incorrect pesticides and perform incorrect heating procedures to ensure that all bed bugs and eggs are killed. These general pest control companies usually offer a substandard bed bug warranty that may only last 30-60 days that does not cover you in the event of “re-infestation”. This means if you get bed bugs again, you have to pay again.

If you are shopping around for bed bug treatment costs please consider that the cheapest treatment may not be effective. You will gain much greater value if you choose the bed bug specialist over the general pest guys.

Arizona Heat Pest Services has performed over 6000 bed bug treatments and specialize in bed bugs only. We include a long term warranty with our bed bug treatment, and will kill all bed bugs and eggs in less than 8 hours using our specialized heating equipment and procedures.

Do it yourself remedies for Bed Bugs just don’t work.

/in /by

So you found bed bugs in your house or apartment? No problem, just head down to the local hardware store and pick up a case of bed bug killer, diatomaceous earth (DE), and some rubbing alcohol. You’ll be fine.

WRONG. Dead wrong.

This base board is an infestation that has gotten out of control because the homeowner tried to treat the bed bugs themselves, for over a year! I wonder how much money and time they spent trying to kill the bed bugs.

Bed bug bombs, over the counter treatments, diatomaceous earth, rubbing alcohol are the most popular do it yourself bed bug remedies that we see in our customers homes in Arizona. None of these methods will kill all of the bed bugs. Most professional strength pesticides on the market that are “labeled for bed bugs” also state on their label “not to be used as sole defense against bed bugs”. Bed bug specialists use heat to kill bed bugs because they are so resistant to chemicals.

Most pest control companies are not successful at killing bed bugs, especially when the infestation is severe. Many companies in Arizona and throughout the US sell bed bug treatments that are ineffective and have a short-term or non-existent warranty.

There are a few companies in each state that specialize in bed bug treatment. These are the companies to call right away if you see a bed bug, or if you are experiencing unexplained bites that are similar to mosquito bites appearing in a group or line.

You will save time and money by calling a professional bed bug exterminator and getting rid of the bed bugs immediately before they get worse and spread to your friends and family.

“Localized” Heat Treatments and Natural Remedies

/in /by

It is true that heat kills bed bugs. But how do you get all bed bugs heated enough to kill them?

A commercial blow dryer is what many companies are using to kill bed bugs. A blow dryer would be considered “localized” heat. Using this device on the seams of furniture and walls will not solve your bed bug problem. It may kill some bugs or eggs, but it will not cure the bed bug infestation.

Other devices that produce localized heat are heat guns, steamers, and small electric heaters.

If you want to use heat to kill all bed bugs and eggs, then you must get the heat to reach all bed bug hiding places. Bed bug hiding places include: flooring, furniture, walls, ceiling, clothing, and linens.

Arizona Heat Pest Services provides a heat treatment that will heat all bed bug hiding places, without damaging the structure or personal belongings. No bed bugs or eggs will survive our heat treatment.

Bed Bugs In Apartments

/in /by

Apartment dwellers beware, bed bugs could be right next door!

Once bed bugs infest an apartment complex it is very difficult to completely eradicate them. If the bed bugs have started nesting in the walls, then they will run away from the unit being treated and into the adjacent unit. They enter through outlet covers, under baseboards, and along plumbing.

Bed bugs make themselves at home on your couch or bed. They want to be close to you when your resting so they can feed on your blood. If bed bug treatment is not performed quickly and correctly, the infestation will grow and spread. The bed bugs will start nesting in all of the furniture, behind picture frames, under the carpet and tack strip, and in the walls.

Nearly every apartment complex, condo complex, and hotel will experience a bed bug infestation every year. This, in part, is due to the overturn of occupants. New occupants can bring the bugs with them, but this is not the only way bed bugs are entering the complex.

With so many families living in one building there is much more opportunity for the bugs to enter as the tenants bring them in from many different places. The tenants can bring them in while traveling, visiting relatives, or from schools, movie theaters, bringing in used furniture, even from having new furniture delivered.

Some apartment managers and owners will hire a company to eliminate the bed bugs, however many will not. Some apartment owners will try to take care of the problem “in house” which is never a good idea for safety’s sake. Some owners will pay for the treatment and have the tenant pay them monthly. Some will say that the tenant is “on there own” to take care of the bed bug problem. They may say “you signed a lease that states if you find bed bugs in the unit you must pay for the treatment.” It all comes down to the lease.

Bed Bug Treatment
If a regular pest control company is hired to battle the bed bugs, they may or may not be successful. These bugs can not be killed with the same chemicals used against crickets and cockroaches. A bed bug specialist should be hired to ensure a quality bed bug treatment.

Heat Treatments are the quickest and most effective treatment for bed bugs. Chemical treatments may work, however bed bugs gain resistance to chemicals, making them even more difficult to kill.

Tis the Bed Bug Traveling Season

/in /by

This is one of the best times of year to unknowingly obtain bed bugs from your loving family and friends. Don’t be a bed bug victim this holiday season! Its hard to be jolly when you’re waking up with bed bug bites.

If you know of a family member or friend who has dealt with bed bugs recently then you should be hesitant to invite them over for the holiday gatherings. If you can not bear to be without their presence then you could try to “decontaminate” them and their belongings in order to prevent a bed bug infestation in your home.

Bed Bug Decontamination Procedures:
1. Do not bring any luggage into the home. Leave it outside or in the garage.
2. All clothes need to be removed from luggage and put directly into the wash and dry using the hottest settings.
3. Also wash clothes that “contaminated” person is wearing.
4. Put shoes in the dryer or leave them outside.

You may also be interested in the Bed Bug Prevention Tips
or the Bed Bug Prevention For Travelers page.

Bed Bug infestations can begin with one pregnant female. They lay five eggs a day, they take ten days to hatch, and they bite from birth. It may take three weeks or longer for a bed bug infestation to become apparent.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

/in /by

You have bed bugs!?! Take Immediate Action!

Step 1: Remove all bedding. Wash and dry them on high heat.

Step 2: Call Professional Exterminators

Step 3: Compare Treatment Methods and Guarantee Offered

Getting rid of bed bugs can be an expensive endeavor. Not the sort of thing that a person plans for or expects to happen to them. They saying goes “you get what you pay for” and that applies to bed bug treatment as well.

If a bed bug treatment is only $150, it is probably a chemical treatment performed by a technician using the wrong chemicals who makes $9 an hour. That is: $150 per treatment, per room, with no warranty. A “chemical only” treatment will take multiple treatments over weeks or months to kill all bed bugs.  Guaranteed to require multiple treatments.

If a chemical treatment costs over $600, then it should consist of more than just a quick spray and a pitiful 30 day guarantee. It should include a long term bed bug warranty with no charge for follow up visits.

Instead of opting for pesticide bed bug treatment choose to go with a more expensive heat treatment. This is a good choice for your peace of mind, though it may be hard on the bank account. A proper heat treatment does not include the use of a heat wand, blow dryer, or steamer (also known as localized heat). A properly executed “Heat Treatment” or “Thermal Remediation” kills all bed bugs and eggs within one day. This is obviously the more preferable option considering that bed bugs suck your blood while you sleep (if you didn’t know).

If you just can’t afford a good bed bug treatment, don’t give up! The longer you have bed bugs the more you are spreading them to others. It is worth it to borrow money from family to end the bed bug bites now! Many times your church will help if you can not afford to pay for bed bug treatment yourself.

Heat Treatment – The Cure for the Bed Bug Plague

/in /by

Bed bugs are now a widespread plague similar to plagues in Biblical record. These blood suckers are tormenting countless households in Arizona and throughout the country. The bites from Bed Bugs are not as menacing as the anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia they can cause. These psychological effects can be very detrimental to everyday life. Work performance can suffer and family life can become hostile.

Bed Bugs must be treated by a professional. They are the most difficult pest to kill. They are even more difficult to kill than cockroaches or termites. The store bought chemicals are a waste of money; the bed bugs are resistant to those types of chemicals. The natural bed bug remedies available online are also worthless. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) will not solve the problem either. The bed bugs can be killed with CERTAIN chemicals, although it will take weeks or months to get rid of them using any type of chemical.

The quickest way to get rid of bed bugs is with a HEAT TREATMENT. Our heat treatment will kill all bed bugs and eggs in a single day. Bed bugs at every stage of life will be killed, from egg to adult.

We are not using a steamer.
We are not using a heat gun.

We heat up the entire space to over 150 degrees for at least 4 hours. We can treat one room or an entire house.

The heat will penetrate the floors, walls, ceiling, and furniture.
It will not only kill all bed bugs, it will also kill bacteria and dust mites.

Is DE the silver bullet for bed bugs?

/in /by

Is DE (Diatomaceous Earth)  the silver bullet for bed bugs? Many websites claim that by simply spreading this powder throughout your home you can get rid of all bed bugs. This powder is cheap and very easy to find. It is also all natural and non toxic. This substance kills the bugs mechanically rather than with chemicals. This natural pesticide has been used for decades. As the bugs walk through the dust, their bodies are wounded by the sharp microscopic diatoms. Soon after, they will dehydrate and die.

Does DE work to kill bed bugs? It may kill some bed bugs, but it WILL NOT solve the problem completely. Many bugs will avoid the powder.

More than half of the homes that we treat are covered with DE.

If DE works so well to kill bed bugs, then why is there such a huge bed bug problem?

Drawbacks to DE:

Unsightly white powder throughout the home for weeks and months
Very Hard to clean off of surfaces
Does NOT work fast
Only kills some of the bed bugs
Can cause respiratory problems in humans and pets (from breathing the dust)
Follow the directions!
If you are going to apply DE in your home remember to always follow directions on the label. Apply only to areas where you will not come in contact with it and where it will not become airborne. DO NOT PUT DE ON YOUR BED, COUCH, OR DRAPES!

If you have bed bugs, don’t put your family through months of dealing with it. Call a professional. If you can’t afford the treatment, then borrow the money. If you’r family can’t help, then ask your church. It is worth it to get rid of them right and fast to ensure the health of you and your loved ones.