As a pest control expert, I’ve seen my fair share of bed bug infestations. If you think you might have a bed bug problem, you’re probably wondering whether you should tackle it yourself or call in a professional exterminator. In some cases, DIY methods like bed bug sprays and traps can work, especially if you’ve caught the infestation early on.
However, from my experience, there are several situations where it’s best to hire an exterminator. If the bed bug infestation has spread throughout your home, if you and your family are waking up with itchy welts and bites, or if you’ve already tried some DIY approaches and the bed bugs keep coming back, it’s time to call in the professionals.
The goal of this article is to help you understand how exterminators get rid of bed bugs so you can see why it’s important to sometimes leave the hard stuff up to the experts.
Why Hire an Exterminator for Bed Bugs
Listen, I get it. You’ve tried everything to get rid of these bed bugs on your own. You’ve scoured the internet for DIY methods, maybe even bought a few sprays and traps. But let me tell you, as someone who’s been in the pest control business for years, sometimes you just need to call in the professionals.
Sure, you could keep trying to handle it yourself, but do you really want to get up close and personal with these creepy little bloodsuckers? It’s not exactly a pleasant experience. Plus, you might not have the right equipment or expertise to truly eradicate the infestation.
Although bed bugs do not carry diseases like mosquitoes or ticks do, they still cause painful and itchy bites and it’s horrifying to think that they’re invading what should be the safest and most personal area of your home. Since they have five stages in their life cycle, a professional eye is helpful and necessary to identify and then eradicate your bed bug infestation.
A bed bug exterminator knows just what to look for, and you can’t enact bed bug control without being able to discern which places are infested areas.
How Exterminators Identify Bed Bug Infestations
There are several ways that exterminators can identify bed bug infestations. The obvious signs of bed bugs include welts and red itchy areas of the skin where bed bugs have bitten you during the night. They can tell if you have a bed bug infestation just by seeing these particular bites, but they do also need to do a visual inspection.
To the naked eye, adult bed bugs resemble apple seeds in shape and size. They are dark brown to black in color, and they have a rounded abdomen with a tiny little head at a point. You and the exterminator will likely see these pests in their favorite hiding places — cracks and crevices in the headboards of beds in infested rooms, in the box springs and seams of mattresses, and even in other furniture, like couch cushions.
Besides adult bed bugs, you will likely see nymphs, which are baby bed bugs and are smaller than adults as well as translucent rather than brownish black. Bed bug eggs are the size of a pin-head and difficult to spot, but your exterminator will definitely know what they’re looking for.
There are other visual and even olfactory indicators of the (heavy) presence of bed bugs. First are their characteristic fecal stains, which are red or reddish brown spots where bed bugs lurk. You may also discover their molted skin, which is simply an empty exoskeleton.
The final sign of a heavy bed bug infestation is an oddly sweet smell in the air. It takes an enormous presence of these pests to create this smell, which is the pheromones the insects use to communicate. Some people think it smells similar to cilantro— some say it’s more like berries.
You will not likely encounter this indicator of bed bugs as a homeowner unless you’ve vacated the house for a while. This is more of a problem present in hotel rooms that haven’t been effectively cleaned.
Canine Inspection
Besides using visual inspections, exterminators also use canine inspection dogs to sniff out and find bed bug infestations that may not be so obvious to the naked eye.
These dogs are extremely accurate, just like narcotics canines, and can find bed bugs hiding in bed frames, baseboards, linens, and even in mattress linings.
Two huge benefits to using bed bug canines to find bed bugs are that they can detect all life stages, including the tiny eggs, and they can provide early detection of these nasty pests so you can go over your treatment options and start the treatment process as soon as possible.
Professional Bed Bug Pest Control Methods
There are several different treatment methods exterminators and pest control companies use to rid your home or property of bed bugs. There is a differentiation between exterminators and pest control — exterminators and pest control companies have similar outcomes but very different methodologies regarding ridding your property of pests.
An exterminator’s goal is to completely remove the pests, whereas a pest control company will control the infestation but may not be able to completely remove it. Here are some of the methods bed bug exterminators and pest control experts use.
Heat Treatment
One technique employed to get rid of bed bugs is heat treatment. To prepare your home for heat treatment, professional exterminators will place portable heat chambers over the furniture and/or spaces that are affected by bed bug habitation.
These are large box-like insulated zip-up pieces of equipment that completely encase the affected area or piece of furniture (couch, mattress, entire bed) so the exterminator can pump in heated air and localize it around the affected area.
Heat treatment can also be used when washing infected bedding in hot water and drying the pillowcases and bedding on high heat. You may not have to throw out your infected bedding because of this; however, you still may want to, just to be safe.
Why and When to Use
Heat treatment is an excellent treatment method for bed bugs because exposing bed bugs to high heat kills all stages of life, including the eggs and nymphs. Everything dies at 118 degrees Fahrenheit, but exterminators have been known to use convection fans to heat the bugs rapidly even when the heaters are only set to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Both temperatures are extremely effective at killing bed bugs.
The best time to use the heat treatment method is if you and your family can vacate the premises for a few hours or the day. It’s also a great option if you’d rather avoid pumping toxic chemicals into your home.
Cost
Because the exterminators are heating your home up so it becomes unlivable for bed bugs (or really any other living creature within), it can be pretty pricey. Heat treatment normally costs between two thousand and four thousand dollars. The cost is typically between $1 and $3 per square foot. You should be able to get a free quote before you begin the process.
Time
It can take an hour or two for the extermination team to set up their equipment, and then they need about two hours to perform the heat treatment. It takes another hour or so to break down the equipment and do a sweep of the house. Heat treatment typically takes half a day total, but you may want to set aside a whole day for the treatment.
Chemical Treatment
Chemical treatment is the most traditional extermination technique for dealing with any pest, and with bed bugs, the exterminators apply pesticides like pyrethrins, which are made from chrysanthemums. This is the kind of insecticide that complies with the integrated pest management ideology.
These are typically safe for children and pets, but your home does need time to air out and become habitable again — you cannot simply go right back inside as soon as the exterminators are done applying the insecticides.
Why and When to Use
If you want to make sure to have the most effective treatment plan against re-infestation, chemical treatment is probably the way to go. It provides the most long-lasting anti-bed bug effects, but the issue is that it often requires more than one application, so the disruptions to your daily life increase when you go with this option.
Chemical treatments also do not kill bed bug eggs, so you will probably have to combine chemical treatments with another one. If you don’t mind combining treatments, this can help to be an effective solution to prevent future bed bug infestations.
Cost
Chemical treatments are typically cheaper than heat treatments, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be costly. The average national cost for a chemical treatment to eradicate bed bugs is $1,750. However, according to This Old House, the treatment can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to five grand.
Time
It should take the exterminator at least two visits to your home, up to three, to complete the chemical treatment. This depends on how severe the bed bug infestation is and how many rooms they’ve infiltrated. Chemical application for each room can take between half an hour to several hours. Prepare to vacate your home overnight, at least for each treatment.
Fogging and Fumigation
Foggers, colloquially known as bug bombs, are not a super-effective way to exterminate bed bugs. They work well for other pests, such as ants and cockroaches, but their use for bed bug eradication is low on the list. However, fumigation is a common technique employed to get rid of bed bug infestations, and here’s what it entails.
Fumigation execution is extremely similar to heat treatment. Tents and plastic bags are set up around infested mattresses and other furniture. You and your family can prepare for a fumigation treatment by putting away sensitive items, especially kitchenware, so they are unaffected by pesticides.
Fumigation works the same way heat treatment does in that the equipment is similar and the focal points (infected areas) are systematically targeted to kill the bed bugs. However, the difference is that heat treatment uses heat in the absence of insecticides. Fumigation uses pesticides/insecticides rather than heat to target bed bugs and get rid of them for good.
Why and When to Use
Even if you have pets or small children, fumigation doesn’t present harm to anyone as long as you stay away during the treatment and overnight, just to be safe. This process is extremely effective, but it’s also costly. If you want one of the most effective pest control methods on our list, go with fumigation, especially if you have a severe infestation.
Cost
Fumigation is probably the most expensive treatment for bed bugs when it comes to cost per square foot. The cost averages out to $4 to $8 per square foot, totaling several thousand dollars.
Time
Because the exterminators have to seal off all openings in your home before they even begin the actual fumigation (chemical decontamination and eradication) process, it can take an entire workday, and it can even be an overnight process. You should plan to be gone from your home for between 48 and 72 hours total. This is the most intensive treatment on this list.
Mattress Encasements
Exterminators place plastic covers over the mattress that’s infected with bed bugs and slowly suffocate and starve the bed bugs within. You can purchase these items yourself or you can have them installed by professionals. Mattress encasements create a barrier between bed bugs and the resources they need to live — oxygen, food, and water.
Why and When to Use
For this treatment method to be effective, you must make sure that there are absolutely no gaps or tears in the mattress encasement, which is why it might be best to have an exterminator or pest control professional take care of the job. You can use these if your bed bug infestation has only managed to infect mattresses and no other areas of your home or furniture.
Cost
Each mattress encasement costs between $80 and $120, sometimes a bit more, so this can be a more cost-effective method for you to get rid of bed bugs. Keep in mind this is only a good option if the bed bugs are localized to your mattresses and box springs.
Time
The goal is to starve and suffocate the bed bugs living in your beds, so the mattress encasement method is best for a long-term solution. These pests do not give up easily — you will need to keep the encasements on for a good eighteen months at least, usually up to two years. The bugs can go into a near-dormant state to conserve energy and survive — they will not go quietly into the good night.
Crack and Crevice Injection & Spot Treatment
Crack and crevice injection and spot treatment are slightly different in execution. Exterminators will use crack and crevice treatment for bed bugs by spraying foaming pesticides directly into small areas where they tend to nest and congregate, such as cracks in your bedframes or even in the wall near the bed, as well as electrical outlets.
They will spray and apply other in-home insecticides and deterrents such as diatomaceous earth in these problem areas. Exterminators can determine which are the problem areas regarding bed bugs by using bed bug interceptors, which are like small traps in the shape of dishes containing toxic bait.
It can help them gauge how severe your bed bug problem is as well as determine hot spots for bed bugs in your home.
Spot treatment is considered concentrated pesticide application within a two-square-foot area, and it is often used in combination with crack and crevice injection, depending on your specific situation.
Why and When to Use
Crack and crevice injection as well as spot treatment is good if you have immunocompromised people living with you, as the pesticides are concentrated. So, you don’t have to spray them all over the place to see if they work.
You should use this treatment for bed bugs if the infestation is extremely localized or definitely in combination with one of the other treatments on this list, especially if the chemical treatment you used before didn’t get rid of the bed bug eggs and they’ve now hatched.
Cost
It can be a few hundred dollars per room should you opt to go with spot treatment and/or crack and crevice injection. Keep in mind that if your bed bugs aren’t residing within cracks and crevices, this is not the best option for your situation.
Time
Each crack and crevice injection and spot treatment, like chemical treatments, take between half an hour to two or three hours per room.
How to Choose the Right Exterminator
Now, I know you’re probably eager to get rid of these bed bugs ASAP, but hold on a minute. Choosing the right exterminator is crucial. You don’t want to trust just anyone with your home and family’s safety, right?
First things first, look for an exterminator who specializes in bed bugs. They should have specific experience and training in dealing with these pests. Don’t be afraid to ask about their qualifications and methods.
Next, make sure they’re licensed and insured. You want to work with a legitimate professional who stands behind their work.
I always recommend getting a few quotes from different exterminators. But don’t just go for the cheapest option – consider their reputation, reviews, and guarantees. A good exterminator will take the time to thoroughly inspect your home, explain their treatment plan, and offer a warranty.
Speaking of treatment plans, look for an exterminator who uses a comprehensive approach. Bed bugs are notoriously tough to eliminate, so you want someone who will use a combination of methods, like heat treatment, chemical treatment, and preventative measures.
Finally, trust your gut. Choose an exterminator who communicates clearly, answers your questions, and makes you feel comfortable. With the right professional on your side, you can sleep tight knowing the bed bugs won’t bite.
How Long Does it Take Exterminators to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Alright, so you’ve called in the professionals and you’re ready to kick these bed bugs to the curb. But how long is this going to take?
In most cases, it’ll take around 2-3 weeks to completely rid your home of bed bugs. This includes a few visits so don’t expect your home to be 100% bed bug free after one visit.
I know, waiting weeks might sound like an eternity when you’re dealing with bed bugs. But trust me, it’s worth it to make sure the job is done right. Professionals work efficiently to minimize the disruption to your life and get you back to a bed bug-free home as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
Exterminators use a wide variety of methods to remove bed bug infestations based on the size and scale of the problem. Many of these methods require chemical treatments that are not available over the counter, as bed bugs are hardy pests that won’t go down without a fight. This means that when it comes to bed bug infestations, it’s important to call for professional assistance as soon as possible.
If you’re dealing with bed bugs, I recommend getting an inspection from Terminix. Terminix is one of the largest pest control providers in the country, with more than 300 locations across the country. If you enroll in a package plan, you’ll even benefit from Terminix’s Nix Pest Guarantee, which guarantees you an unlimited number of visits between services if your bed bug problem returns between visits.
If you don’t actively have a bed bug problem but you’re looking for preventive treatments, I recommend exploring Orkin Pest Control’s policy options and getting a quote here.
