Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the hardest pests to control and even some professionals have difficulties with these little pests.
Bed bugs are extremely resilient, they can live in a dormant state for more than a year without feeding so are often found by new residents of a property or emerging from belongings or furniture which has been kept in storage.
DIY products are available to help deal with bed bugs but DIY treatments often fail for a few reasons:
- Bed bug harbourages have not all been found – Bed bugs are great at hiding and will slip into tiny gaps but despite their name they will not always be in the bed. Bed bugs could be anywhere in the house and have been known to hide in sofas, beds, headboards, electrical sockets/appliances, behind wall paper, under carpets, gaps in skirting boards/door frames/ laminate floors, wardrobes/ chest of drawers/ other furniture.
- Insecticide resistance – Some populations of bed bugs have developed resistance to some of the more commonly used insecticides. Our professionals have access to a range of professional strength products many with 2 or more active ingredients working in conjunction to kill bed bugs quickly and beat any resistance. We are trained to spot resistance and use different products where necessary to ensure complete control.
- Re – introduction – It is important to ensure all recommended steps are taken to prevent re introduction this includes thorough washing of clothes and bedding and ensuring you are not visiting other infested houses.
Guaranteed Bed Bug Treatments
We carry out a three visit insecticide treatment to eradicate your bed bug issue. We start all treatments with a thorough inspection which will include looking closely at the bed, sofas and other common hiding places. Although the products we use do have a residual effect best results are achieved when we can apply directly into the harbourages. We have products that are suitable for treating beds, mattresses and other soft furnishings so you will not normally need to dispose of any of these items.
Many companies offer a guarantee but the terms can vary significantly. Our guarantee is for 2 month from the final treatment. From our experience we know most bed bug issues will be completely eradicated after 3 treatments, but on occasion additional visits may be needed. Some guarantees will ask you to wait a month after treatment before they will revisit, we only ask you wait 1 week from the final treatment before you can book in a revisit. We believe it is better to get back in to carry out additional treatment as soon as possible to prevent further breeding and egg hatching.
Preparation
We try to carry out treatments with minimum disruption to you however you will need to take a few steps prior to treatment to help ensure your treatment is successful as quickly as possible. Bedding should be removed from your mattress and washed at 60 degrees C or above. Any loose items on floors especially under beds should be bagged or boxed to ensure we can inspect and treat all areas.
Call the Bed Bug Experts Today!
From our base in Biggleswade, our Bed Bug experts help people rid their homes and businesses from bed bugs with our guaranteed treatments. We cover the whole of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire and some areas in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and North London.
If you have bed bugs you let our pest professionals take care of them for you.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye and an adult bed bug is around the size of an apple pip but they are very good hiders and will generally come out to feed at night. Before you see the live bugs you may find black spots on your mattress or bedding which is the bed bugs excretions. You may also find shed skins left behind as the insect grows.
I have been told I should hire an exterminator what is this?
Exterminator is an American term for a professional pest controller. In the UK we are called pest controllers or pest control technicians.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself or do i need to hire a professional?
Although it is possible to buy amateur use insecticides to deal with bed bugs hiring a professional with experience of treating bed bugs will usually resolve your issue quicker as they have access to a range of insecticides at higher strength and will know where to look for harbourages.
Is it safe for people / pets / children to be in areas treated with insecticide?
We only use insecticides which have been approved for use in domestic situations. We will ask you to keep out while we are treating and until the insecticide has dried (usually around 4 hours but will vary depending on the house and weather conditions) to ensure you do not breathe in any vapours. Once dried there is no evidence that the insecticide can be absorbed through the skin but as with any chemical sensitive individuals may experience a minor allergic reaction.
I have bites on my skin, my doctor has said I have bed bugs should I get a treatment?
Bites are not a reliable indicator of bed bugs. Bites could be caused by a number of different biting insects such as fleas or mosquitoes but also bite like marks can be caused by allergic reactions or static electricity. We would not recommend any insecticide treatment is carried out until the source has been identified as this is unlikely to resolve the issue and may make things worse if you have sensitivity to the insecticide. We would recommend an inspection by a professional or monitoring using insect traps.
I saw bed bugs in my hotel room / friends house does this mean i have bed bugs now?
A sighting of a bed bug is understandably concerning but is not a guarantee that you will have picked up any bed bugs your self especially if exposure time was short. However it is wise to take precautions to ensure you have not brought any back home with you. Carefully inspect any bags / suitcases and wash all clothing on the hottest wash you can but ensuring its over 60 degrees C.
