Dealing with a bed bug infestation can be incredibly frustrating and distressing. The idea of getting rid of these pests permanently is a common concern for those who have battled them before. The good news is that, yes, it is possible to eliminate bed bugs permanently from your home or property. However, understanding what “permanent” means in this context and the steps needed to achieve it is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore what it takes to permanently eradicate bed bugs and why some treatments you may have already tried might not be as effective as you think.
What Does Permanent Elimination Mean?
When we talk about “permanent” elimination of bed bugs, it’s important to clarify what this really means. In the context of pest control, permanent elimination refers to completely eradicating all bed bugs from a given environment—your home, apartment, or commercial space—so that no live bugs or viable eggs remain. This means that the current infestation is entirely removed, and the conditions that allowed the infestation to thrive are addressed to prevent immediate recurrence.
However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the term “permanent” doesn’t necessarily mean that bed bugs can never return. Bed bugs are highly mobile pests and can be reintroduced into your home or business through various means. For example, if you visit an infested place or bring in second-hand furniture or belongings that harbour bed bugs, you could unwittingly start a new infestation.
Why Do Bed Bug Problems Keep Coming Back?
One of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with bed bugs is their tendency to reappear after treatment. This recurrence is usually due to the initial problem not being fully resolved. Here are some of the main reasons why bed bug infestations often come back:
Incomplete Elimination Due to Ineffective Treatments
Most bed bug treatments rely on chemical pesticides to kill the pests. However, these chemical treatments are only fully effective about 60% of the time. Here’s why:
- Chemical Resistance: Over time, bed bugs have developed resistance to many commonly used pesticides. This means that even when chemicals are applied, they may not be effective in killing all the bed bugs. The surviving bugs can continue to reproduce, leading to a resurgence of the infestation.
- Ineffectiveness on Eggs: One of the biggest challenges with chemical treatments is that they do not kill bed bug eggs. Eggs are often tucked away in hidden crevices, and even if the adult bugs are eliminated, these eggs can hatch days or weeks later, restarting the infestation cycle.
- Difficulty in Application: For chemicals to work effectively, they need to be applied directly to the bed bugs. However, bed bugs are tiny and skilled at hiding in dark, hard-to-reach places like cracks, crevices, and inside furniture. This makes it extremely difficult to ensure that every bed bug is exposed to the pesticide, leaving room for some to survive.
Partial Population Reduction
When chemical treatments are used, it’s common for them to significantly reduce the bed bug population but not eliminate it entirely. Initially, it may seem like the problem has been resolved as the number of bed bugs decreases, and their presence becomes less noticeable. However, the bugs that survive the treatment can continue to reproduce, and over time, the population will build back up to noticeable levels again.
External Sources of Reinfestation
As alluded to earlier, another reason bed bug problems can persist is due to external factors. If you live in a multi-unit building, such as an apartment complex, bed bugs can move between units through walls, or electrical outlets. In these cases, even if you successfully eliminate bed bugs from your apartment, they can re-enter from a neighbouring unit that hasn’t been treated.
Similarly, if you visit a bed bug-infested location or bring in second-hand items that harbour bed bugs, you can inadvertently reintroduce them into your home. This is why it’s important to not only treat your home effectively but also take preventative measures to avoid bringing bed bugs back in.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Permanently
If you’re looking for a way to eliminate bed bugs permanently, whole room heat treatment is categorically the most effective option available. Unlike chemical treatments, which often have limited success, heat treatment kills bed bugs at all life stages—eggs, nymphs, and adults—ensuring a complete eradication.
What Is Whole Room Heat Treatment?
Whole room heat treatment involves raising the temperature of the infested area to a level that is lethal to bed bugs, typically around 50-60°C (122-140°F). Industrial heaters are used to gradually increase the temperature of the entire room or building, ensuring that the heat penetrates every corner, crack, and crevice where bed bugs might be hiding.
This method is highly effective because the heat doesn’t rely on sight to find the bed bugs . It reaches everywhere with lethal force. Bed bugs cannot survive at these temperatures.
Effectiveness and Guarantees
Whole room heat treatment offers the highest success rate for bed bug eradication. Because the heat kills all bed bugs and their eggs in the treated area, the likelihood of the infestation recurring due to surviving bugs is nil, if the treatment is done properly, which is why we at Merlin offers a 100% guarantee on heat treatments.
How It Works and What to Expect
During the heat treatment process, the infested area is prepared by removing items that could be damaged by high temperatures, such as electronics and certain heat-sensitive materials. Furniture is moved away from walls to maximise hot air flow. The room is then sealed, and industrial heaters are used to increase the temperature. Throughout the treatment, the temperature is carefully monitored to ensure that it’s even in all areas of the room, and that it remains consistent throughout the treatment time.
After the treatment is complete, the space is allowed to cool down, and furniture put back to its original position. The area is then ready to sleep in – bed bug free.
Cost and Who to Hire
The cost of whole room heat treatment can vary by company. Merlin’s prices are £600 for the first room, and £400 for each additional room.
Heat treatment is expensive vs chemical treatments, but that’s because it’s 100% effective and comes with guaranteed results. Not only that, but it’s chemical-free so rooms are ready to sleep in straight away.
For more information about whole room heat treatment and to schedule a consultation, visit Merlin Environmental.
