Fighting against bed bugs presents one of the most complicated and exhausting endeavors in all of pest control. These tiny insects regularly cause mental anguish and overwhelming stress for all of the people they infringe upon.
Pest control measures of all varieties take time to work against these bugs, which only increases the anxiety for those suffering from an infestation. Due to the elusive nature of the bugs, measures like fumigation may be the most beneficial to help speed up the process of eliminating bed bugs.
How does bed bug fumigation work? The fumigation process for bed bugs involves either tenting of the infested structure or the distribution of chemical aerosols to seep into all corridors of the infested structure to destroy all insect life cycles.
The fumigation process for bed bugs can be added to preexisting heat or chemical treatments or used solely to combat against all stages of bed bugs. Fumigants for bed bugs can be highly effective since this process, much like heat treatment, can be evenly distributed throughout the entire home to target all hiding bed bugs, including eggs.
The process can take many forms and levels of treatment types, therefore, it is important to understand exactly what fumigation is and how it works.
What is Fumigation?
Fumigation is a process within pest management that utilizes a potent chemical as an aerosol that is distributed throughout the entirety of a home, including the insides of walls. This process is also commonly known in pest management terms as ‘tenting.'
Fumigation is one of the best and most comprehensive methods of pest control based on the process that allows a wide distribution of chemicals to permeate through a home for a prolonged amount of time. This differs greatly from the more common usage of foggers due to the use of potent insecticides and the volume by a ratio of aerosol distributed.
Fumigation treatment may help to control an infestation as well with continued use. For bed bug control, this type of treatment works against the hiding behaviors of the insects and can even destroy eggs as well.
Can Bed Bugs Survive Fumigation?
Even with the most effective treatment procedures, it can still be difficult to get rid of bed bugs. This process strives to cover virtually ever corridor and crevice within a home, yet control of bed bugs can be complicated based upon the ability for the insects to crawl into areas where poison or heat cannot reach.
This is why it is crucially important to follow all preparations before a bed bug treatment begins. In order for the process to be effective, be sure to launder all clothing and fabrics on high heat settings. This will ensure that all bugs living in the fabric will be killed as well as eggs.
Once all clothing is laundered, the materials should be enclosed in sealed bags or containers to prevent the bugs from entering the containers. All miscellaneous items should be stored in containers and treated with pest strips to destroy any hiding bugs that may be able to hide from fumigants.
Make sure your home is virtually empty beyond furniture to make the space is as limited as possible for hiding places. Ensure that all drawers are empty and open as well as all doors. The fumigant will then be able to easily pass through and engulf all structures within the home.
How Does Fumigation Work Against Bed Bugs?
The good news about professional fumigation procedures is the ability of the poison to kill bed bugs and their eggs. Bed bug eggs are fragile, which means that the ability to destroy the eggs is much easier than with other pest types.
The process involves a pest control company tenting the entire structure of a home to ensure that the poison remains within the home. Sulfuryl fluoride or heat treatment can be included in this treatment process.
An infestation is then trapped inside of the structure with no way to escape the onslaught of poison or heat, which can also penetrate deep into the walls. In terms of bed bugs, this process seeks to invade all of the possible hiding places of the insects for full elimination.
How Long After Bed Bug Fumigation is it Safe?
Due to the potency and volume of the chemicals used in this process, it is typically recommended that the home be vacated for at least 24 hours after the treatment is finished. This serves the purpose of ensuring that the chemicals have fully dissipated and all of the insects are destroyed.
Once the fumigants begin to saturate the home, the insects will begin to move all around the home in order to avoid the treatment. In addition to being unsafe due to the chemicals, the residence will also resemble a bed bug invasion due to the insects rapidly crawling out of their hiding spots.
The use of pest insecticides is always potentially dangerous, which is magnified to a much larger scale during the tenting process. Always follow the guidance of the pest professional administering the fumigants to ensure when your home will be safe to occupy.
Related Questions
How Much Does it Cost to Fumigate a House for Bed Bugs?
Bed bug fumigation can be a costly procedure, although it is certainly well worth the investment. The process for fumigating a home is quite expansive and requires the use of a substantial amount of chemicals and equipment. The tenting process is also time-consuming.
On average, the process can range anywhere between $2,500 to upwards of $50,000 based upon the size of the unit as well as the size of the infestation. If the thought of the insects crawling on you or the pain of bed bug bites is causing mental anguish, this process has a very high rate of success.
This particular bug is overwhelmingly difficult to eradicate, therefore, a process that seeks to target all hiding areas may be necessary to destroy the infestation.
Do You Need to Fumigate for Bed Bugs?
Although this process represents one of the best ways to completely eliminate this insect type, there are a few different methods that can be tried before the necessity of tenting. DIY methods can tackle smaller infestations, although even with small infestations, the process takes time and patience.
The process of heating a unit to the required temperatures to instantly kill the insects is also an option. Whatever method you choose, it is crucial to completely eliminate these parasites from your dwelling. Ignoring the problem will only cause the colony to grow larger and larger.
Using fumigants on a large scale can very well destroy infestations in one fell swoop. This can eliminate the anguish of having to wait weeks for any lesser treatment procedures to address the problem.
There are many companies that offer this service and by contacting a service provider, a full consultation can be undertaken to fully assess, explain, and analyze the process before commitment. There are other options to consider, but the peace of mind that comes with one process cannot be overstated enough.
In Summary
The fumigation process for this type of insect presents one of the most trusted and innovative approaches to completely ridding the parasitic insects from a dwelling. Although there are a few different approaches that can be taken against this problem, more often than not, sufferers will naturally want immediate results against a problem that can cause an overwhelming amount of stress.
Dealing with these insects is hard and so many different procedures are apt to fail against the elusive nature of this insect. It is never a bad idea to invest in the premiere control measures that are used to eradicate certain types of pests.
It is also important to follow all of the guidelines that are used to prepare a home for treatment against these insects. This process certainly works very well.
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