Question 1

What are bed bugs?

Accepted Answer

Bed bugs are insects that feed on the blood of people and animals. They are small brown insects, flat and oval in shape.Bed bugs can travel up to 100 ft in a night, but generally live in cracks and crevices within 8 feet of their host and feed every 5–10 days.Under ideal conditions, they take 37 days to develop from an egg to an adult and adult females lay up to 1–7 eggs a day (up to 500 in a lifetime).Bed bugs are not known to transmit any disease to humans but many people experience itchy skin and trouble sleeping while sharing their space with them.Left untreated, bed bug populations double every 16 days and within a few months their population can number in the thousands.

Question 2

How do you use heat to kill bed bugs?

Accepted Answer

By using our commercial grade, electric heater and high temp fans to circulate the air and heat the room, its contents and adjacent wall cavities up to 50°C+, you are able to kill all eggs, babies and adult bedbugs in the vicinity. With proper prep and adequate treatment time, this family-friendly solution is simple and effective.

Question 3

What are my treatment options for a bed bug infestation?

Accepted Answer

Chemical: Many exterminators and hardware stores will offer a chemical spray as their first line of defense. They typically spray the baseboards, bed frames and underside of your mattresses. This treatment is effective against adult bed bugs when they come in contact with the sprayed surfaces. However, it does not affect their eggs and almost always requires 3 or more treatments. The biggest concern with repeated chemical treatments is the growing chemical resistance being found in bed bug populations around the world.Heat: Research has shown that bed bugs and their eggs are not able to survive temperatures of +50°C (122°F). There are several approaches:1. Manually steam treat the cracks and folds of your mattress, box spring and bed frame.2. Heat the entire home/property in one treatment.3. Heat treat bedrooms and living-rooms where the main concentrations of bed bugs are found.Biochemical: Recent technology has developed an approach that utilizes Beauveria bassiana fungal spores that hatch within a day of contact with bed bugs and can wipe out an infestation with just one treatment. Unfortunately these products can't be used on carpeted areas. Check out aprehend.com for more info.Note: No matter what treatment method you choose, it's highly recommended that you heat your clothes in the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 15 min before wearing them to work. This kills adults, juveniles and eggs.

Question 4

How can I tell if I have bed bugs?

Accepted Answer

Bed bugs can be seen with the naked eye. Adult bed bugs are approximately the size of an apple seed.Typically, bed bugs are first discovered due to the small red bite marks they leave on the skin of their host.You can also identify an infestation by looking for:Live bugs in the crevices of your mattress, box spring, or bed frameCast-off exoskeletons left behindBlack fecal markings on your mattress and box springTiny white eggs (about the size of a pinhead)

Question 5

What temperatures kill bedbugs?

Accepted Answer

Bed bug eggs, nymphs and adults die in minutes after being exposed to 54.8°C / 130.6°F or hotter!

Question 6

Can I kill bedbugs by freezing them?

Accepted Answer

Yes, freezing does work. The recommended time for killing bed bug eggs, nymphs and adults is 4+ days in a deep freezer (−18°C). This is a valid option for precious articles of clothing you want to be sure are bed bug free.Unfortunately, if you try to deep freeze bed bugs from your home during our Canadian winters, you're likely just going to come home to burst pipes and an icy flood in your basement. Don't do that!

Question 7

How long can bed bugs survive without eating?

Accepted Answer

Adult bed bugs, in ideal conditions, have been known to survive for over a year without a blood meal! However it is more likely that their lifespan would "only" be around 4–6 months in typical conditions.

Question 8

Do bed bugs run from the heat?

Accepted Answer

Bed bugs are attracted to your body heat and carbon dioxide when they come to feed. Studies have shown that as the temperature in a space rises, bed bugs come out of their harborages to feed and then retreat when they realize it's getting too warm. Heat treatments utilize high velocity fans that circulate the heat throughout the space, killing bed bugs and eggs in their harborages.

Question 9

What services does BF Pest Control provide?

Accepted Answer

BF Pest Control is currently offering remote identification, pest education and advice, onsite inspections/treatments, and DIY Bed Bug Heater Rentals.

Question 10

What's included in Brook's DIY Bed Bug Heater Rental Package?

Accepted Answer

1 × Mosebach BK-15 electric bed bug heater2 × 50ft 240V cables1 × 240V oven/dryer adapter4 × 50ft orange extension cords2 × 20ft black extension cords2 × high temperature fans1 × SensorPush WiFi Gateway w/ power adapter2 × SensorPush Heat Sensors1 × handheld Infrared Temperature Monitor4 × Under-the-Bed BB Traps per bedroom/living room treated1 × storage bin1 × Instruction BookletAccessories available for an extra charge.

Question 11

How much does it cost to rent the Bed Bug Heater Package?

Accepted Answer

Our base cost for a DIY 24-hour rental is $399 which includes delivery, pickup and the initial setup/training! Each additional day is $150. Additional add-ons are available for an extra charge.Please check out our Pricing Estimator for more details on what it would cost for your specific space!

Question 12

Is it a lot of work to DIY my own heat treatment?

Accepted Answer

None of the components are exceedingly heavy or cumbersome, but proper preparation is key to a successful heat treatment. It often takes a homeowner an hour or two to set up a space for heating, approximately another hour to change the setup from room to room, and about an hour to pack everything up.

Question 13

Can I stay in my home while the heat treatment is going on?

Accepted Answer

Even heating up your house room by room can cause the overall temperature to rise significantly, with homeowners often experiencing temperatures upwards of 30°C in areas adjacent to the treatment area. Depending on the size of your home and your comfort levels, it is totally fine to stay at home during the treatment. In most situations we are able to set up wireless sensors to track the temperature live, and our heaters have an automatic shutoff at 60°C, minimizing the risk of damage to your space!

Question 14

How much electricity does a typical heat treatment require?

Accepted Answer

Running on full power for a 24-hour period (long enough to treat 2–3 rooms in your home), our commercial grade Mosebach BK15-3 heater would consume approximately 333.6 kWh.At Manitoba's cost of hydro (×$0.1037/kWh) we end up with a total of $34.61. Adding our high temp fans bumps the estimate to around $40 for a one-day rental.

Question 15

How much would it cost to heat my whole home at once?

Accepted Answer

We are unable to provide accurate estimates for this service, but some basic research revealed a $1.75/sqft price point from a local heating company. A 1,000 sqft home would cost around $1,750 + taxes.This service is recommended if the bed bug infestation is severe (hundreds visible at all hours of the day).

FAQ

What are bed bugs?

How can I tell if I have bed bugs?

How long can bed bugs survive without eating?

What services does BF Pest Control provide?