Are bedbug heat treatments that much more costly than traditional bedbug treatments? The answer surprisingly is no! In my experience chemical programs to eliminate bed bugs run anywhere from $.50 to one $1.50 per square foot. This depends on the number of bedrooms involved in that space, the amount of bed bugs that need exterminating, the amount of treatments that that space has received, whether this is a commercial job or a residential job, neighborhood (unfortunately), and the amount of clutter. Thermal treatments on the other hand also known as heat treatments for bed bugs can cost as little as $1.25 per square foot up to $3 per square ft. Now those are just base numbers. They don't tell the whole story. Because let's face it getting a Chemical bedbug treatment is a pain in the neck. You need to be out of your home for several hours, if you're sick or if you have a small child and you're doing a chemical bed bug program sometimes that's a couple of days. And with a chemical program you are typically out for between 4 to 6 hours in that occurs 2 to 3 times as recommended by the best bedbug management practices. Now in addition to that you have to take into account preparation time. Now typically with a chemical bedbug program you have to wash all your clothes or at least dry them at high heat for at least 40 minutes to an hour, you have to empty all the drawers, you have to empty the bottom spaces of your closets, you have to get your clothing drycleaned, you have to pack up all the children's toys, you have to have a large amount of smaller items pest stripped because you don't want to take a chance with them getting sprayed, and that's just the short list. All of that takes time and as everyone knows time equals money. Why do you think there so many services that now provide the prep and the cleanup of these types of services? It's because it takes so much time and it's a pain in the neck to do the preparation. I remember quite clearly a unit that we did in New York City where the chemical treatment for bed bugs ran about $2500 but the preparation service came in before us charged over four thousand dollars because it had a lot of stuff in the unit that needed to be cleaned up prior to the treatment. We could've probably done an extra long cook for $1000 more and saved the homeowner $3000. Of course they did get about 25 years of stuff out of that unit. I find it funny that we call it clutter and everyone else calls it their belongings. That all depends on who's house your in , yours or someone else's. All rights so back to the main topic. Once you calculate all the associated costs of doing a chemical bedbug treatment as compared to a thermal or heat treatment for bed bugs I think in most cases the thermal or heat treatment is cheaper. Less pesticides in the environment is just a bonus. But if you think of the time, the aggravation, having to be bug food for a month, and all the personal time and energy that you have to put into the preparation of your unit thermals win hands-down. Even more so in 2013 because competition has driven the price down. If you have any questions or comments on this please feel the reach me at Jklein@A3superior.com
Add Comment I received a call the other day from a woman who was concerned she had bed bugs. About a week after returning home from vacation she awoke with welts all over her body. She examined her bed and found one small red insect. She called the management company who sent in a tech who promptly identified it as a bed bug, stated his office would run some tests on it, and left with the insect. No further inspection was done. She then received a call from the pest control company telling her she had bed bugs, to prepare for a treatment and sent her a detailed prep sheet that included removing outlet covers, getting all her rugs professionally cleaned, washing and drying all her clothes etc. etc. The woman called us because she was looking for heat treatment as an alternative to chemical treatment and a process that was less intrusive. After speaking with her for several minutes it became clear that there was the possibility this was not bed bugs. We dispatched a canine who ran the unit which had no scent detected, was followed by a detailed inspection with no evidence found and we concluded there were no bed bugs in the unit. We did find spider beetles. Why our suspicions? First bed bug infestations usually start out gradually. A few bites followed by a lapse of several days that slowly increases in intensity. Eggs take 10-14 days to hatch, males and females usually feed 4-5 days apart, nymphs take a week to morph into a later stage so unless you bring back a large amount of insects it (the infestation) will start slowly. So waking up with bites all over doesnt make sense. Also bed bugs are easily identifiable to the trained eye. A tech that states its a bed bug and that it has to go to the office for "further testing" is immediatly suspicious. I dont know what kind of testing was done but it was obvioulsy incorrect. So what can you learn from this case? First, not all skin reactions or "bites" are bed bugs. There are many causes of skin irritations not just insects. Second SAVE YOUR BUG. This way you can get a second opinion and check yourself using the internet by looking at bed bug pictures. Most companies are ethical and honest but there are some that are cashing in on the panic and hype of bed bugs. Its always prudent to verify. So if you suspect you have bedbugs inspect, verify and above all don't panic.  New Yorkers have one more reason to celebrate the new year: Bedbugs are losing their bite. The panic that gripped the city in 2010, when the nasty critters invaded every corner of the five boroughs—from people's homes and workplaces to trendy clothing shops like Victoria's Secret—is subsiding. City agencies that track the bloodsuckers and the exterminators who stamp them out are reporting fewer cases. Even ordinary New Yorkers are feeling less edgy about the scourge. In fiscal 2011, bedbug violations in apartment buildings declined by 344 instances, to 4,481. Queens was the only borough to report an increase, with 17 more violations, for a total of 610, according to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. A violation occurs when inspectors find at least one bedbug. Full Article..  The war on bedbugs was winnable, experts say. When the flesh-eating insects began their U.S. resurgence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we humans had our chance. Brought into airports and hotels by international travelers, a focused attack could have eradicated the pest not seen in such great numbers since the mid-20th century. But no one talked about bedbugs then. And by the time the widening epidemic was noticed by the general population in the late 2000s, it was too late. Now, according to Richard Cooper, one of New Jersey’s foremost experts on bedbugs, humans are in for a long, entrenched war whose progress will be measured in years. “I think we had that opportunity and missed it,” Cooper said. New Jersey is in the heart of the Northeast’s bedbug outbreak. Located between two major urban infestations — New York City is No. 1, according to a 2011 Terminix ranking of the most infested U.S. cities; Philadelphia is No. 5 — reports of bedbug problems are increasing in the Garden State as the pest makes its way from city centers into the suburbs and their public spaces. Full Article...  Bedbugs, unwashed sheets and dirty toilets are among the biggest hygiene fears of Kiwi travellers, a survey has revealed. The Travelbug survey of 11,000 New Zealanders, conducted by the Trade Me website, asked people their destination preferences and hotel habits. Of those, 32 per cent revealed their biggest hotel hygiene fear was discovering unwashed sheets in a room, followed by an infestation of bedbugs (24 per cent) and dirty toilets (15 per cent). "Maybe people think bedbugs are unlikely but unwashed sheets are quite a real fear - you do hear some horror stories about what people find when they pull back the sheets. But in reality NZ hotels are very clean by world standards," said Trade Me head of travel Daniel Bridges. Those most scared of germs were women aged 18-29, with 95 per cent having some hygiene fears, compared to the least concerned - men over the age of 60 - 22 per cent of whom had no hygiene fears. The survey also revealed some fascinating habits of travellers once behind the hotel room door, said Mr Bridges. Men were more likely to wander into the wrong hotel room, with seven per cent having done so; and 68 per cent of female respondents aged 18-25 had no problem taking the hotel toiletries home with them. Queenstown was a clear winner when it came to the most sought-after destination. More than 80 per cent of New Zealanders planned to travel around the country this summer, with the town topping the list of best destination they had visited and most preferred place to return to. The visitor-friendly aspect of the town was a large part of its appeal, said Mr Bridges. "It's no longer just a winter playground there's so much to see and do and it really is an exhilarating place to be all year-round. It's exciting and unlike anywhere else in the country with world-class visitor experiences like ZipTrek Ecotours, Shotover Jet and bungy-jumping." The "Queenstown obsession" was particularly strong among young people, with 26 per cent of those aged 18-29 picking it as their number one holiday destination.Northland also rated strongly, with those over 60 selecting it as their favourite place to visit.When travelling, most people preferred to people were happy to pay for accommodation and have their own space rather than stay with friends and family. By Abby Gillies  Just because you haven’t heard much about bed bug-infested airplanes doesn't mean that economy or business class seat is free of the icky pests. While the topic hasn't hit the headlines the way bed bugs in hotels has, the stories are getting out. Passengers Go Viral with Bed Bug Complaints According to the Daily Mail, British Airways was forced to fumigate two planes after discovering a bed bug infestation on a Los Angeles-London flight. However, BA did not act quickly; the business class passenger, Zane Selkirk, became so disgruntled by the airline’s lack of response to her complaints that she set up a website and posted photos of her bite-covered arms, legs and feet online and they went viral and it wasn’t until then that BA conducted an investigation and found the bugs. Another passenger wrote an op-ed letter to the New York Times last year after flying United Airlines to Washington D.C. from L.A. — again in business class — and arriving covered in bites his doctor diagnosed as bed bug bites.... Full Article THERMAL FACT/PREP SHEET SOME FACTS: A3 has been providing heat treatments to private homes, businesses, long term care and medical facilities, offices and more for over five years. We are the most experienced and trustworthy company in the business. We warranty all our work and assure your satisfaction. When it comes to heat EXPERIENCE counts! Heat kills all stages of bed bugs; this is egg, nymph and adult. This makes it one of the most effective and efficient methods for eliminating bed bugs. In early infestations heat is 95% effective in eliminating bed bugs in ONE treatment. This means you go from having bed bugs today to being bed bug free tomorrow. With stubborn infestations and those that have been treated chemically and with Cryonite numerous times the job is more difficult but our success rate is still above 90% first time out! In comparing chemical treatment versus heat treatment initial cost may appear higher until you take into account dry cleaning costs, rug cleaning, preparation time, personal time etc. With Heat Treatments you do not have to be the bait as with chemical applications. Bed bugs start to expire at 115 degrees. We heat your unit at 135-145 degrees for 3-5 hours depending on wall construction, clutter levels, length of infestation etc. Eggs will become non-viable in 10 minutes at 131 degrees or in 45 minutes at 125 degrees.. Expect to be out of your home for at least 8 hours for most treatments. Larger residences or those that have a lot of clutter increase cook time. Electronics, furniture, fabrics, upholstered and other tough to treat items are easily and safely treated with heat. Reduction of heavy clutter is helpful in reducing time on site and provides better results. Length of the heating process can be adjusted to compensate for units with a lot of items. Clothing must be put through the drier for 40 minutes minimum or placed on hangers prior to the treatment. We can heat all clothing left in drawers or boxes but this will add time to the procedure. Pesticide usage is greatly reduced during thermal treatments. We do dust outlets, switch plates, and pipe chases prior to heating. This can be done without using pesticides. No personal affects should be brought with you on the day of treatment. This includes clothing. A fresh outfit should be prepared (including sneakers) by running items through a dryer for 30 minutes. Personal vehicles should be inspected and or treated if a thermal treatment is proposed. Canine inspection is recommended. In a multi-family unit surrounding units should be inspected to provide the best long term results. Prepare to vacate the treated area until cool enough to return. This may take several hours depending on the substrate. We can do ALL the preparation and cleanup for you. Ask about our competitive rates. A3 THERMAL PREPARATION Note that we can do ALL the preparation for you. Speak to us about our rates. • Clutter impedes the effectiveness of a thermal so reduce all heavy clutter from closets, drawers and all around the house or apartment. Hot air is the insecticide-we need to move it everywhere. • Drawers that are lightly packed with papers and clothing can remain. • All electronics, appliances, dry cleaning, rugs, shoes, books, furniture, toys, will remain in place. • The crew will be going into all the drawers and closets so if there is anything that you don’t want the crew to find or see please remove it. Private papers should be placed in lockable metal file cabinet. • Remove all crayons, candles, waxes, etc….Things that could melt • Remove all alcohol, wine, beer, etc…. (Place in Refrigerator) Heat will destroy their flavor. • Place medicine in the fridge and take what you need with you. The refrigerator is left running. • Remove all flammables, matches, lighters, gunpowder, fireworks etc…. • Take down all plastic blinds - the heat will make them droop and become unusable. • Remove all makeup, nail polish, lotions, etc… • Remove all items that contain any alcohol – rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, medical prep pads, etc… • Remove all batteries from remotes, smoke detectors and laptop computers • Remove all aerosol products - paint, hair spray, deodorizers, etc….. • Please remove all money and valuables. • Remove all oils - cooking, motor, etc if the containers are more than half full. They will expand and may leak. • We will unplug all electronics, TV, computers, etc…. • Any pictures will be taken down off the walls to prevent breakage. They can be re-hung the next day. • Oil paintings don’t like heat. We will process them separately. • The underside cover on all furniture and box springs will be removed so heat will also penetrate deeply into these items. If you want them replaced please let us know. • Please make sure that clothing hanging in the closets is not packed in too tight. There should be room between the clothes so that heat can penetrate all areas. • Bag all cassette tapes, video tapes, records and negatives so they can be pest stripped. • The thermal crew will be taking your clothes out of the drawers and processing them and will put them in plastic bags at the end of the thermal. Note that this will wrinkle your clothing. You can avoid this by hanging your clothing on a hanger or pre-drying yourself, sealing in plastic and noting that the clothing has been processed already. • Nothing should be removed from the structure without being treated. Anything that is heat sensitive should be placed in plastic bags and marked. Our technicians will place no pest strips in them and seal them. These bags must remain sealed. In New York State we are required to remove these strips as they are a restricted use pesticide so we will do so at the time of the 30-day follow-up canine inspection. NOTES FROM CHICAGO BED BUG FORUM: 46% of those bitten have a delayed reaction of over one week. Adults vs Nymphs is about 1:3 Out of this 80% is 1st and 2nd stage nymph Management companies and Hotels must have a written action, engagement and follow-up plan in place. Detailed records must be kept. Landlords have a duty to protect and as such must a) warn tenants when there is an issue, b) evict tenants who interfere or are non-cooperative c) must assist tenants who are mobility impaired with preparation and d) must provide for periodic inspections (Duty to investigate). This is as per Jeffrey M Lipman, a trial attorney who is in the process of bringing several million dollar class action suits against Property Management and Hotel companies. In addition there has to be a reasonableness of the inspection and warning. As managers there is an Implied Warranty of Liability. There should be no communication verbally as all communication needs to be tracked. If a tenant or client refuses treatment or inspection you must get a signed copy of the refusal. Reproduction Potential: Dr. Phil Koehler University of Florida Home- 10 weeks- 35 thousand, Subway- 10 weeks-25 thousand, Clothing Store-10 weeks- 1000, Office-10 weeks-10,000. Long meals give bed bugs greater breeding ability. In a home in 12-16 weeks the bed bugs can grow to a level that is harmful to the occupants. C02 Flush using a cartridge such as a bike tire inflator or a bed inflator is a good test. Must be held static in one area(best to discharge over the bed). Insects will emerge from cracks and crevices. Out of all monitors black climb-ups had the highest catch rate. Canines were still the number one detection tool. Dry ice in a climb-up makes a good home made trap but has a liability issue for professionals. Richard Naylor University of Sheffield: One insect (ONE!!!) can start a building wide infestation. The tropical bed bug may be here now Dr Dini Miller: No Pest Strips did not work in 14 days on soft items. Location of items in the bag affected mortality. The nymphal stage survived. When vacuuming use a stocking to cover the end of the suction tube. After vacuuming throw away stocking(think bed bug filter). The dryer and heat boxes are very effective at killing bed bugs and their eggs.  By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff WriterCarroll County Times If you think the stink bugs lingering around your windows or buzzing around your lights this time of year are bad, you're not going to like what you see next fall. Mark your calendar for the third week of September, said Bryan R. Butler Sr., a regional fruit educator working with the University of Maryland Extension, Carroll County Office, because that's when he predicts the bugs will be trying to get into your home again. Full Article.... | AuthorA3 Superior Pest Control ArchivesMay 2013 CategoriesAll |
RSS Feed
