Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are one of the most dreaded pests you can encounter in your home. These tiny, blood-sucking insects thrive in the warmth and comfort of your bed, making them incredibly difficult to detect and even harder to eliminate without professional intervention. At Edmonton Pest Control, we specialize in fast, effective bed bug control so you can sleep peacefully again.

Why Bed Bugs Are a Nightmare:

• Bites:
  Bed bugs feed on human blood, typically at night while you sleep. They inject a small amount of saliva into the skin to prevent blood clotting while they feed, which can cause itchy, red welts. In some cases, these bites can lead to allergic reactions, secondary infections from scratching, and even emotional distress from the anxiety of dealing with an infestation.
• Hiding Experts:
  Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to find. They are flat and small, usually around the size of an apple seed, allowing them to hide in cracks, crevices, and seams in furniture, walls, and flooring. They may be hiding in places you would never think to check, like behind baseboards, in the seams of your mattress, behind wallpaper, or inside electrical outlets.
• Reproduction:
  Bed bugs can reproduce at an alarming rate. A female bed bug can lay up to 5 eggs per day, and these eggs hatch within 7 to 10 days. Left untreated, a small infestation can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation, requiring extensive, costly treatments to get rid of them.

Detecting a bed bug problem early is critical to preventing the infestation from spreading further throughout your home. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

• Bites:
  The most common sign of a bed bug infestation is waking up with bites on your body. These bites often appear in clusters or lines, typically on exposed skin areas like your arms, neck, and face. The bites tend to be itchy and red, and they may cause swelling or a rash in some individuals.
• Blood Stains:
  Small blood stains on your sheets, pillowcases, or clothing are another clear indicator of bed bugs. These stains are typically caused when a bed bug is crushed during feeding. If you see these stains, especially in combination with bites, it’s time to schedule an inspection.
• Dark Spots:
  Bed bugs leave behind small, dark, rust-colored spots of excrement, which may appear on your bedding, walls, furniture, or around cracks in the room. These fecal stains are typically a sign of a well-established infestation and can help you locate their hiding spots.
• Sightings of Live Bugs:
  Adult bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are most active at night but may be spotted during the day, especially when they are feeding. Look for them in seams of mattresses, box springs, behind headboards, along baseboards, and in furniture cracks.

At Edmonton Pest Control, we use a multi-step approach to ensure complete eradication of bed bugs from your home. Our goal is to provide you with long-lasting results that will restore your peace of mind and eliminate bed bugs for good.

1. Thorough Inspection:

The first step in our bed bug control process is a comprehensive inspection by one of our licensed pest control experts. We carefully examine your home for signs of bed bugs, checking common hiding spots like:

• Seams of your mattress and box springs
• Behind headboards and furniture
• Cracks in baseboards, walls, and furniture
• Inside cracks in electrical outlets and light switches

We may also use advanced tools like bed bug detection dogs or specialized monitors to ensure we identify every hiding spot.

2. Heat Treatment:

Once we’ve located the extent of the infestation, we often use heat treatment, which is one of the most effective ways to eliminate bed bugs. This treatment raises the temperature in your home to a level that kills all stages of bed bugs, including their eggs, nymphs, and adults.

Why Heat Treatment Works:

• Kills All Life Stages: Heat treatment is effective against all life stages of bed bugs, including their eggs, which are notoriously difficult to kill with chemicals.
• Chemical-Free: Heat treatment is a non-toxic, chemical-free solution, making it safe for children, pets, and the environment.
• Fast & Efficient: The heat treatment process typically takes just a few hours, and the results are immediate and long-lasting.

We use professional-grade equipment to ensure your home reaches the necessary temperature for complete eradication. Afterward, the temperature is gradually reduced to a safe level.

3. Chemical Treatments (When Necessary):

While heat treatment is highly effective, we may also use EPA-approved chemical treatments in combination with heat to ensure thorough eradication. These targeted insecticides are applied to cracks, crevices, and other hard-to-reach areas where bed bugs may be hiding.

Why Chemical Treatments Work:

• Long-Lasting Effects: Chemical treatments provide residual protection that continues to kill bed bugs for weeks after application.
• Targeted Application: We apply insecticides carefully to areas where bed bugs are most likely to hide, ensuring minimal exposure to other areas of your home.
• Safe & Effective: The insecticides we use are safe for your family and pets when applied correctly by our trained professionals.

4. Steam Treatments (For Delicate Items):

We also offer steam treatments as an effective solution for treating delicate or hard-to-reach areas. Steam can penetrate deep into fabrics, furniture, and even cracks where bed bugs may hide. It’s an eco-friendly way to kill bed bugs on contact, without the use of harmful chemicals.

• Steam can be applied to: Mattresses, sofas, carpets, and other upholstered furniture.
• Kills Bed Bugs on Contact: Steam treatment is particularly useful for killing bed bugs that are hiding inside fabric or other soft materials.

5. Ongoing Monitoring & Prevention:

Even after bed bug treatments, there’s always a risk of re-infestation if not properly managed. We provide follow-up inspections and ongoing monitoring to ensure that your home remains bed bug-free. We’ll check for any signs of reinfestation and take immediate action if needed.

Preventive Tips:

• Use Mattress Encasements: We recommend using bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements to prevent any remaining bed bugs from escaping or reinfesting your bed.
• Regular Inspections: Conduct regular checks on your furniture, bedding, and luggage to catch any early signs of bed bugs.
• Proper Cleaning & Maintenance: Vacuuming frequently and cleaning cracks and crevices in your home can help reduce the likelihood of re-infestation.