Bed Bug Treatment

Do you have bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They hide in mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards and cracks near where people sleep, usually within about 8 feet of the bed. Signs include small rust-colored spots on sheets or the mattress, shed skins, eggs in seams and, in heavy infestations, a sweet, musty smell. Bites alone are not proof, because many things cause itchy bites and some people do not react to bed bug bites at all. The CDC says bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but the bites can itch, cost you sleep and, rarely, cause an allergic reaction.

How bed bugs spread

Bed bugs travel in luggage, used furniture, clothing and bags. Hotels, apartments, dorms and anywhere people sleep close together are where they spread most. They have nothing to do with how clean a home is. In multi-unit buildings they can move between units, which is why treating one apartment alone often fails.

Why we do not use foggers

Store-bought foggers, or bug bombs, do not reach the cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide, and the EPA warns that they can be dangerous when misused. We use a combination of methods: careful inspection, treatment of seams, cracks and furniture with products labeled for bed bugs, steam or vacuuming where it fits, mattress encasements and, for heavier infestations, heat treatment of the room or the whole home. Heat treatment raises the temperature of the space high enough to kill bed bugs and their eggs, with equipment designed for the job. Do not try to heat your home with the thermostat or a space heater, which does not work and can start a fire.

Preparing for treatment

Preparation makes a big difference. We give you a written checklist before the first visit. Usually it means washing bedding and clothing and drying it on high heat, since a clothes dryer on high kills bed bugs, bagging items from the bedroom, reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide and leaving furniture in place rather than moving it to other rooms. The technician tells you how long to stay out of treated rooms and when it is fine to sleep there again.

Follow-up and renters

Bed bug eggs can survive one visit, so our price includes follow-up visits about two weeks apart. If live bed bugs turn up within 30 days of the last visit and the preparation steps were followed, we return at no charge. If you rent, tell your landlord first. Colorado has a bed bug law for rented homes: the tenant notifies the landlord in writing or electronically, the landlord must arrange an inspection within 96 hours, and in most cases the landlord pays for inspection and treatment. We also check the state pesticide-sensitive registry before treating in a multi-unit building.