Every home has its quirks and minor annoyances, but bugs can be an absolute nightmare when it comes to pests you never want to see again.
Bugs that invade your home and multiply at an alarming rate are a common problem in many homes. But no matter how serious the situation is, there is always a way out.
What Are Bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small, blood-sucking insects that invade your home. They feed on human blood and can be found anywhere a person spends the night: on mattresses, furniture, carpets, and in your bedding.
They are called bed bugs because they typically only appear to feed at night when you sleep. They like to hide in tight spaces during the day and then come out at night to feast on your blood or use their needle-like mouthparts to pierce your skin for a meal.
Signs and Causes of a Bed Bug Infestation
For example, a bed bug infestation may occur when a person brings home an infested item from a hotel.
If you suspect that someone may have brought a bed bug into your home, you should look for these signs:
- Dust is present on the floor in areas near the bed or where the bed bugs like to hide.
- There are stains of blood or feces on surfaces near the bed.
- You see live and dead insects.
Factors in Calculating Bed Bug Removal Cost
The cost of your bed bug removal/treatment is calculated based on various factors. Let’s talk about them:
The Time it takes
One main influence of the treatment cost is the amount of time it takes to completely remove the pests. To know how long it takes to remove the bugs, one needs to understand the typical bed bug extermination process. It comes in four steps:
1) Inspection
2) Sanitation
3) Extermination
4) Restoration
The first step is bed bug inspection. This is where the bed bug exterminator would assess whether your home has any signs of infestation. Some signs are visible, like live bed bugs in your bed or kitchen, while other signs are less noticeable. For instance, you might not see any bugs, but droppings and/or eggs could be hidden inside cracks or crevices around your home. This step can take up to two hours to complete depending on the size of your home.
Step two is sanitation, where the exterminator will check for dead bugs or any bed bug eggs and clean out all living areas and remove sources of food that could attract more bed bugs. It can also involve vacuuming carpets and cleaning furniture, for example, your bed frame, if they have been damaged by bed bugs. This step typically takes an hour to complete.
Step three is extermination. It involves spraying the premises with pesticides and killing all live bed bugs that are found on site. This step may take anywhere from one hour to three hours depending on how many spots need to be treated and if any live insects are found in hard-to-reach locations such as behind walls or under flooring. /
The final step is restoration. This is when the exterminator restores your home to normal. The time it takes to carry out the whole process influences the cost of bed bug removal.
The Severity of the Infestation
The price of pest control services varies based on the severity of the infestation. If you have a few bed bugs to deal with, then probably the price will be significantly less than the standard $200 rate. However, if you’re getting rid of several bed bugs, then it’s going to cost more than a hotel stay.
As you can see, the costs are not set in stone and vary depending on what kind of situation your home is in. This is why we recommend using professionals or a pest control company for your pest control needs. Because professional exterminators have much better knowledge of what pests can thrive in your home and how to properly treat them. They also have much better success rates when it comes to eradicating them for good.
Treatment Type
Another important factor that determines how much your exterminator will cost is the type of treatment they provide. Their treatment options as well as how many bugs they’re able to eliminate in one visit do affect the pricing.
Heat Treatment: Heat treatment is a bed bug control method that usually lasts from 1 hour up to 3 hours, depending on the temperature and size of the home. Additionally, bed bug heat treatment takes a few days before the results become noticeable. It takes about two (2) – four (4) days for a significant reduction in the bed bug problem and their eggs after one treatment.
Chemical Treatments: Chemical treatments generally last for two (2) hours, but certain chemicals may need to be used more than once or twice to get rid of all of them. These treatments also take a few days before seeing results. After one chemical treatment, it takes about four (4) – seven (7) days for significant reductions in bed bugs and their eggs.
Size, Location, and Value of Property
Exterminator cost boils down to how much they charge per unit of space and how many units of space they’re going to be treating.
The bed bug treatment for a single room in a home can be priced anywhere from $100-$500 per night, depending on the size, location, and value of the property. As an example, if you live in San Francisco or Chicago, expect to pay around $200-$400 per night while if you live in smaller towns like Iowa or North Dakota then you might not have to spend as much.
How Do I Get Rid of Bed Bugs on a Budget?
Heat and Cold Treatments
One of the most common ways to rid your home of bed bugs is by applying heat. One popular way to do this is through a commercial dryer.
You must place a dryer on high heat and leave it in there for at least half an hour. Make sure you leave plenty of time so that the bugs are dead before they have a chance to escape!
Another option is using cold. Freeze any areas with bed bugs or bed bug eggs using ice, as it will kill them off and prevent them from multiplying and spreading, just like heat does.
Chemical Treatments
One of the most affordable methods for getting rid of bed bugs is chemical treatments. These bed bug treatments are usually a combination of any insecticide and pesticide, but they can also be done with natural pesticides.
Chemical treatments involve using these chemicals through fogging, spraying, or dusting to exterminate them. The cost of a chemical treatment varies depending on how much it needs to cover an area. If you have a large house (or other building), then the cost of chemical treatment would be higher than if you were just treating a room or two.
Remember that the chemicals may leave some residue on your surfaces, so ensure to clean up any residue after your treatment.
Traps and Monitors
With the treatment of bed bug infestations, you will typically get a return on your investment from locations like hotels. But those who want to eradicate these pests from their home can do so with traps and monitors.
These tools are used for monitoring a room’s effectiveness in getting rid of bedbugs. With these tools, you will know when it is time for an exterminator to come in and give your home a proper cleaning.
You can also get rid of bed bug infestations with the following steps which you can carry out on your own:
(1) Vacuum clean your mattress with a vacuum cleaner that has a long hose so you can reach up into the joints and crevices.
2) Wash all clothes and linens in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit). Bed bugs cannot stand high heat and will die once they are exposed to it for an extended period.
3) Seal up places where you think bed bugs may be hiding by wrapping tape around pipes or sealing up electrical outlets with silicone caulk.
4) Dispose of anything that could have bed bugs in it–no matter how old or how small–in the trash. This includes furniture, your mattress, clothing, stuffed animals, comforters, and pillows. Anything should go into the trash!
Terminix Bed Bug Cost
Let’s take a look at how bed bug exterminator costs are determined by one of the most popular pest control companies in the world: Terminix.
Terminix has two rates that might apply to your home. The first rate is determined by how many hours the bed bug exterminators will work and the second rate is determined by the size of the location that will be treated.
The other important factor in determining what Terminix charges you for any pest control service is if your home has a swimming pool, hot tub, air conditioning unit, or an attic fan. If these items exist in your home, then Terminix will charge you an additional fee to treat those areas with their services as well as additional fees if a drip line is needed during treatment.
Conclusion on Bed Bug Removal Cost
Bed bug removal can be a complex process. You need to clearly understand the different aspects of the processes involved to ensure you get the best value for your money. While the bed bug extermination cost is determined by the type of service you seek, there are many other factors to consider, such as the size and location of your home, business, or property.
We hope this article has helped you understand some of the factors that go into the cost of bed bug removal and that it has prepared and positioned you better to deal with these pesky pests.
