Seattle pest control companies reports on the bed bug epidemic

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Home,Apartment or business building?
Although bed bugs don’t pose any serious health concerns they do live and hide in the areas where we sleep. They are mostly found in bedding, mattresses, on headboards and in bed frames and box springs. Due to their size and nocturnal nature bed bugs can easily go undetected. Dark spots and small blood stains may indicate the presence of bed bugs. Bed bugs also give off a sweet musty odour and will often leave their eggs and molted skins near areas they have infested. Good housekeeping may not eliminate the problem. Even upscale hotels are not immune – bed bugs can thrive in a spotlessly clean room. Bed Bug infestations are difficult to deal with, and success depends on the thoroughness of the preparation, treatment and the follow-up. One of the most important steps in effective bed bug control is the accurate identification of bed bugs presence before starting any treatments. Home remedies, available in stores, are not very effective getting rid of a bed bug infestation. If you do choose to use an over-the-counter insecticide, make sure to read the label closely and follow directions. Your best course of action is to immediately contact your local Orkin Canada branch as we have extensive experience dealing with bed bugs. bed-bug-inspectionPest control professionals administer the most effective treatments. It is advised that anyone with a suspected bed bug infestation contact their local expert to arrange an inspection and consultation.

How Can I Prevent Bed Bugs?
There is no way to prevent bed bugs entirely, however, experts agree that early detection is the best way to prevent them from establishing themselves. A bed bug dog is your best tool for early detection. To prevent bed bug infestations you need to be vigilant in examining your surroundings. When returning from a trip, or a night out check both your clothing and luggage. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, contact a pest control professional. This is not a pest that can be controlled with do-it-yourself measures.

Why are bedbugs so hard to treat?
Bed bugs are small, nocturnal and very difficult to detect. They are also very rugged insects and that can live for up to a year without feeding. They can hide in cracks and crevices and in hard to find spots and can withstand a temperature from almost freezing up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. All of these facts make treating bed bugs very difficult and should always be done by a professional pest control technician such as your local highly trained Orkin Canada Technician.

Identifying bed bug bites

Using a bright flash light visual inspection starting from the door and working your way around and then inwards. Check all of your furniture.Inside and around your nightstand
Inside any drawers
In the crevices of your alarm clock
In the crevices of your lamps or lampshades
On or behind picture frames
Around the baseboard
Inside electrical sockets
On your curtains
In the cracks of your walls

Will bed bugs travel on people?
Bed bugs may hitch a ride on clothing that people wear, but they are not like lice and will not travel directly on a person. If you are concerned about bed bugs on clothing, remove suspect articles and place these items into a plastic bag. It would be preferable to remove clothing in a place with a non-carpeted floor, so bed bugs will have to travel some distance before finding a hiding spot.

Avoid bringing bed bugs into workplaces-how easy is it to spread bed bugs
Bed bugs can come into a workplace in several ways. Employees who have infestations at home may accidentally bring bed bugs to work. Another possibility is that employees who regularly visit the homes or workplaces of clients may carry bed bugs back to the office. Bed bugs may also come into a workplace through vendors, customers or clients.
If clients regularly come to the workplace for interviews or consultation, those meetings should be held in a conference or meeting room rather than an individual’s office. If possible, that meeting room should be designed for ease of inspection and cleaning. A room without carpeting or upholstered furniture would be preferable. Any cracks and crevices in the room should be sealed; this will give bed bugs fewer places to hide or escape. The meeting room should be inspected regularly for bed bugs.

What home buyer and home seller should know about bed bugs 
Bed bugs are an equal opportunity pest. Infestations have occurred across the country in the affluent areas of the rich and famous, in fashionable condominiums, in luxury apartments and in upscale suburban homes. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not caused by filth or dirt. Like lice and fleas, bed bugs are creatures of convenience. A nuisance insect, they are not known to carry disease, but they can cause considerable discomfort, both mental and physical.

Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs Trained to find Bedbugs
several facilities have been training dogs to sniff out live bed bugs in residential communities, hotel rooms, and other types of buildings. This has become a highly lucrative business for pest exterminators and dog trainers alike due to the rising incidents serious infestations.

Tenants Rights and Bed Bugs

Before calling in an exterminator you are required to give the landlord notice of the problem and provide access to your apartment. Be sure to put your complaint in writing and clearly explain to your landlord that if the problem is not resolved within two weeks time, that you will schedule to have the work performed and the cost of said service will be deducted from the following month's rent. Be certain to get dated and signed receipts from the service contractor showing exactly what work was performed in case you have to prove it in court. 

The law says that landlords must keep their properties sound. That includes floors, stairways and roofs. Electrical service, plumbing and heating must operate safely. He must supply a reasonable amount of hot and cold water and he must keep pest infestations in check.

Here's the catch. If it turns out that he can prove that you are the cause of the pest infestation, you're on the hook for the service bill. If your home is not clean and he says the cockroach problem is caused by your unsanitary living conditions, and he presents pictures of your messy kitchen, the repair bill will become your responsibility. If you refuse to pay, your landlord has the right to take the payment out of your security deposit.
Tenant rights are "inalienable." This means most of the rights covered in tenant laws cannot be signed away. Your landlord cannot have you sign a lease document that denies you these rights. When renting, these rights are usually referred to as a "warranty of habitability." Should landlord fail to maintain a dwelling as fit to inhabit, the lease can be broken, and the tenant is no longer obligated to pay rent.

What Is the Cost of Exterminating Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are a serious problem whether they're found in a home or in a place of business. Once bed bugs enter a building, they can infest many rooms rather quickly, and there is a danger of them spreading to other places that residents or employees and customers visit. While bed bugs normally don't pose serious health risks, their bites do cause allergic reactions that can be very uncomfortable for people, too.

Unfortunately, removing bed bugs completely is not a simple task.

Public health officials recommend that homeowners and business owners employ professional exterminators to ensure that bed bugs are properly eliminated.

The cost of exterminating bed bugs can vary greatly, but this guide explains some of the costs involved.

Inspections

Before a bed bug extermination can take place, a home or business must be thoroughly inspected by a pest control technician. During the inspection, the technician looks for signs of bed bugs in every room of a home or business. This is done with a number of techniques and is a time-consuming task.

The cost of the initial inspection is usually somewhere between $50 to $500, depending on the size of the residence or business. For very large spaces like apartment buildings and hotels, inspections will cost more, normally somewhere between $900 and $2,000.

Pest Control Services

Once pest control technicians have completed inspections, they put together plans to eliminate the bed bugs. Then, they present homeowners with detailed quotes that lay out all the costs of the extermination.

Most of the time, the rates are per room in a home and range between $250 to $1,000 per room, depending on the techniques that will be used to deal with the infestation in each room. In some homes or businesses, it may only be necessary to treat one room. In other cases, the entire building may need to be treated. 

For food service and hospitality businesses, health care settings and other places where special laws and regulations may require unique techniques for bed bug extermination, costs may be significantly higher than $250 to $1,000 per room.

Maintenance Costs

Whenever possible, pest control technicians will remove bed bugs completely with one treatment; however, it is not always possible to do so. When maintenance treatments are required, their costs are usually assessed per room just like initial services. Some companies charge less for follow-up treatments than initial treatments. Others will charge less for each treatment, dividing the total cost between each visit evenly.

A professional pest control company should be prepared to fully explain what the costs of the extermination will cover, how the cost was calculated and whether or not follow-up treatments are necessary and included in the quoted price.

For homeowners and business owners dealing with bed bugs in the Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah, Samammish, Woodinville, Bothell, Redmond, Kent and Renton areas, Bed bug pest control offers professional bed bug extermination services at competitive rates.

What are some of the most common places to get bed bugs?

Bed bugs can come from anywhere. But some of the most common places they are found are :

Hotels

Public Transportation

Movie Theaters

Retail Stores

Medical Facilities

Home

Friends’ Home

Work Place

Why are bedbugs an issue for hotels, visitors, and homeowners?

Bedbugs leave itchy, bloody welts on human skin. Adult bed bugs can live for several months without eating, making them especially hard to control. Once inside a hotel or home, bed bugs spread rapidly from room to room - through pipes, in vacuum cleaners, on clothing and luggage. In a hotel, bed bugs can even spread to neighboring rooms, since guests are may end up moving to another room.

Here are some signs to look for that could indicate the presence of bed bugs:

Waking up with red, itchy Bed bug bites. Bed bugs are intermittent feeders and may feed, move to a new spot and feed again.  A pattern of 3 bites in a row is a reported characteristic of bed bug bites.

Dark spotting of walls, mattress, and other places where they hide.

Blood spotting on bed sheets.

Visual sightings of bed bugs.  Adult bed bugs are flat and reddish brown in color, about 7 mm long

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and range from 1/16" to 1/4" inch in length  Bed bugs are nocturnal and active at night. They are visible to the naked eye, but can be difficult to spot because they often hide in clusters in cracks and crevices around the home. They feed mainly on the blood of humans, but may also feed on pets. 

Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but many people consider them a nuisance. The timing and severity of bite reactions is dependent on the bitten person's immune response and can vary from one person to another. Some people are allergic to bed bug's saliva and can develop itchy welts on their skin immediately after being bitten by a bed bug. It can take some people a week or more to develop a reaction to a bed bug's bite, while oftentimes, a bed bug bites a person three times during a single feeding.  

How Long Do Bed Bugs Survive? 

Bed bugs multiply quickly; each female may lay 200-500 eggs in her lifetime. Bed bugs can live two years or longer and an adult bed bug can survive over 12 months without feeding on blood.  

How to Identify a Bed Bug:

Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and vary in size. A bed bug's appearance can change dramatically depending on their feeding status. If an adult bed bug has not fed recently, it looks flat, long and oval-shaped. However, once it takes a blood meal, the body will appear almond in shape and the bed bug will look less disc-like.

Bed bugs leave fecal spots after digesting a blood meal. These fecal spots are dark, round in shape, and are often seen in clusters of 10 or more. If the bed bug population is low, there may be only a few dark spots in one location.  

Where do Bed Bugs Come From? 

Bed bugs are successful hitchhikers. They cling onto clothing, luggage, bedding, boxes and furniture, allowing them to travel long distances over a short period of time. One should take precaution in places with a high rate of occupant turnover such as hotels, apartments, and shelters because of the increased likelihood of bed bugs. 

The following are simple precautions that can help prevent a bed bug infestation in your home and while traveling:

Check secondhand furniture and beds for signs of bed bugs

Use a protective cover for your mattresses and box springs

When traveling:

In hotel rooms, place your luggage on a luggage rack

Check mattress and headboard

Upon returning home, wash your clothes and dry on high heat; inspect your luggage carefully 

Bed Bug in Couch Cushions,

- Along mattress seams

- Any cracks or crevices

- Inside box springs

- Along baseboards

- Between furniture cushions

- On pet beds

- Behind headboards

If you Suspect a Bed Bug Infestation:

Homeowners, property owners, or property managers hire  professional exterminator licensed by the washington Department of Agriculture.  Select a licensed pest control professional  who has experience in bed bug control and who will use control measures for all life stages (egg to adult). Cooperation with a pest control company is essential in successfully eradicating an infestation. Multiple treatments and/or follow-up inspections may be needed to effectively wipe out an infestation. A prompt response to the problem will reduce the financial burden of bed bug control to owners and managers.

What can you do:

Vacuum and steam clean carpet

After vacuuming, immediately place the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and throw the bag away in an outdoor container

Seal cracks and crevices around the inside of your home.

Wash and dry clothes, drapes, stuffed animals, etc., 

If you find bed bugs on the mattress or box spring, buy a zippered mattress cover. These covers often say, "Allergen Rated," "For Dust Mites," or "For Bed Bugs." Then enclose the mattress and/or box spring in the cover for at least one year.

Reduce excess clutter. Place clutter into a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and throw it away. If you need to save it, make sure it stays sealed for a minimum of a year.

How to Pick the Best Pest Control Company for Bedbugs

Removing bedbugs from a home, hotel or other place of business is challenging, as the pests can lurk in many places beyond the bedroom. Choosing to hire an exterminator for bedbugs can help you ensure that the infestation is completely eradicated; however, not all pest control companies that offer bedbug removal services are the same.

To ensure that you choose a bedbug exterminator that will get the job done right the first time and treat you fairly, follow these tips:

1. Choose a bedbug exterminator that uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach

An IPM approach means that bedbugs are exterminated through more than one means. Bedbug removal is complex; simply spraying a home or business with pesticides is unlikely to fully eliminate the pests. The best exterminators for bedbugs will use other methods of control beyond pesticides. A thorough IPM approach may also incorporate vacuuming and steaming, thorough cleaning, heating or freezing the pests and fumigation. A knowledgeable pest control professional will fully inspect the premises before developing the right multidisciplinary strategy for bedbug removal. Be wary of an exterminator who seems to offer one-size-fits-all solutions.

2. Ask about follow up programs

The best pest control companies for bedbugs will help you create a strategy to prevent reinfestations in the future. A follow-up strategy may include things like periodic reapplications of pesticides and the use of covers to keep bedbugs out of mattresses. If you live in an apartment, townhouse or condominium, follow-up care may also involve the exterminator working with your landlord or property manager to treat the other units.

3. Find out exactly what is included

In some cases, repairs may be needed to your home or business to fully address an infestation. You should receive a complete list of what you’ll be receiving for the quoted price in writing from your pest control company. Any exterminator that is hesitant to give you a listing in writing should raise a red flag.

4. Get multiple quotes

Even if the first exterminator that inspects your home or business seems to be the best one, you should talk to at least one or two more. Getting quotes from multiple pest control companies will help to ensure that you’re paying a fair price for services. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for references and make sure to check reputable online review sites before signing any contracts.

5. Be on the lookout for unfair pricing strategies

A reputable pest control that uses fair pricing will inspect your home or business before providing you with a quote. The costs associated with bedbug removal can vary dramatically depending on a number of factors; an exterminator who just quotes a price without seeing your residence or business is likely greatly inflating their price.

If you’re looking for the best pest control company for bedbug removal in Seattle, Redmond, Kent or Renton, AM/PM Exterminators is the company you can trust. Our multidisciplinary approach fully eliminates infestations, and our pricing is straight forward and competitive. Contact us today for a free quote on our bedbug extermination services.

COMMERCIAL EXTERMINATORS FOR BED BUGS: COST OF REMOVAL AND HOW TO GET A FAIR DEAL

Bed bugs can be a very itchy problem for homeowners! Not only are those annoying, blood-sucking pests that often reside in mattresses liable to leave you with a rash, but getting rid of them will cost you some money, too. But how much do best bug control methods cost and how can you be sure that you’re not being overcharged? Read on to find out.

DIY Bed Bug Control Products Cost

DIY bed bug control products can cost as little as $10 to $20, but many homeowners end up having to spend much more than the initial investment. This is because bed bugs usually can’t be completely eliminated with just one spray or DIY treatment. In the long run, homeowners may end up spending just as much money on DIY products as they would on a professional exterminator.

Bed Bug Costs to Exterminate

The cost to exterminate bed bugs will depend on where the bed bugs are located in a home, the size of an infestation and a number of other factors. In most cases, the cost to remove bed bugs in a home will run somewhere between $500 and $1500.

Making Sure You’re Getting Your Money’s Worth

In order to make sure that you’re not being over charged for bed bug pest control, be sure to do the following:

1. Look for an exterminator that charges a case-by-case fee, not a flat rate. There are a number of ways to remove bed bugs, and the differences between methods result in differences in cost. Exterminators that charge flat fees are usually much more expensive because they set a high standard fee that will cover the cost of any type of bed bug removal method. In order for you to be assured a fair price, the exterminator must actually inspect your home and recommend treatments based on the actual conditions.

2. Talk to more than one pest control professional. While you do usually need to pay for an inspection, paying the money to have at least two exterminators look at your property and give you a quote for removal can help you save in the long run.

3. Find out what you’re getting for your money. The most effective bed bug removal methods will involve more than just a heat treatment, freezing or pesticides. Cleaning, fumigating, steaming and other methods are usually combined in an effective, comprehensive treatment. If one pest control professional is charging way less than others, he or she may be providing you with way less as well.

4. Ask about licensing and insurance. Make sure that the pest control professional you are hiring is licensed to do business in your state and fully insured in case something goes wrong during the treatment.

Need a bed bug exterminator in Washington? AM/PM Exterminators provides professional bed bug control services in Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Covington, Des Moines, Edmonds, Everett, Fall City, Federal Way, Goldbar, Issaquah, Juanita, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Maltby, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mukilteo, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Preston, Redmond, Renton, Richmond Beach, Sammamish, Seatac, Shoreline, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Startup, Sultan, Tukwila,Tacoma, puyallup, Woodinville, Snohomish County, and King County and offers competitive rates on a case-by-case, not flat fee basis. For a bed bug inspection or more information, give us a call today.

Frequently asked questions about bed bugs with answers from a pest exterminators

Question: What pesticides can I use?
Answer:
Bed bugs are becoming resistant to common pesticides. Pesticides available in stores for use in homes will mostly only kill bed bugs when they are sprayed directly on the bugs. Also, never apply pesticides on top of mattresses or couches
or where children and pets play. We recommend that you leave pesticide applications to a licensed pest exterminators operator.
If you decide to use a pesticide, follow label instructions and make sure that the label says it can be used for bed bugs.
No over-the-counter pesticides are effective against bed bugs
Question: Are bug bombs or insecticide foggers effective?
Answer:
No, these products can spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home and are not effective against bed bugs. Bug bombs and foggers actually make the problem worse because they can cause bed bugs to scatter to other areas of the house.
Question: Do I need to throw away my mattresses and furniture?
Answer:
No, throwing your mattress or furniture away will not solve a bed bug problem. If you have bed bugs in your mattress or
couch, they are also living in other places in your house.Any new furniture that you bring into your home will also get bed bugs.Ask your pest control operator if there is anything you need to throw away. Even if furniture
such as a couch has bed bugs, the pest control operator may be able to treat it. If you do need to throw something away, spray paint or write “Bed Bugs” on the item in large letters so that no one picks it up and brings it into their home. Do not get new furniture until the pest control operator has finished treating your home and you are sure that bed bugs are gone.
Question: How can friends and family members avoid bringing bed bugs from my home to theirs?
Answer:
Bed bugs can travel from one house to another on a person’s clothes or in purses,bags, suitcases, or backpacks. Until you have eliminated bed bugs in your home, we recommend that friends and family members take the following steps when visiting your home:
Do not bring in purses, bags, suitcases or backpacks
If possible, avoid sitting on soft furniture such as couches
They should remove, wash and dry their clothes immediately upon returning home. If they do not have their own washer and dryer,bag clothes in a tightly sealed bag until they can be washed and dried.