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You may have heard somewhere that bed bugs cannot survive in subzero temperatures. Therefore, if your home becomes infested with bed bugs during the winter, all you have to do is switch off your heat for a few hours, and the cold will kill the bed bugs, correct?
Regrettably, it is not that straightforward. Bed bugs can freeze to death if the temperature is kept low enough for an extended period.
HOW COLD AND HOW LONG WILL IT BE?
Is it true that cold kills bed bugs? Yes, but the temperature must reach and maintain zero degrees Fahrenheit for at least four days for bed bugs to die. While winters in Chicago experience subzero temperatures, those temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. When temperatures rise even a degree or two above zero, bed bugs enter an energy-saving hibernation condition, which allows them to survive until the temperature rises again. Do bed bugs die in the cold?
Perhaps you've heard accounts about someone pulling an afflicted mattress or couch outside during the winter for the cold to kill the bed bugs. The temperature likely dropped low enough for the bed bugs to hibernate, giving the appearance of death. However, the insects reanimate once an item is returned to a warm residence.
The likelihood of winter temperatures reaching and remaining at 0 degrees for four consecutive days is remote. For example, Columbus has an average of two subzero days throughout the winter season.
Additionally, you are undoubtedly aware that prolonged exposure of your entire home or individual pieces of furniture to excessive temperatures might potentially damage both, and you do not want to trade one problem for another. Contact A-1 Pest Masters for bed bug removal and any kind of pests.
DO FREEZING BED BUGS KILL THEM?
Placing contaminated goods in your freezer may theoretically kill bed bugs, but we do not encourage it. To begin, even if you set your freezer to zero degrees, the center of the freezer may not reach that temperature. Following that, the item to freeze must fit inside, and it should be sealed in some form of plastic bag. Finally, you'll want to use a remote thermometer to ensure that the temperature reaches zero in the item's center. Only after obtaining a zero-degree reading should the four-day timer be started.
INSTEAD, WHAT WE RECOMMEND
While cold does kill bed bugs, we prefer to deal with heat. All bed bugs die at 122 degrees Fahrenheit, so washing or drying clothing or linens in the hottest setting is adequate. Likewise, steam cleaning furniture and other non-washables are beneficial.
Additionally, bed bugs spread quickly, which means you won't be able to eradicate them all by treating one area at a time. The most secure and complete method of killing a house bug infestation is to contact the professionals at A-1 Pest Masters. Our one-day treatment utilizes controlled heat to eradicate bed bugs at all phases of life from your entire house, regardless of where they may be hidden.
Is it true that cold kills bed bugs? True, but the bed bug is a year-round nuisance — even in the winter — and professional treatment is the only way to ensure safe and effective removal.
DO BED BUGS DIE IN WATER
Bed bugs are notoriously tough to eradicate, and when individuals discover an infestation in their house, they frequently believe drowning them will suffice. Indeed, many bugs cannot survive submerged in water for even a few minutes. The same is true for bed bugs, although they can survive for a brief period in water. As is the case with so many other aspects of bed bugs, their capacity to survive in water is contingent on various conditions.
Bed bugs can creep almost everywhere and are highly adept at it. They are not strong swimmers, relying instead on their capacity to float when submerged. They float pretty well due to their small size and readily remain on the water's surface. Once afloat, bed bugs can survive for several days in water, provided they are not forced beneath the surface.
Once immersed, they will be unable to resurface. When this is the case, it will die shortly after sinking; however, bed bugs may likely survive longer in cool water. On the other hand, bed bug eggs may live submerged in water for up to 24 hours.
Recognize a bed bug's allergy to water as a valuable tool while attempting to eradicate bed bugs. Wrapping and placing furniture legs in a basin of water, for example, will prevent bed bugs from creeping up to them. Additionally, because bed bugs cannot be submerged in water, washing sheets and other linens in a washing machine filled with boiling water is an excellent method of eradicating bed bugs.
After washing the bedding, please place it in the dryer on the highest setting. This will ensure that any bed bugs that survived the wash are exterminated in the dryer. Assure that the cycle is set to the highest temperature setting for at least 30 minutes. If any home sections remain untreated for bed bugs after the bedding has been cleansed, seal them in sealed bags. This will prevent bed bugs from leaving the treatment and relocating to your freshly laundered bedding.
DOES HEAT KILL BED BUGS
While bed bugs are temperature sensitive, there are numerous myths regarding what temperature kills bed bugs.
Pests cannot be eradicated by merely turning off heaters in the winter or leaving infested goods outside on a sunny summer day. Indeed, only severe temperatures above what is ordinarily possible would eradicate them.
BED BUG CONTROL THAT IS TEMPERATURE REALTED
One method is to use freezing temperatures to destroy bed bugs. Put an infested object, like bedding or pillows, in a sealed plastic bag and freeze it for approximately four days at zero degrees Fahrenheit.
THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH BED BUGS DIE
With heat, a similar procedure can be used. At 119 degrees Fahrenheit, adult bed bugs die, and their heat-resistant eggs require up to 125 degrees. To kill the pests, certain contaminated things can be safely cooked for three to five hours at these temperatures.
Always keep safety in mind when considering whether to treat in this manner. Although frozen carbon dioxide sprays and heat distribution systems are available, they require specialized equipment and constant monitoring.
THE COMPLETE BED BUG EXTERMINATION SYSTEM
In some cases, homeowners can employ severe temperatures to kill bed bugs, but DIY heat or cold treatments are not viable for house-wide infestations. Additionally, to allowing bed bugs to escape through floorboard cracks and walls, this control approach will not work on infested goods that are not suitable for extreme temperatures or are too large to put in the freezer or oven.
A-1 Pest Masters are equipped with a variety of instruments, experience, and are capable of assessing the issue to determine the best bed bug solution for your home.