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Why Heat Works Chemical

People who have experienced bed bugs know how difficult they are to control and eliminate!  Most people trying to get rid of bed bugs on their own (DIY) using insecticides quickly learn that…

Commercial bed bug heaters made in USA by PestPro Thermal

Heat Is Your Best Option for Killing Bed Bugs

Why Heat Works and How Toxic Insecticides Can Make the Problem Worse

People who have experienced bed bugs know how difficult they are to control and eliminate!  Most people trying to get rid of bed bugs on their own (DIY) using insecticides learn that:

  • They may kill some of the pests, but they NEVER seem to end the cycle of infestation!  
  • The frustration and costs add up, and
  • Eventually, they call a professional pest control service to finish the job using heat.  
  •  

What they may NOT realize, however, is that the insecticides they are using typically make the bed bug infestation more difficult to control and are likely causing them to spread- making eradication costs more expensive!  Below are some reasons that explain why.

Even APPROVED Pesticides Can Worsen a Bed Bug Infestation

  1. Insecticide Resistance – many bed bugs have grown resistant to the chemicals in use today, and if even a small number of the bed bugs in your current infestation are resistant, they will not die when sprayed.  Even worse- the chemical resistant bed bugs that survive the initial treatment will then mate and their offspring will inherit that same resistance gene making future treatments completely ineffective!  This has been a common trend with the pesticides in use today. It has been determined by entomologists at the University of California that by the time a community of bed bugs has reached the tenth generation up to 40% of that population has developed a resistance to all classes of common insecticides approved by the FDA for bed bug eradication.

2. Bed bugs hide in unreachable locations – bed bugs typically hide in small, protected areas that may be impossible to reach or spray with chemicals.  They can hide in the smallest of cracks in mattresses, headboards, walls, baseboards, electrical outlets, light switch boxes, furniture, and even within box springs and electronic devices (TV’s, VCR’s, Alarm Clocks, etc.). Treating these hiding bed bugs with insecticides may be impossible, not to mention spraying chemicals on these items may be unsafe, illegal and simply unwise. Why does the USAF prohibit insecticides from being sprayed in their pilot barracks? Because they have proven, with science, that insecticides can harm these expensively trained pilots and want to protect them from any potential neurological damage that might adversely affect their ability to safely fly the most sophisticated, expensive aircraft on planet earth.

Bed bug heater manufacturer USA
Electric bed bug heaters in combination with high cfm, high heat convection air mover fans turn any apartment into a convection oven that bed bugs and their eggs cannot survive.

More Reasons Chemical Treatment Falls Short — And Costs You More

3. Insecticides cause bed bugs to scatter and spread – unless the chemicals are sprayed directly on the bed bugs, they will seldom kill them.  Even when sprayed directly, the “resistant” bed bugs will not die and may cause bigger problems as described above.  Bedbugs are known to be sensitive to the “residuals” of insecticides and will avoid them.  Therefore, by spraying insecticides around the perimeter of an infected area, it will not usually kill them but instead make them scatter and hide deeper in cracks and crevices until the residues wear off!  Since bed bugs can live up to 5 months without feeding, they will survive long enough to simply return when it is safe to do so.  Worse yet, those bed bugs will likely begin searching for new places to feed and will spread to the bedroom across the hallway or even go next door!  As you can see, by spraying insecticides, a localized infestation in a bedroom may be spread across a wider area causing bigger problems in the future (small, localized infestations are MUCH easier and less expensive to treat).

4. Insecticides do not kill bed bug eggs and require MULTIPLE treatments – Since an infested area is sure to have bed bug eggs, which will hatch if not eradicated, insecticide “treatment” is always going to require multiple applications over many weeks!  Bed bug eggs typically hatch every 5 to 16 days (depending on conditions) and those baby “nymphs” will avoid the chemical residuals just like the adults do.  Therefore, the newly hatched nymphs will seek shelter and be unreachable by the time the next chemical treatment is performed.  The multiple treatments needed to “break the cycle” is usually ineffective and can become quite expensive and inconvenient, dragging out for weeks or even months.

5. Some items may need to be discarded – many people have been directed to throw away beds, furniture, and other infested items due to the ineffectiveness of using chemicals.  These losses add to the costs of insecticide treatments that you can see are not likely to be effective anyways. Using heat means you will not need to throw anything away which will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

6. Lots of resident “pre-treatment” required and invasive process – Insecticide treatments often require a lot of preparation time by the residents and is a highly invasive process. In order to “make contact with” as many bed bugs as possible, the exterminator will need access to nearly every inch of your bed, dressers, nightstands, and other items to allow spraying access to every possible hiding place. This may require removing many items from their stored locations. It has been proven over time that most populations of folks suffering bed bug infestations will not be able to do what it takes to properly prepare an apartment or home for an insecticide bed bug treatment. Is 75 year old Mr. Jones going to be able to do anything on that preparation checklist? Of course not.

7. Insecticides are Poisonous – The need for repeated chemical treatments required can cause a cumulative effect of residual pesticides to build up. Although these chemicals may be deemed “safe” by regulatory agencies, like your state’s Department of Agriculture, are you really comfortable with insecticides designated for ‘Restricted Use’ by the FDA sprayed in your bedroom (where you spend 1/3 of your life breathing deeply) and other parts of your home? Do you think the FDA has tested the safety and efficacy of these “Approved” chemicals on pets? They have not.

Running a hotel, pest control company, or multi-unit property? See our full breakdown of chemical spray risks, resistance data, and cost comparisons for commercial properties.

Pest control technician using PestPro bed bug heaters for commercial treatment

We are honored to have over 1,500+ electric bed bug heaters operating in the USA, Canada, and around the world, including remote locations like Fiji, the Northwest Territories, and above the Arctic Circle.
Call or Text Today if you have any questions (970) 443-8119

Now Offering Financing with Affirm

Starting at $206/mo or 0% APR with Affirm

Get your bed bug heater now and pay over time. Apply at checkout with Affirm for a real-time decision — no impact to your credit to check.

A Thank-You to Our Canadian Customers

Starting at $288/mo or 0% APR with Affirm

To show our sincere appreciation for our most valued customers north of the border, PestPro is proud to share the exchange-rate burden with you. The Canadian dollar has been tough lately — so on our all-steel bed bug heaters, we’re absorbing half the USD→CAD exchange premium, for loyal customers and those just joining the PestPro family alike. It’s our way of saying thank you.

The savings apply to the heater price — shipping is quoted separately. Good news at the border: our heaters clear duty-free, and customs clearance through our broker partner takes about 15–20 minutes — GST is the only tax due. Proudly built in Fort Collins, Colorado and shipped across North America.

Plus — flexible financing is now available with Affirm. Apply at checkout and get a real-time decision, no credit card required.

Call or text 970-443-8119