Most people want to eradicate bed bugs from their house the moment they find out there’s an infestation. In addition to the inconvenience of dealing with the repercussions of bed bugs, it is also difficult to resume a normal social life until these pests are eliminated since they spread so easily. So if you’re currently dealing with a bed bug infestation and you’re eager to get over it, you may be wondering, “How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?” In short, the answer is:
It typically takes anywhere from 2-4 treatment sessions over a period of 3-6 weeks to completely eliminate bed bugs, depending on the level of infestation and the size of the house.
However, each situation is unique. For example, a very small infestation in a studio apartment might be fully treated after the first session, which typically takes 1-3 hours. However, in homes with infestations in multiple rooms, if the infestation is severe, 3-4 or more treatment sessions may be required. If you’re planning to have bed bugs exterminated in your house, keep reading to get answers to common questions about how long the process typically takes.
How Long Does It Take Bed Bugs To Die After Extermination?
The treatment process is designed to kill the majority of bed bugs by the time the extermination session is finished, which usually lasts 1-3 hours.
However, bed bugs tend to burrow deep in areas that are difficult to reach, so especially if some areas were left covered where bed bugs could be hiding, those bed bugs have not received the full impact of the treatment and could have survived. This is one of the reasons that more than 1 treatment session is often required.
Make sure you read our guide on how to get rid of bed bugs to learn about the important preparation steps you must take before the treatment begins.
How Long Does It Take For Bed Bugs To Show Up Again After Treatment?
Technically, bed bugs that survived the treatment can show activity right away. How can you check for this?
Check in the places where you found them before and look closely to see if any are still moving. If you see no movement, it might mean that the treatment was 100% successful, but don’t assume. It’s still wise to check every day for the next few days to ensure they have been completely eradicated.
You can either manually inspect the same areas each day, or some clients find it helpful to put a sticky adhesive trap around the bed legs which would pick up bed bugs that are on the move. If no bed bugs show up in the trap after several days, that’s one indication that they have been completely eradicated. Be sure to consult with a pest extermination expert for more specific guidance.
How Long Can Bed Bugs Lay Dormant?
Technically, their bodies are capable of surviving dormant for more than a year under the right conditions. However, in most home environments, that’s shortened to about half a year. Bed bugs would die after several days of being exposed to sub zero (Fahrenheit) temperatures, but that is also not practical for most housing situations.
Why is this important to know when you are working on eliminating bed bugs from your home? This means that you may inspect every nook and cranny of your house and it may appear that all remaining bed bugs are dead, but you might still have a small population that are lying dormant, which could become active weeks or months later.
This is why most pest control professionals recommend at least 2 or more treatment sessions to ensure all bed bugs have been completely eliminated. It’s best to be safe and make sure the issue is resolved instead of just hoping for the best and possibly having to deal with the problem all over again in a couple of weeks.
Not sure what to do next? It can take a long time to get rid of bed bugs, especially if you don’t have experience with this (most people don’t). Get results faster by consulting with a licensed professional. Call our team today at 717-393-7879 to learn how we can help you get your house back to “bug-free” status ASAP.