Bed bugs are not something you want in your home. They are small insects that live on the blood of animals and humans. They don’t fly, but move incredibly quickly over floors, walls and ceilings. Females lay hundreds of eggs throughout their lifetime. Each egg is tiny, measuring one quarter the size of a grain of rice. Before reaching adulthood, bed bugs shed their skin five times and must feast on blood before they shed.

While they’re not guests you want in your home, they’re not known to transmit diseases. Bed bugs aren’t a sign of being dirty either. You’re just as likely to find them in a clean home as a dirty one. They can enter your home without you knowing from luggage, clothing and used furniture, such as beds or couches. Their flat bodies were made to hide, and they can fit into the tiniest of spaces, just about the width of a debit card. 

A bed bug bite starts off as painless, but later turns itchy and red. Bed bugs will bite at any unexposed skin while you sleep. People who don’t know they have bed bugs may think the bites are from mosquitoes or fleas. You’ll have to find the bugs in your home to be sure. If you suspect an infestation, you’ll want to check in your bedding and around the mattress for signs of the bugs or dark, rusty spots from their excrement. Bed bugs also give off a musty odor. Check areas around your bed, such as books, carpet, outlets and your closet. As soon as you find something, give us a call, and we can handle these pesky hitchhikers. If you’re unsure what you should be checking for, let us know , and we can hunt them down for you, free of charge. 

Once we find the bed bugs, we provide a list of preparations for you and inform you of the costs of the treatment. We will then heat and spray-treat all the rooms to ensure no bugs will linger in your home. Bed bugs, and their eggs, die within an hour and a half at 118°F or instantly at 122°F. We’ll bring in special equipment to properly heat your home. Our team strategically places thermometers throughout your home to ensure that the correct temperature is met — we evenly heat each room to 135°F and then move to the next space. 

We leave no stone unturned and will then spray-treat your home to ensure you will no longer be bothered by bugs — the other guys will either just heat or spray-treat your home. This process takes anywhere from four to six hours, depending on the size of your home. At Atkins, we communicate with you every step of the process to make sure you’re informed and happy with the services we provide for you.

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