Getting rid of a bed bug infestation can be pricey. Pest control professionals have to meet industry standards regarding prices based on the comprehensive procedures used. But hiring pest control specialists for bed bug removal is crucial based on the notoriously difficult eradication methods it takes to destroy bed bug infestations. With this in mind, how much does it cost to get rid of bed bugs across the UK?
On average, the price for completely removing bed bugs from a home on average is around £400 for a standard two-bedroom dwelling. The exact cost is indicative of the methods used by various pest control companies, the size of the home, and the extent of the infestation based on the inspection.
At Malum, we have years of experience in eradicating this difficult pest with our integrated pest management team. In this guide, we will answer all of your questions pertaining to the cost of bed bug treatment and provide you with a bed bug eradication overview, discussing the various ways to destroy adult bed bugs and their eggs.
Why Should You Pay to Get Rid of a Bed Bug Infestation?
Regardless of how you choose to treat bed bugs, it will cost money to address the problem. Furthermore, due to the elusive nature of these insects and the often inaccessible hiding places used by the bugs, professional pest control treatments are the best method for treating bed bugs.
Pest control services have equipment and processes that go far beyond just the use of insecticide treatment, which can be problematic since bed bugs can develop quick resistance to commonly used insecticides.
Pest control can also use repeat treatments to remove bed bugs that may have been missed in the initial treatment.
But there are some important details to keep in mind about these insects, and these details pertain to why professional treatment is necessary if you want to achieve full eradication.
Bed bugs do not only hide and live in and around a bed, the insects can also hide and nest in electrical sockets, inside and underneath upholstered furniture, behind loose wallpaper, within walls and below baseboards.
Since the bugs do not come out into the open easily or even at all, this makes finding all the bugs a challenging prospect. Bed bugs hide during the day and only come out to feed on human blood at night when people are sleeping.
Because of this, and since the bugs are only about the size of an apple seed, natural methods and some chemical sprays are not enough to reach all the bugs. The longer the insects are left undisturbed and avoid detection, the larger the infestation becomes.
Bed bug removal is not within the success rate of DIY methods, and it becomes a literal full-time job if you choose to try and address this elusive pest on your own.
Signs That You May Have Bed Bugs
People typically come across a bed bug problem by noticing dark blood stains or rusty spots (fecal matter) on their bed linen, detecting bed bug bites, or by finding live bugs when changing sheets or cleaning the area. Waking in the middle of the night, they may also find the bugs crawling on or near them. Yuck!
You can usually find the bugs grouped together underneath the mattress, inside box springs, in the corners of bed frames, and if the infestation has grown large enough, within nearby furniture, infested items such as books and magazines, and behind the wall.
If you have more than one family member, then the colony can grow so big that the bugs will begin to venture out to feed on others in your household.
This is when multiple rooms start to become infested. Additionally, bed bugs will also move to nearby furniture near the sleep spot, and even build a colony behind walls and the ceiling inside electrical outlets, within upholstered surfaces, behind picture frames, and other affected areas.
If you fail to notice the warning signs, your entire home can become overrun within 6 months to a year. A Malum we know where bed bugs like to hide and are experts are seeking them out and eradicating them from your home.
How Much Does it Cost to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Bed bug treatment for complete bed bug removal is best handled by a specialised company, such as ourselves, who have experience in residential properties.
For pests as difficult as bed bugs, the cost is typically reconciled after the initial inspection to decide if a single room contains the entire problem or if several rooms need to be treated.
Additionally, and based on the size of the problem, one treatment may not be enough to achieve bed bug control, and this will be factored into the original quoted price to the homeowner. The cost depends upon the type of treatments used to address the problem.
At Malum we charge £396 + VAT to get rid of bed bugs, which includes three part treatment utilising steam, mechanical removal and use of residual insecticides for an average two bed property. Additional rooms are charged at £180 per three part treatment.
How Can I Save Money on Bed Bug Treatment?
The more work that has to be performed by technicians, the higher the cost will become. To help bring down the cost, we suggest that you do as much prep work as you can.
All linen and fabrics inside the home need to be washed and run through a tumble dryer on high heat settings as only extremely hot temperatures can kill the parasites and their eggs instantly.
Once laundered, you should place fabrics in a sealed plastic bag to prevent these parasites from crawling inside. Make sure you clean all kids soft toys as well since bed bugs have been known to infest these items.
If your home is cluttered, we recommend that you inspect all miscellaneous items for this pest. You should then store these items outside the home until the parasites have been eradicated. Vacuum floors regularly and be sure to remove the vacuum bag and dispose of it outside.
It is important not to have guests over until your home is free of pests. Wash all daily clothes you wear immediately after use and seal the items back up again.
The clearer and more uniform the home is, the easier it will be to effectively administer the treatments.
Best Ways to Kill Bed Bugs Instantly?
Insecticide spray is not the best way to kill these pests. Using DIY methods and products to fight against these parasites is not recommended since these insects are incredibly hard to eradicate and frequently evolve to resist over-the-counter products.
At Malum we use a variety of different treatments to kill bed bugs, depending on the severity of the infestation in all rooms.
Bed bug treatment with heat is one of the most effective methods that we use, and these are often used in conjunction with powerful insecticides.
Alongside our bed bug treatment, we also provide pest awareness training to individuals and members of staff, in order to help improve their knowledge of what to look for and best practice procedures.
How Much Is Bed Bug Heat Treatment in the UK?
Bed bug heat treatment, also known as hot box treatment, is a comprehensive pest control method that uses hot air at incredibly high temperatures to address hiding bed bug groups beyond a bed or piece of furniture.
After the bed, bed frame, and bedding in a room have been treated, there is no way to be 100% sure that all the bugs on the property have been destroyed.
Additionally, there could be the possibility that multiple rooms on the property are also infested behind the original room, and heat treatments administered safely by pest technicians in each treated room can ensure that adults, eggs, and all life stages are destroyed.
A hot high temperature, as opposed to temperate or cold temperatures, can kill all life cycles of these pests within seconds of exposure, including eggs no matter where they are deposited. A heat treatment covers the entire property and typically lasts for a few hours to ensure the pest problem is eradicated.
If the home is properly prepped, the heat will soak into the very structure of the home, leaving no place for the pests to hide to escape the heat.
Achieving bed bug control with a heat treatment can range between £500 to £1,000 depending on the size of the home and this is for full-house heat treatment. For room-by-room treatment, the price is lower, but another treatment may be necessary if unhatched eggs were missed in the initial treatment.
Why Choose Malum Pest Control for Bed Bug Treatment?
At Malum we pride ourselves on providing the very best integrated pest management approach. Our pest controllers look at every challenge from outside the box to give you the very best immediate and long-term solution through professional treatments.
Through experience, we can provide guaranteed and professional service for complete bed bug control for your property no matter the level of infestation.
Call us today at 0800 228 9238 to discuss the issue and the type of treatment necessary. You can also use our convenient contact form.
See our related article on what causes a bed bug infestation for more answers to frequently asked bed bug questions.
