Bed Bug Solutions for your Home & Business

Bed bugs are one of the most stressful pest infestations a homeowner or property manager can face. They don't discriminate by income or cleanliness — they hitchhike on luggage, used furniture, clothing, and guests. Once established, they are extremely difficult to eliminate without professional treatment.

ABOUT BED BUGS

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, reddish-brown, flat insects about the size of an apple seed. They feed exclusively on blood — typically at night while occupants are sleeping — and can go months between feedings, which is why infestations often grow undetected.

SIGNS OF A BED BUG INFESTATION

- Small rust-colored stains on mattress seams, sheets, or headboards (fecal spots)
- Shed skins along mattress seams, box springs, and baseboards
- A sweet, musty odor in the room (present in heavy infestations)
- Clusters of small, itchy bites — often in a line or zigzag pattern — on exposed skin
- Live bugs visible in the folds of mattresses, inside outlet covers, or behind headboards

HOW BED BUGS ENTER YOUR HOME

- Luggage and bags brought back from hotels, hostels, or vacation rentals
- Used mattresses, sofas, or upholstered furniture
- Guests who unknowingly carry them in clothing or bags
- Shared laundry facilities in multi-unit housing
- Moving boxes and used clothing purchases

WHERE THEY HIDE

Bed bugs prefer to stay within 5–8 feet of where people sleep. Check mattress and box spring seams, bed frame joints, headboard crevices, behind electrical outlet covers, inside nightstand drawers, along carpet edges, and behind baseboards and picture frames.

HOMEOWNER PREVENTION TIPS

1. When traveling, inspect the hotel mattress and headboard before unpacking. Keep luggage on the luggage rack, not the floor or bed.
2. Wash and dry all clothing on high heat immediately after returning from travel.
3. Inspect any used furniture thoroughly before bringing it inside — or better yet, avoid upholstered secondhand items entirely.
4. In multi-unit buildings, seal gaps around outlets and pipes to limit spread between units.
5. Use mattress encasements rated for bed bug protection.

WHY DIY TREATMENTS FAIL

Bed bugs are resistant to many over-the-counter pesticides. Heat is the most effective elimination method — but achieving the sustained temperatures required (above 120°F uniformly throughout a room) is only achievable with professional equipment. Misapplied heat or chemical treatments can scatter bugs deeper into walls, making the infestation harder to treat.

HOW WE TREAT BED BUGS

Pest Control WV offers professional bed bug services tailored to the severity of the infestation. We conduct a thorough inspection first, then recommend the appropriate treatment protocol. All occupants should review our Bed Bug Prep Sheet before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness. Our 365 Guarantee backs every treatment.