A bed bug inspection checklist varies depending on the procedure and the size of the property involved.

This guide discusses what to expect, what the procedure entails, the inspection checklist, kit, and equipment to use for bed bug inspection as well as inspecting for a home purchase.

What’s more? You’ll also find out the time duration this process takes.

Inspecting for bed bug presence involves several steps and equipment. Suspecting its (bed bug) presence isn’t enough to take care of the problem.

Also, bed bug inspection is a necessary step to take before treatment is applied. This is where we will focus our attention. If you’ve wondered how to begin the process, we’d like to say you’re in the right place.

Read on as you find just about all the information you need regarding bed bug inspection.

One of the most important things homeowners want to know is the effectiveness of this service.

Therefore, bed bug inspection evaluation will also be covered; and several other vital things worth knowing.

We are confident that this guide will be worth your time.

Bed Bug Inspection Procedure

The aim of carrying out a thorough bed bug inspection job is to establish their presence. This seeks to identify 3 major proofs of their presence. So, what are this evidence of bed bug presence?

They include actual sighting one or more of these bugs, their fecal matter or deposits as well as their eggs. Any of these is proof enough that you have a bed bug problem.

If bed bug presence is confirmed in a room, then an inspection of adjoining rooms must be carried out too. This bed bug inspection procedure is necessary to curb further spread. So, the perimeter of rooms above, below, and beside the infested room must be fully inspected.

If infestations are found within these rooms, then there should be further expansion of inspection areas.

Are bed bug inspections accurate? Yes. It depends. While the accuracy of human inspection ranges from 30-40%, k9 Canine inspection accuracy can be as high as 90%.

  • Pre and Post Treatment Inspections

Bed bug inspections consist of two main types; pre-inspection and post-inspection. Pre-inspection seeks to establish the presence of bed bugs. This arises from suspicions that may result from bites or itchy feelings or even confusion as to whether what you’ve seen is a flea or tick.

On the other hand, post-treatment inspections are carried out to determine if the problem has been dealt with or resolved. This inspection procedure usually takes place every 10 to 14 days after treatment has been carried out.

So, why does it have to be 10 to 14 days? Bed bugs and their eggs may be found within difficult-to-reach areas.

Such areas include mattresses, headboards, bed frames, etc. In such locations, heat treatments and the use of chemicals with residual effects may not fully kill these bugs. This is because such areas aren’t easy to reach.

The residual effects of pesticides may wane off before these bugs emerge.

Hence the Need for Post Treatment Inspections…

Bed bugs still alive from the first treatment should emerge after 2 weeks. Post-inspection should reveal this and appropriate treatment applied accordingly.

The same process should be repeated until complete extermination is achieved.

Bed Bug Inspection Tools / Equipment

The bed bug inspection kit makes the whole process much easier and stress-free. Without such tools, bed bug control will at best be reduced to a guessing game of sorts.

For this reason, you’ll need a bed bug inspection checklist to start with. These are basic tools that are required for effective probing of the suspected problem.

Our inspection checklists start with a flashlight to illuminate dark or dim areas. You’ll also need a magnifying glass to identify your specimen. A probe is also necessary.

We recommend cutting an expired credit card into an extended triangle. This is necessary for checking narrow or tight spaces.

Specimens will need to be collected in a clear bag. Hence the need for a plastic zipper bag. Alcohol as a cleaning agent to wipe bed bug fecal matter is also necessary.

Other tools include compressed air blowers to flush bed bugs from difficult-to-reach areas. Last but not least is a screwdriver to loosen electrical fittings such as light switches. Bed bugs may be hiding under such areas.

Bed Bug Inspection for Home Purchase

Pre-purchase bed bug inspection for homes is very crucial. This is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting you from owning a bed bug-free home. Home sellers aren’t legally required to discuss this subject with you.

As such, you’d have no option other than to rely on the seller’s integrity.

However, integrity isn’t enough reason to follow through with a purchase. What if the seller genuinely thinks such a building is bedbug-free? Remember, bed bugs can stay inactive for quite some time. In other situations, a previous extermination job may have been done badly, thereby leaving some remnants of these bugs behind.

To be on the safer side, you’ll need to carry out an inspection yourself or call for one. This is crucial and the best way to avoid moving into an infested house. A thorough inspection is done to confirm if the building is bug-free.

Bed Bug Inspection Guidelines

Bed bug inspection guidelines are subsumed under bed bug control laws and regulations. This apportions responsibilities to both tenants and landlords.

Tenants have a responsibility to treat arising bed bug infestations during the time of their stay. However, when they leave, the landlord is expected to carry out an inspection and treat an infestation before selling or leasing out the property to a new client.

Different states may have varying requirements regarding bed bug control. There are also federal, state, and local laws that apply. Find out what applies to your situation before moving forward with inspection and treatment.

Cooperation is vital if you live in an apartment building. This is because a bed bug problem might spread easily and fast if drastic and collective action isn’t taken.

Bed Bug Inspection Report

Businesses such as hotels among others allow for clients to assess their quality of service. A bed bug inspection report is one of them.

As a guest, you can make raise an alarm if you’ve noticed bed bug bites. This is bad for their reputation, hence, such businesses will swing into action by calling professional pest control companies to inspect.

The inspection process concludes with a report on findings. This is acted on by the management, with the pest technician given the nod to begin the extermination process.

In some cases, a bed bug inspection certificate is issued.

How Long Do Bed Bug Inspections Last?

This is an often asked question that has no definite answer. In other words, the duration of the inspection depends on the steps you take. You may want to handle the process yourself or hire a pest service to do it.

If you plan on the former, this can be a painstakingly slow process and can range from a few hours to a whole day or more.

The size of your property will affect the time spent on an inspection. Larger properties will take more time to inspect than smaller ones. Remember that you will be limited by experience and manpower as well.

Pest management services, on the other hand, are more organized, experienced, and well-staffed. If you prefer this option, it should take a significantly shorter time than inspecting for bed bugs yourself.

There’s no exact time frame for bed bug inspection. It all depends on the company you hire as well as the equipment used. The better the equipment, the faster the inspection will be.

Recommended Inspection Frequency for Bed Bugs

Bed bug inspection frequency depends on the situation at hand. An active infestation will require immediate inspection and treatment.

Post-treatment inspection is also vital to ensure that these bugs are exterminated and done away with. The frequency of inspection during this time is 2 weeks. This measures the level of progress achieved.

Preventive inspection of homes and business areas requires a different approach. This can be done quarterly, biannually, or yearly as the case may be. However, the best recommendation on bed bug inspection frequency should come from pest management companies.

These companies have comprehensive bed bug control plans which include inspections. If bed bugs are a problem to you, consider walking into any pest control service nearby. Another option is to give them a call for further discussion.

Looking for Free Bed Bug Inspection?

If you wish to get a free bed bug inspection, then you will need to find out those companies that offer such. These are not in short supply and a brief online search should reveal a lot of these companies. Canine inspection services can be gotten free with no hidden charges at all.

On the contrary, you should be ready to spend when an infestation has been established. It doesn’t matter which bed bug treatment option you choose. It comes at a price. At the same time, considerations on how steep a price are depend on who (pest control company) you ask.

These are the basics of bed bug inspection you need to know. We’ve made these as comprehensive as possible to help you grasp and fully take advantage of the process.

Are you looking for a guide on current quotes for inspection, here is one.

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