Bug bombs, also known as insect foggers are one of the enhanced methods for severe infestations. It is a type of insecticide confined in an aerosol propellant. Many people believe that bug bombs are 100% effective for pest control. According to experts, these reach only 80%. To increase the probability of getting rid of pests, it is important to understand when to use bug bombs.
When To Use Bug Bombs
Use bug bombs when targeting flying insects such as flies, bees, wasps, and mosquitoes. Foggers don't work well for crawling insects such as cockroaches, bed bugs, and ants. Consumers are driven to buy bug bombs because of the propaganda that these can penetrate the smallest crack and crevice where pests can hide. Even if it is so, the insects can easily detect the fumes moving towards them. This pushes them to run deeper and retreat further into your walls and floorboards. That will make it impossible to treat them effectively.
A study in 2012 shows that foggers are not effective in treating bed bug infestations. The researchers conducted an experiment using three types of insect foggers with pyrethroids as an active ingredient. They used three unique fogger brands to five species of bed bugs. The scientists found that the foggers had little effect on any of the five-bed bug species. They termed it as "useless" to eliminate these crawling pests.
The only time foggers were able to kill bed bugs was when the pests were out in the open. It wasn't able to kill those that are hiding, even those protected by a thin layer of clothing.
If you're planning to eliminate crawling insects all by yourself, call a professional instead. This way, experts can administer highly effective methods for pest extermination. Plus, they can guarantee safety for the whole family. Have Cary bug exterminators on speed dial. Whenever you see signs of pest infestation, call them immediately to pinpoint the source and eliminate pests for good.
But if you're set to using bug bombs, you need to know that these are highly hazardous. For one, they are highly flammable when exposed to fire. Secondly, every surface of your home will be coated with harmful insecticides. It's too risky to use without professional supervision. To guide you on how to properly use bug bombs, here are expert-recommended methods to keep everyone safe while using foggers.
What To Do Before Activating The Bug Bomb
- Measure your rooms. Before you buy foggers, the first step is to measure the floor area of the rooms where you intend to apply it. Bug bombs come in various canisters sizes. Choose the canister recommended for each size.
- Purchase a reliable bug bomb. In choosing a bug bomb, always make sure that it is certified by safety officials. Do not settle on specific brands just because it's cheap. It's always better to invest in more costly materials if it means safety and effectiveness. The reason these products are more expensive than the rest is the testing procedures the manufacturers have applied to make sure it is effective for use. It means that the canisters are more secure and the fumes are proven safe for your home interior. If not, it could cause extensive damage to the surfaces of your floors, walls, tables, and countertops.
- Move away or cover food, cookery, and utensils. Store these things in a secure area. If not, cover them with air-tight plastic containers and place them as far away from the fogger as you can.
- Unplug appliances. As we have discussed, bug bombs are highly flammable once they get in contact with flames or anything that sparks. If possible, turn your electric fuse off for the duration of the treatment. This ensures that the fumes will not get in contact with loose, non-insulated wires that can cause house fires.
- Turn off pilot lights. The pilot light is the primary flame that ignites the stove as the gas is released to the furnace. You can see this on burners, lamps, and heaters. If you have these at home, make sure to turn off your gas range and your pilot lights to prevent the fumes to get in contact with it. Some people believe that you don't have to turn off your pilot light provided the distance from the burner and the fogger is at least 6 feet. Just to be safe, turn these off to avoid house fires.
- Evacuate your pets, children, and plants. Pesticides are highly toxic. To keep your family safe, keep them away for 2 to 8 hours depending on the instructions of the manufacturer. Take them to a friend or family's house until the process is over.
- If you're planning to apply bug bombs on different rooms, ask assistance from other people so you can activate them simultaneously. If you do this alone, you get exposed to the chemicals which could lead to adverse reactions.
Applying The Bug Bomb
Before you activate the bug bomb, make sure you checked everything off your list. Read the instructions thoroughly and follow it step by step. If there are concepts that are unclear to you, contact the manufacturer to clear things up. If you're still doubtful, you can do this all by yourself, it's never too late to turn away. Call Go-Forth Home Services's Cary exterminators if you are in North Carolina for help.
Usually, manufacturers instruct their clients to place a sheet of newspaper underneath the bug bomb in the middle of the floor. Make sure the fogger is positioned vertically upward. Do this for all the rooms you intend to treat. When all things are set, activate the bug bombs simultaneously and vacate the house immediately.
Don't forget to wear protective garments such as masks, gloves, and goggles. This helps you protect yourself from the fumes that could cause illnesses.
What To Do After A Bug Bomb Treatment
- When you return after a couple of hours, open the doors and windows to air out the fumes. To make the process faster, turn your electric fans on to let your home accommodate the fresh air.
- Afterward, clean every surface of your home with soapy water. Don't focus on exposed compartments, even if your cabinets were closed, you need to clean it to make sure no residue has accumulated inside it. Do not wipe the surfaces only once. If you can do it twice or thrice, do so to enhance protection.
- Wash everything that can be washed including your bedding, sheets, curtains, and couch covers. Do not forget to wash your cushions if possible. Ask assistance from laundry experts so they can eliminate the pesticides from the surfaces of your couch, bed, and chairs. You can also ask assistance from your local upholstery store so they can assist you to eliminate the residue from your couches and chairs. Experts also recommend washing every cookery and utensil. You can't be too careful when it comes to pesticides. Wash these too, to avoid accidents in the future.
- Mop and vacuum your floors to eliminate the residue that could pose dangers to your family and pets. Vacuum the floors first to eliminate dust particles, eggs, larvae, and dead adult pests. But don't stop there, vacuum everywhere the hose can reach. Afterward, thoroughly mop the floors using soapy water twice if possible. This eliminates the pesticides to ensure a safe environment for your family.
What If I Got Exposed To The Fumes?
According to CDC, the common reasons why people are exposed to insecticides are the following: they are unable to vacate the house immediately; the family returned early while the fumes haven't settled yet; the homeowners weren't able to clean the surfaces thoroughly; people accidentally ingested contaminated materials; and, more bombs were set off without warning to nearby areas.
The common signs of insecticide exposure include but are not limited to nausea, dizziness, leg cramps, wheezing, burning eyes, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. If symptoms persist, consult your nearest health care provider so they can prescribe medications to alleviate the symptoms of exposure.
Knowing that bug bombs are not as effective to kill crawling pests, it's best to apply other methods to increase your chances of eradicating them. Experts recommend using baits, traps, and other DIY methods. Reapply these methods regularly to observe improvements within weeks.
If you need help, you can always contact Go-Forth Home Services to help you eliminate pests for good. This company is rated A++ on the web and is patronized by thousands of families and business owners in North Carolina. They offer state-of-the-art methods of extermination and prevention. These experts pride themselves in concocting environmentally safe substances for pest management. With their help, all you need to do is sit back, relax, and wait for them to finish. At an affordable price, you can achieve the pest-free environment you and your family deserve.