At Peskies Pest Control, we take pride in being the experts you call when you want a problem solved correctly the first time. However, one of the most common questions we get—especially after a successful treatment—is: “Can bed bugs come back?”
In a recent episode of the Peskies Pest Control Podcast, Michael Wienecke and Travis McGowin sat down to discuss a specific case where a customer faced a reinfestation eight months after a successful treatment. It’s a frustrating situation, but understanding how it happens is the first step to staying bed bug-free.
The Mystery of the Eight-Month Reinfestation
We recently helped a client who originally brought bed bugs into her home via a thrift-store quilt. After our initial inspection, we found a significant infestation in her master bedroom. We performed a professional heat treatment, which was 100% successful.
Fast forward eight months later: she found more bed bugs.
While it’s tempting to think they were “hiding” in a closet for nearly a year, that is biologically unlikely. Adult bed bugs can survive several weeks without a “blood meal,” but they certainly won’t survive eight months without feeding.
The reality? It was a reinfestation. Whether it was a visit to a public place, a ride in a car, or another secondhand item, bed bugs are the ultimate hitchhikers.
Why Bed Bugs are the Ultimate Hitchhikers
Bed bugs don’t care if your house is a $ 50,000 fixer-upper or a million-dollar mansion in Mountain Brook. They don’t discriminate between clean or dirty homes; they just need a host.
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They are tiny: They can be the size of a mustard seed (nymphs) up to the size of a watermelon seed (adults).
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They are hiders: They love tight cracks and crevices—we’ve even seen them inside the pump joints at gas stations or in the seams of a purse left on a counter.
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They travel easily: You can pick them up at a restaurant booth, a hotel, an Airbnb, or even your workplace.
Why We Use Heat Treatments Over Chemicals
At Peskies, we choose Heat Treatment (Thermal Remediation) because it is faster and more effective than traditional liquid chemicals.
How it works:
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The “Oven” Effect: We use a propane-fired heater (kept safely outside) to pump hot air into your home through specialized ductwork.
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Total Penetration: We use high-powered fans to circulate the air, ensuring the heat reaches the inside of hollow bed frames, deep into mattresses, and behind baseboards.
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The “Nuke” Factor: Unlike chemicals, heat kills bed bugs at every life stage.
“No chemical product can penetrate the egg of a bed bug. Until it hatches, those eggs are safe. But heat is a different story—it cooks them before they ever hatch.” — Travis McGowin
What to expect:
A typical heat treatment takes about eight hours. Your home will be warm when you return (much like an oven after you’ve turned it off), but the bed bug population will be gone—from egg to adult—in a single day.
Pro-Tips to Prevent Reinfestation
If you work in a high-risk area or are worried about bringing bed bugs home again, follow these steps:
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Launder clothes immediately: If you suspect exposure, put your clothes straight into the dryer on high heat.
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Limit personal items: Avoid bringing purses or bags into areas where bed bugs might be present.
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Inspect secondhand items: Never bring furniture, clothing, or quilts into your home without a thorough inspection (or a preventive heat cycle in the dryer).
Do You Suspect a Bed Bug Problem?
Whether you’re in Birmingham, Montgomery, Prattville, or anywhere in between, Peskies Pest Control is here to help. Don’t let a “slow infestation” turn into a nightmare.
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