KNOCKOUT – Killing Bed Bugs and the Freezing Process
November 11, 2010
When Knockout Pest Control makes a service call to treat/kill bed bugs in a residential or commercial property we use an integrated pest management approach. This usually includes locating the areas of infestation, which we can do with a Bed Bug Dog, then manually remove all visible bed bug infestation, then using the poison free Cryonite freezing technology that kills bed bugs on contact and deep within areas where they hide, followed by a targeted application of a residual pesticide in baseboard crevasses and other un-trafficked areas to get any insects that alluded the treatment. We then discus with the home or business owner on how to handle other items that may contain bed bugs, how to monitor the effects of our treatment, and the measures they can take to avoid future bed bug infestation. We talk about the ActiveGUARD liners for beds and the HOT BOX that can kill bed bugs in clothes, shoes, luggage, school backpacks, and the like. But the question that most people ask us is: “How does that freezing process kill bed bugs?” So, here is the technical answer – sort of simplified:
Insects have a capacity to develop resistance to pesticides, so whenever there is an opportunity to kill them without pesticides the better the long term effect. Environment plays a big part in the biology of insects. Excessive heat or cold are inhospitable to most insects. Extreme and rapid temperature changes can kill insects before they have a chance to escape the hostile environment. High dry heat works great when insects, like Bed Bugs are contained. Like within the HOT BOX, or in a clothes drier set on high, or a tented car. It is much more difficult to heat treat an entire apartment or store with dry heat, simply because the Bed Bugs scamper away through cracks into inner walls and into other apartments or spaces. Heat with steam is an option; it’s fast but it is also wet and therefore damaging to things other than the intended target. Steam leaves water residue and is damaging to wood and electrical devices, and can melt many plastics.
This brings us to the freezing process to kill Bed Bugs. The CO2 used is not a pesticide. It leaves NO residue. It is safe to use on anything. Doesn’t damage wood and can be used on electronic devices like clock radios, electric outlets, even computers, [power must be off during treatment]. The freezing kills the bed bug on contact. The CO2 has a remarkable effect of getting deep into inner walls from the cracks in baseboards and such, killing may Bed Bugs hiding just within.
So, how does the freezing process kill bed bugs? All bugs have a sort of “anti-freeze” within them to withstand cold, so they can survive the freezing point of water. In nature the drop in temperature happens gradually over at the very least hours, giving the insect – roach/mite/bed bug – time to adjust before going into “super-cooling” mode. Super cooling is a process where an insect’s fluids become crystallized, a process called “homogenous nucleation” – a process that basically turns all of the liquid in an insect into a solid. In nature, insects shed water to avoid the liquid from crystallizing. That’s where our Cryonite system comes in. The freezing process is beyond fast, it’s instantaneous. In nano seconds the bed bug is crystallized, far beyond any natural tolerances, and well before it can even begin to chemically trigger the cold fighting mechanism. This is true not only for the adult Bed Bugs, but the nymphs, and bed bug eggs.
Now, aren’t you sorry you asked? But, freezing is one of the most effective and greenest methods available to date to kill bed bugs.
So, tell me what you think.
Comments
Bed bug paranoia is running rampant in my office. Everybody is afraid they’ll bring bed bugs home with them from riding on the subway. This blog seems to be the voice of reason and gives us less informed some very useful advise without scaring us.
My Mom has bed bugs and I’m looking for a bed bug exterminator. Ths explaination about killing bed bugs by freezing them to death sounds like the best and safest way to get rid of them. My Mom lives in an apartment will the active guard sheets you sell keep her from getting bed bugs again?
Very informative site. I have a good friend who just discovered he’s got bed bugs. Thanks to your explanation about freezing and how to help prevent future bed bug infestations he’s going to call for a bed bug treatment and since we both travel a lot for business, we are both planning on purchasing the hot box for our carryon bags. Once I get it, I may even throw my backpack in it after riding on the subway.
Heard a radio ad and went searching on the internet for a bed bug hot box. I travel a lot for business and stay at a lot of questionable hotels and motels. Unfortunately or fortunately I searched Google for “bed bug hot box” and found your website and a few questionable others. Actually I think it was your radio commercial I had heard on an all news station in New York. Well, besides yours there are a few sites that talk about building your own bed bug hot box, but not only are they labor intensive to build BUT they seem to be an outright dangerous thing to build for oneself. The heat source is a light bulb and the directions say is the fan ever breaks the box and all the contents will catch fire! So I called your 800 number. Your customer service rep and she assured me that the unit you sold was top quality, and had a proper heating element, and she answered all my questions. So I did purchase the bed bug hot box unit that you sell on your website. No light bulbs. UL approved. Well built. Easy to fold up and store away. I just want to tell the folks Googling on the net to beware of these crazy schemes to build your own bed bug hot box. Buy one, it’s cheaper, safer, and really easy to use. I used it twice already and then just put it away.
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of back ‘n forth discussion on this blog, but I agree with David G when he says that there are some very questionable plans on the internet to build your own bed bug hot box. The one I bought from Knockout Pest Control is great. Although the company is in NY and I live in Connecticut I called them and ordered it over the phone. I’ve told a few of my coworkers about it and a few of them bought them too.
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