{"id":820,"date":"2019-12-23T10:51:55","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T10:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/?p=820"},"modified":"2022-01-30T11:06:29","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T11:06:29","slug":"how-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/how-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How long can bed bugs live in a vacant home?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Bed bugs are more than just an inconvenience and they are known to drive homeowners crazy. Bed bugs love to live around humans and they can breed very rapidly which means if a few bed bugs make their way into your house you may soon be dealing with a full-fledge bed bug infestation. Bed bugs aren&#39;t easy to get rid of because they hide in mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, drawers, sofas, chairs, and even curtains. But what if you leave your house empty, will this be the end of the bed bugs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How long can bed bugs live in a vacant home?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bed bugs need blood from either humans or other mammals to survive inside a house, they can <strong>live for between 12-18 months without food<\/strong>. So if a house is left empty for more than a year you can expect them to be dead by the time you return.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home-1-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nleaving your house empty for long periods just to get rid of bed bugs sounds like\nan extreme approach, it is an option for\nsnowbirds and retired couples who have multiple homes to live in. But even if a\nhouse doesn&#39;t have any humans living in it bed bugs can still find a food\nsource in the form of rats, mice, and even shrews. There are other factors that\ndetermine how long bed bugs can live in a vacant house and in this article, we\nwill help you understand how long can you expect bed bugs to live inside an\nempty house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-long-can-bed-bugs-survive-in-a-vacant-house\"><strong>How long can bed bugs survive in a\nvacant house?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\nare different bed bug species and all of them have varying life spans which are\nbetween 8-18 months if the bedbugs are feeding regularly. &nbsp;On top of that bed bugs can hibernate when the\ntemperature gets cold which allows them to live without a meal for more than a\nyear. That is why it is difficult to specify a timeframe after which bed bugs\nwould eventually die out in an empty house. Factors that determine how long bed\nbugs are going to survive in an empty home include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-life-stage-of-bed-bugs\">&#8211; <strong>The life stage of bed bugs: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bed bugs have two main life stages, the nymph stage, and the adult stage. Nymphs develop through 5 steps and mold to get to the adult stage that is why they require a lot more blood to sustain the rapid rate of development. This is why a nymph is only going to live for a few weeks and a maximum of 2 months if it never feeds at all after being hatched. But if you have nymphs in your home that have fed at least once and developed the red color then it is going to take up to 8 months for them to die without a blood meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"block_indent_under_bullet\">Adult bed bugs, on the other hand,\ncan be very stubborn and some adult bed bugs may live for a year and a half\nwithout a single blood meal in a dormant state. So if you think that simply\nstaying a week at your friend&#39;s house and coming back is going to starve bed\nbugs in your house then you need to think again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Find Bed Bugs - How To Know If You Have Bed Bugs\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EVk3xFClDQA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"block_indent_under_bullet\">The secret to bed bugs surviving so\nlong in empty houses is their ability to go semi-dormant which is a kind of\nhibernation common in the insect world. During this semi-hibernation bed bugs\nwill slow down their metabolism and they use very little energy during this\nstate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"temperature-and-weather\">&#8211; <strong>Temperature and weather: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While it is true that bed bugs can survive very long in an empty house their survival greatly depends on the temperature of the house. If the temperature of the empty house stays too warm or too cold and bed bugs don&#39;t get any blood at the same time then bed bugs will probably die within a few weeks. Studies have shown that bed bugs can only withstand a temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days. So if your house is in a region where temperatures get below this point for long periods you can simply leave the house empty for up to 2-3 weeks and your bed bug problem would be solved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"block_indent_under_bullet\">The same goes for warmer temperatures\nif the temperature of the house reaches 113 degrees Fahrenheit and it stays\nthis high for a week, bed bugs won&#39;t be able to\nsurvive such high temperature and die off. But keep in mind that indoor and\noutdoor temperatures may vary and the temperature\nindoor has to reach these extremes for the bed bugs to die. And on top\nof that, bed bugs may hide in tiny cracks\ntogether where they can generate heat which prevents them from freezing to\ndeath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"presence-of-pests-such-as-mice-inside-the-house\">&#8211; <strong>Presence of pests such as mice inside the house<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"block_indent_under_bullet\">Even if there is no human activity\ninside a house and it is empty for months or years bed bugs can still find a\nsource of blood in the form of pests such as rats and mice to survive. Bedbugs\ncan detect prey even if it is not a human and\nthey will happily feed off of a rat while waiting for humans to return in the\nhouse. Bedbugs don&#39;t require frequent feedings either so even if there aren&#39;t a\nlot of rats in your house while you are gone bed bugs would still be able to\nfeed off of a stray rat or a mouse once in a while and survive for months and\nyears in an empty home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs - Ace Hardware\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdN4brmXhcc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-avoid-taking-bed-bugs-with-you-when-moving\"><strong>How to avoid taking bed bugs with you\nwhen moving?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nyou would want to get out of a bedbug-infested house as fast as you can there\nis a real chance that bed bugs might hitch a ride along with you to your new\ndestination in your clothes or luggage. If this happens it would beat the point\nof leaving the house empty to kill bed bugs because you would be taking bed\nbugs along with you anyway. Therefore it is important to take a few precautions\nto make sure you don&#39;t bring bed bugs along with you. You can take the\nfollowing precautions to prevent bed bugs from moving along with you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"make-sure-the-suitcases-and-bags-are-bedbug-free\">&#8211; <strong>Make sure the suitcases and bags are bedbug-free:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bed bugs aren&#39;t just limited to beds as they can be hiding in the suitcases or bags you plan to bring with you. Therefore it is a good idea to use a bright LED to inspect the briefcases, suitcases, and bags before you start packing luggage in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wash-your-clothes-and-other-fabrics-with-hot-water\">&#8211; <strong>Wash your clothes and other fabrics with hot water: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloths and other fabrics that are stored in drawers are an ideal hiding spot for bed bugs. Therefore it is a good idea to wash the clothes and bedsheets in warm water before packing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bathe-your-pets-before-you-move\">&#8211; <strong>Bathe your pets before you move: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pets have lots of hair and bed bugs love hiding in them. And if you are taking your pets along with you it is best to make sure there aren&#39;t any bed bugs hiding in your pet&#39;s fur. While bed bugs don&#39;t commonly live on pets it is possible that a few bed bugs might hitch a ride on your pet to your new location. Therefore it is a good idea to bathe your pets before leaving your house that has bed bugs and make sure that the pet beds and pet crates are kept away from beds and other areas where bed bugs have been spotted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"get-the-furniture-treated-by-a-professional\">&#8211; <strong>Get the furniture treated by a professional:<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan on bringing furniture along with you it is best to get it treated for bed bugs by a professional before bringing it with you. Bed bugs usually hide in sofas, chairs, and beds which is why it is a good idea to treat the furniture for bed bugs to prevent bringing bed bugs with you<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"7 Things You Should Know About Bed Bugs\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uFK0t9DHu1Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou plan on throwing away any bed bug-infested items before you leave, make sure you dispose of them in such a way\nthat would prevent others from reusing the item. You can put a label on the\nitem that says bed bug-infested to warn others or simply destroy the item so\nthat it is not reusable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-remarks\"><strong>Final remarks <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bed\nbugs can be a serious problem and they are hard to kill just by leaving a house\nempty. Besides, it is not easy to leave a house empty for up to a year while\nyou wait for bed bugs to die. While bed bugs will eventually die of starvation if a house is empty for long periods, bed bugs might still escape the house and find a new home\nto live in therefore it is best to get the house treated for bed bugs to\npermanently get rid of bed bugs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bed bugs are more than just an inconvenience and they are known to drive homeowners crazy. Bed bugs love to live around humans and they can breed very rapidly which means if a few bed bugs make&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":5,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","inline_featured_image":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":21,"label":"General Information"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-long-can-bed-bugs-live-in-a-vacant-home-1.jpg",900,599,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Winter Sun Expert","author_link":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/author\/fxhx1\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":21,"name":"General Information","slug":"general-information","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":21,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":48,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":21,"category_count":48,"category_description":"","cat_name":"General Information","category_nicename":"general-information","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8919,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions\/8919"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}