Bed Bugs in Pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh's hillside neighborhoods have row houses, older brick buildings, converted houses and apartment buildings with shared walls and basements. That makes it easy for bed bugs to move between neighbors.
Your first week
- Identify the bug. A sealed bag with a specimen, plus photos of droppings along mattress seams, gives a professional something to confirm.
- Report it to whoever manages your building, in writing, and keep a copy. In a small building the owner may be close by; in a larger one, go through the management office.
- Contain your own belongings. Wash and dry bedding on high heat, and keep clean items in sealed bags away from the infested room.
- Tell the units next to yours if you have good relations with them, or ask the landlord to. Early notice limits the spread.
Row houses and older brick buildings
In attached row houses, bugs can travel through shared walls and utility paths to the houses on either side. Treatment is most effective when neighbors are told early and inspected as well. Older brick buildings often have shared basements and laundry rooms that can become a second site.
If you rent, report it to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. If you own, ask your exterminator how to coordinate with the neighbors.
Seasons and moving belongings
Cold weather does not reliably kill bed bugs indoors, so do not count on it. When you move belongings between rooms or out of the home, use sealed bags. Heat treatment works in any season; plan where your household will stay on treatment day.
What to ask a local exterminator
- Are you licensed to do structural pest control in Pennsylvania?
- How will you handle the neighboring houses or units, and what is the guarantee?
- What is the written guarantee, and what do I need to do to keep it valid?
- What preparation do you need from me, and can I get it in writing?
Official resources
For help with a rental, start with your city or county's housing or code enforcement office, and check your state's pest control licensing agency to confirm an exterminator's license. A local legal aid group can tell you what your lease and local rules say about pest problems. This site is not legal advice.
Related guides
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- What bed bug bites look like
- How to prepare for treatment
- How heat treatment works
- How much treatment costs
- DIY versus a professional
- Where bed bugs come from
- Checking a hotel room
- Bed bug guides for other cities
Request a match with pest control companies serving Pittsburgh and compare quotes before you commit.