So I moved back home with my children almost 2 years ago. When I say We moved back home, I mean my ex husband evicted us (we were already divorced and trying to reconcile, clearly that didn't work. The details aren't important.) Approx. 1 year ago I found bed bugs in our bed. Yes I said our bed as in just the 1. I am a single mom and share a room with 3 children ages 21, 9 almost 10 and poor allergy child who is 6. I do have 2 beds in the room, however we could only find them ever on the bed that the 3 of us slept in. Oh and let us not forget until this past October we had our dog Rocket (pitbull, I do believe the darn critters drove him mental, and we have 2 cats all animals are in the 1 bed to.) Amazingly enough the bed bugs seemed to only be in our room. Or so we thought. My 6 year old who is allergic to everything has suffered TREMENDOUSLY through this.
So I googled this critter, and tried the home DIY options, to quickly discover I was in over my head, they were faster than me. After all they did have a smorges board at night to feast on. So I contacted exterminators, who gave me a laundry prep list (that I do honestly believe I would still be doing.
A coworker contractor friend of mine had dealt with these in his own home, and he came over and we steamed the crap out of the bed, cut it, wrapped it and tossed it. I purchased 2 new beds. After we steamed the rest of the house. Unfortunately, my brother is not the cleanest of people and well my mom is old. So they tend to hold on to everything. I can not make the decision to throw their belongings away. But treat them to the best of my ability.
No surprise with in weeks they were back like gang busters, in not only my room, but full fold in my brothers. So it was time for clean out and heat. Finally some sense into tem. rid the old non sense and lets do this. So I shell out over $500 in totes and alcohol so I can store their belongings that can not with stand the heat. I bust my behind to prep the house for the heat treatment. Looking for known meltables, candles, cans, paint, glue, makeup, its christmas time, candy. Then I was warned of cheap plastics. So I went thru toys and threw that crap away. Surely Santa will make it worth the pain and suffering. I was told the blinds if left on my windows may distort a little, OK well they are also chain smokers, so I wanted to replace those for my mom anyway. Now's good. Since he said we had to be out all night. I am not leaving my entire house open for all to see and scope out whatever while we are all away.
Nothing in this god forsaken world cold have prepped me for what I was about to walk into the next day. I decided to treat the family to a quick little mini water park vacation (bad idea btw bed bug bites and chlorine BAD, especially for allergy boy). After all we have all been thru so much. Oh and we now have 3 beds, as I had to buy all new beds for EVERYONE this time.
I do live in a 1437 sq ft Schultz manufactured home, being a contractor I have upgraded a lot of things however.. So December 11 7:15 AM he arrives, and the showers begin. My Brother, Then my Oldest son, so they can catch the younger children coming out of the house and my senior mother. He treated Both trucks and my brothers car while showers were being taken.
He stated that it should take 10-12 hours so I should expect pictures of his meter showing proof each room got to 143 right about 8pm, as we all intrusted our home and belongings to him. I signed the most ridiculous contract I have ever seen in my LIFE, as he was shoving it in my face AGAIN. Oh he started the heat in the house as I was still in the shower. Not that I was actually given a moment to read it, as I was handed the contract, then asked to come start the cars, roll down the window and leave the keys, then straight to bathing people.
I did get a text that evening at 7 PM, "It's all et, contract, key and receipt are on the table. Its all locked up". No more no less. I honestly was sitting in a hot tub, and thought GREAT, but free at last.
December 12 we drove home 3 1/2 hour drive, late in the evening in a snow fall no less. I walked into my home and it was COLD. hmm that's odd. I just had my furnace fixed the day previous for $400. When I say cold, I mean it was 44 degrees in my house. I flipped on the light and I just started to cry. The MASS DESTRUCTION, it is everywhere. The furnace is melted, the TV;s all 4 melted, every window (not the blinds, but the actual window frames) melted and distorted, all the molding shrunk, my floors are lifted, my toilets leak, my ceiling droops, my stereo melted, the remote for my ceiling fan melted, my heater melted, my dish washer front popped out, my cupboards have shrunk to the point the are unattaching from the walls, more toys gone, shoes destroyed, christmas gifts gone, my sons brand new PS4 toast, Food-spoiled in the can, the surround for my tub caved in and popped off. Oh and I have cracks in my walls. We had to go stay another 3 days in a local hotel (2 rooms) until I could get furnace in and it cleaned up enough to let the kids in.
Happy Birthday to me (December 13).
And in this mans contract he states he is not liable for damage done to my property during the treatment? Well why not I did everything on HIS check list!! This seems Overly EXTREME!!
And the worst part of it all, I have not found one dead or alive bug. for all the Thousands of dollars this is costing me!