The Bed Bug Specialists
In Central Kansas

• Fumigation will kill all pests within the structure (if done correctly). 
• It leaves no residue behind after the gas dissipates. 
• You are not required to remove belongings from the house other than food, medications, and such, and items in the house will not be damaged by the gas. 

• Fumigation is one of the most expensive methods for eliminating bed bugs, which is the biggest barrier for most people. 
• Fumigation is not an option for multi-unit buildings unless the entire building is done at once. 
• You will need to be gone from your property for a few days. 
• Too many companies are cutting corners by not tenting, using less sulfuryl fluoride to save money, and fumigating for too short a time. The fumigation fails. 
• There is no residual protection, so reintroduction of bed bugs after treatment is very common. Along with price, this is one of the biggest shortcomings of fumigation. It is entirely possible to pay thousands of dollars for fumigation and have bed bugs re-infest the property afterward. 
• Sulfuryl fluoride is a potent greenhouse gas entirely man-made, and atmospheric levels continue to rise. One ton of sulfuryl fluoride traps as much heat in the atmosphere as 7,510 tons of carbon dioxide, and sulfuryl fluoride released into the air today is expected to take 30 to 40 years to break down, mostly after being absorbed by ocean water. 
• Some pest control operators may tell clients that the gas displaces the oxygen and the bugs suffocate. This is, at best, a misdirection, but more like an outright lie. Sulfuryl fluoride is a highly toxic gas that will kill all living organisms, including insects, animals, people, and plants. 

• Kills bed bugs at all life stages including eggs (eggs are very difficult to kill). 
• Once the house has cooled, no harmful residues are left behind. 

• As with fumigation, heat remediation is one of the most expensive methods of treatment. 
• A fair amount of prep work must be done, removing items that may be damaged by the heat. Heat can damage electronics, window blinds, photographs, and more. Any of us old enough to have had a cassette player in our car surely remember melting a tape or two in the summer sun. It’s kind of like that.  If any items removed from the house are harboring bugs or eggs, the pests will be reintroduced to the house when the items are brought back in. 
• If heat treatment is done for too short a time, or if the temperature is insufficient to eliminate all cool spots within the structure, the treatment will fail. 
• Heat treatment in multi-family housing or hotel rooms often pushes bed bugs into surrounding units, which is a bad idea. 
• Heat treatment leaves no residual protection, so the reintroduction of bed bugs is highly likely. 

Many companies do multiple treatments with multiple chemicals, hoping that if one chemical doesn’t kill the bugs, maybe another one will. A current industry trend is new synthetic chemical insecticide products containing multiple chemicals with multiple modes of action. These products can show better effectiveness for a while, but the effect is always temporary. Most chemicals work by disrupting the bed bug’s central nervous system, and there are continuous mutations going on in bed bugs’ central nervous systems. Bed bugs that survive chemical treatments pass on that resistance to their offspring, making chemical treatments less and less effective in subsequent generations. Bed bug populations are already showing resistance to the latest and greatest chemical treatments. In addition to mutations in the nervous system, bed bugs also develop thicker cuticles. The cuticle is the bug’s exoskeleton, which is made up of three layers. 

The Epicuticle is a waxy outer layer that makes the bug waterproof and gives it the ability to retain moisture and keep it from dehydrating. 

The Exocuticle is a hard middle layer that provides armor. 

The Endocuticle is a flexible inner layer. 

The thickening of these layers provides the bed bugs with more protection from things they encounter in their environment. Protection from things like chemical insecticides and diatomaceous earth.  It’s a bit like wearing a wetsuit over armor. 

Another recent development is the production of enzymes within the bed bug’s bodies that metabolize the chemicals that they absorb. Think of it as the ability to digest those chemical insecticides and poop them out. 

By continuing to try to eliminate bed bugs with chemical insecticides, the pest control industry is slowly putting out fires with gasoline. The strongest, most resilient bugs continue to survive, and at this point, we are fighting ‘Super Bugs.’ Everyone seems to underestimate how adaptable bed bugs can be. A great BBC article in Brian’s Bug Bits and Bytes section of this website discusses this. 

• None. 

• Ineffective and continues to make the long-term problem worse. 
• Exposes you and your family to the chemicals. 

Insecticide foggers are not only ineffective, but they often cause the bugs to scatter into a wider area, making them even more difficult to control. Why are there so many of these products on the market? $$$, that’s why. Unapproved pesticides, rubbing alcohol, and many other “I read it on the internet” remedies, in addition to being ineffective, can be very dangerous. Just don’t.   

Diatomaceous Earth is the microscopic, fossilized shells of prehistoric plankton and algae (diatoms). D.E. has gotten a lot of attention as a treatment for bed bugs, but it has been more effective in laboratory testing than in real-world use. The quality and composition of diatomaceous earth can vary greatly. The more impurities there are in the D.E., the less effective it becomes. D.E. also contains crystalline silica, which can be a serious health hazard if breathed. Most people do not know how to appropriately apply D.E. in order to get the most benefit from it. They can end up with a big mess and very little control, and their use can adversely affect products that really do work. You might find people claiming that ‘essential oils’ can help with bed bugs. It doesn’t. Table salt, baking soda, or boric acid? No. Drinking alcohol before bed won’t stop bed bugs. Insect repellents won’t stop bed bugs. If all of those OTC and DIYs lived up to the claims, we wouldn’t have anywhere near the problem that we have now. 

• Few. Limited control may be possible with D.E. Read more about it in the drop-down menu under the Bed bugs menu tab. 

• Waste of money, and often makes the problem worse. Just don’t. 

After countless hours of personal research, which included rearing colonies of bed bugs fed with my own blood so that I could study them, reading research articles published by major universities, and cultivating relationships with some of the leading entomologists in the country, I have found approaches that hold up to scrutiny. 

GPHD uses methods that are both effective against bed bugs and also very cost-effective. We do not use any of the above methods to eliminate bed bugs. We use products that are not only proven to be safe and non-toxic but are also the most effective weapons in existence for the fight against bed bugs. The greatest weapon we have in fighting bed bugs is knowledge and understanding of bed bug physiology and behavior. And GP Home Defense knows the enemy well. We know where they hide and how they travel. We know their feeding and reproducing behaviors. We know the incredible lengths they go to in order to survive and reproduce. We know their strengths, and we know their weaknesses. We exploit their Achilles heel(s) and wipe them out, one infestation at a time. 

There have been great advances recently in the war against bed bugs, and GP Home Defense LLC is on the cutting edge of that technology. One of those advances has been the development of a new bio-pesticide containing a naturally occurring insect pathogen. Colorless and odorless, it is safe for people and pets but causes a lethal infection in bed bugs. Never have I seen a product that is more devastating to bed bug populations or has such long-lasting effects (it continues working for months). Unlike chemical insecticides, this bio-pesticide does not attack the bug’s central nervous system. It doesn’t matter one bit what nervous system mutations the bed bugs have. It doesn’t matter what metabolizing enzymes the bugs have developed. That’s not how this works. It doesn’t even matter how thick their cuticle has grown. This pathogen starts as a microscopic spore that sticks to the bed bug’s body. The spore then germinates and produces an enzyme of its own that dissolves through that cuticle as it grows. Drill baby, drill! The pathogen then grows inside the bug, and the bug dies. It is 100% effective if expertly applied by someone who really knows what they’re doing. No type of resistance can be passed on to subsequent generations when there are no survivors. 

Our goal is not to charge you for repeated treatments to achieve bed bug elimination. Our goal is not to keep your infestation ‘under control’. We are almost always able to wipe out a bed bug infestation with one visit, and if we do need to return to address a lingering issue, we don’t charge for the follow-up visit. Our goal is not to gouge you on price for expensive treatments that may not have any long-term protection. 

Our goal, our mission, is to kill bed bugs and keep you protected from them for as long as possible for the least cost possible. We stand behind our work. Bed bugs have finally met their match. 

And now, bed bug prevention is a reality. We can provide a service that will ensure that your home or business never becomes infested! If bed bugs are brought into your home or work environment, they will not be able to survive and reproduce. We guarantee it. Homes, apartment buildings, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hotels and motels, medical facilities, schools, and offices of all kinds. What is your bed bug concern? We have solutions. 

Call today and let GP Home Defense help you live bug-free in bed. We are The Bed bug Authority.  

(785) 829-0644 

 

“After dealing with a fairly severe bed bug infestation for far too long Brian and his staff were able to do their inspection in a very professional manner and clearly lay out the options with the problems that we had. After a lot of anxiety about the price and the effectiveness of bed bug treatments by exterminators Brian was able to put a lot of our fears to rest and our problem was taken care of for the most part in one treatment and completely eradicated within two Brian and his staff are non-invasive and very professional they’re very knowledgeable about their profession and are very good at sharing that knowledge in a clear manner that’s easy to understand I would use him anytime anyplace. Thank you so much Brian you guys are wonderful.” 

“I had GP HOME DEFENSE here for bed bugs and ants and I have been more than pleased with the results. We have babies and pets here, of which I’m very happy with products used not harmful to them. There have been no bugs seen and that makes me happy to have family safe. Thank You Brian” 

“Someway, somehow I got bed bugs. I had never even seen one before. I searched the Internet for someone who could rescue me from this embarrassing situation. 

I decided to call Brian at GPHomeDefense. I was attracted to the way Brian described his reliance on safe, non-chemical treatments, his confidence that he could get the job done and his talk of guarantee. We met, I understood the program better thanks to Brian’s knowledge and clear explanations of his radically different approach, I committed. 

I am 100% pleased with the outcome and the guarantee. I have experienced Brian and his group as thoroughly reliable, competent and just plain good guys. Thank you Brian” 

“I used the service after getting bed bugs. I (tried) to use the home treatments on the market. I tried everything but they kept coming back. Using this service was worth every penny. He was very educative in his knowledge of his service. He explained everything in terms I understood and was professional in his demeanor. I trusted in his confidence and was not disappointed in doing so. The house has had no more issues with bed bugs. I’m very glad I chose to use his service and would highly recommend him for anyone who wants to go through this only once. I struggled with the bugs for months before I finally chose to get professional exterminator services. I wish I had chosen to go this way first. I highly recommend this business.” 

“We had bed bugs for several years. We went with another exterminator and had them come back five times. A family member went with another company and some how got in contact with GP Home Defense through a referral. Then she recommended we try GP Home Defense. We set up an appointment. Brian came out and told us everything about bed bugs in a formal presentation and answered our questions. There was no high pressure sales tactics. It was like talking to a good friend or a family member. After listening to the presentation, my mother and I made an appointment for service. He even gave us advice on what to do after the service call. Brian’s team did such a good job that we signed up for the preventative service after the follow up inspection. We would highly recommend GP Home Defense to all our family and friends.” 

“This company is very professional and I could tell that it is important for them to have their customers satisfied. They were willing to share their expertise to help me understand the process they used. I was very concerned about the toxicity of their product and that it would not hurt my pets and they were very conscientious about explaining the safety of their product. Their quality of work for the price was amazing. They went above board to make sure that I was very satisfied.” 

“I am so thankful for Brian and his quick response to our situation. Brian and his team were very professional and provided research and best practice results. No question was left unanswered or brushed off. He helped us understand the process and why it was necessary. Job was done right and done right the first time.” 

“Thank you so much for all you have done for us.  We were so upset over having bed bugs in our home and could not be happier with your service and professionalism. You do a great job and we would highly recommend your company to anyone looking for bug control/extermination.  We used another company for more than a year with no significant changes but with in a few days of you being here all the bugs in our house were 100% gone. Again, thank you for everything.” 

“We battled bed bugs for almost 3 years. Everything we tried seemed to just make them worse. My husband even sprayed with a chemical he bought at a farm store. It smelled awful, made us all sick, and we still had bed bugs. We had a different Salina pest control company spray 3 times, and we still had bed bugs. Brian and his team from GP Home Defense have a very different approach, and it’s not only crazy effective, but safe for the family, too. After only one treatment (and NO STINK) the bed bugs disappeared. Hallelujah!! Because of where we work, we are concerned about bringing them home again. GP Home Defense set us up on a quarterly treatment program that ensures that we will never have to worry about that again! Well done!” 

“True to their word, responsive to concerns, on time, and effective.” 

God told Noah to build the Ark out of gopher wood, and he did. God told Brian Metzger to do something a little different with gopher wood, and he is. 

“I feel very, very strongly that, for whatever reason, God has given me this mission to be the best possible landlord I can be and provide the best places for people I can,” said Metzger, owner and founder of Gopherwood Property. 

His rental agency’s name is based on Genesis 6:14. God tells Noah “Make thee an ark of gopher wood.” Metzger, who was born and raised in Salina, was working as a senior account executive with Alltel and had begun dabbling in the rental business when a command he heard clear as a bell changed his life. 

“I was sitting in church one Sunday, and was just praying as hard as I could for the ability to make the best possible decision for myself, my wife and kids; the tenants, and anyone I might do business with or anyone who might be affected by my actions,” Metzger, 38 said. “And there was this inaudible voice in the back of my head that said, ‘Go get a physcial.’ It wasn’t really what you expect to hear in church.” 

But although he didn’t understand how getting a physical would help him make decisions about his future, Metzger, for the first time in his life, got a physical. 

“I told the doctor to check for everything he could justify checking for,” Metzger said. “He listened to my heart and said, ‘Something’s not right.’” 

Metzger said a specialist out of Wichita was called in to consult and he, too, had a command for Metzger. “He asked me how soon I could get up to Wichita, and this was on a Thursday. I told him I had plans with my kids for that weekend so probably not until the next week,” Metzger said. “And he said, ‘No, I mean what time tomorrow morning can you get to Wichita; I understand you have plans with your kids, but I’m more concerned about keeping you alive so you can see your kids after this weekend.” 

It turns out Metzger had a defective heart valve, and his heart wasn’t getting enough oxygen he said. 

“My doctor told me I was already in the beginnings of heart failure and that at some point very, very soon, I wouldn’t have a heart attack, my heart would just seize and that would be it – I’d be dead.” 

Metzger now has a mechanical heart valve. 

“It’s noisy — it ticks. My family teases me about being able to hear me tick,” Metzger said. 

After undergoing open heart surgery and another emergency surgery in June 2001, Metzger started changing his life. 

“In August of 2001, I bought six duplexes, and it’s been a nonstop mission for me ever since,” He said. “In May (2004) I quit my regular job to dedicate myself to it full time – doing nothing but remodeling the old, ugly, neglected properties I’ve bought.” 

Metzger now owns 27 properties all over town. 

He said he just wants to make a difference in the lives of his tenants and neighborhoods. 

“It seems more important now to do things right and to try to do things that are going to make some kind of difference,” Metzger said. “When I had my surgery, I thought about if I don’t make it through this surgery, what are people going to say about me? Would my being here mean that much if I didn’t make it? I still don’t know the answer to that.” 

“There are a lot of good people out there who need a good place to live,” he said. “Also I’m proud of my community, and I like being able to take something that is an eyesore and turn it into something that someone can be proud of.” 

It’s important to do things right to make a tenant’s life easier, he said. That includes doing work that might not be evident at first glance. 

“My banker was here a couple of weeks ago, seeing how I was spending his money, Metzger said. He was looking at the paint on the outside of the house that I hadn’t finished yet, and wondering what I was spending money on. He couldn’t see the upgrades in plumbing insulation and the electrical improvements I had done.” 

The tenants, whether they’ve lived in one of Metzger’s properties for three months or three years, have good things to say about him. 

(tenant name removed), who has rented from Metzger for three years at his 411 W. Hamilton property, said she’s had no problems with Metzger. “If I need him, he’s here, and if not – he doesn’t bother us,” she said. 

(tenant name removed), 124 N. Ohio, had the same types of things to say, although she’s only rented from Metzger for four months. “I was pregnant at the time and needed a place to stay,” she said. “This was the first place I looked at. It was nice and we decided to rent it.” 

No complaints about Metzger as a landlord have been filed with the city’s Human Resources Department. 

Metzger said he tries to keep the rent payments, low, which has created a problem. While all but two of his 27 properties currently are rented, he said he sets the rents so low, he’s not making enough to support the business. 

“I don’t know ultimately why God would want me to be a landlord. To do well financially – I hope so, but I don’t see that being his plan.” 

He figures he’ll need to own about 50 properties to make the business successful. 

It’s the finances with which he’s having the most trouble keeping the faith. But he has a solution for that. “I tell myself to just keep doing what you can do, and the rest will be taken care of,” Metzger said. He said each day he tries to stay focused on “what the next right thing for me to do is.” 

“What I pray for regularly is for knowledge of God’s will and for God to help me follow his will,” Metzger said. 

Metzger also said although he regularly seeks direction from God on his business, he doesn’t often share his story with others. “I like sharing what it is that I’m trying to do, but it’s not something I do very much. I figure a lot of people might think I’m a kook anyways,” Metzger said. It’s like ‘Oh yeah – God told you to be a landlord – sure.’” 

Metzger also said he is more focused on doing the work than talking about it. 

“Good old Noah was out there in the desert being a good guy and God tells him to build this ark, and he dedicated the rest of his life to building the boat, Metzger said. Not everyone knew why he was doing what he was doing, and I’m sure he got some looks. It’s just more important to me to get it done than to explain why I’m doing it.” 

Although he attended church with his parents every Sunday until he was 11, Metzger’s path to faith actually began with an appetite for any drug he could get his hands on, beginning earlier than he can remember. 

“I was kind of a child prodigy when it came to using dope,” Metzger said. “I was doing drugs when I was 12, but before kindergarten I was stealing my folks cigarettes, beer – whatever.” 

Metzger said the feeling he got from drugs and the acceptance from his peers kept him using. “Anything I could get my hands on, I would not turn down – pot, cocaine, sedatives, tranquilizers, speed and alcohol – I was even drinking lighter fluid (which caused hallucinations).” 

Metzger’s life was falling down around him. “The feel-good didn’t last but a couple of years, and in eighth grade I remember getting high to feel normal at school,” he said. “I knew I was dependent.” 

Metzger said he tried to prove to his friends that he wasn’t dependent by going drug-free for 30 days. “I was miserable,” he said. “I didn’t make it to the 30 days, I was just miserable, suicidal. And someone suggested that I go to a meeting.” So, Metzger went, scared to death, and started a 12-step recovery program getting clean in 1980. 

He said at first, he didn’t want anything to do with God, despite the fact that a relationship with a higher power is an important part of the 12-step program. But after nine months of meetings, he started to open his heart and mind, and he began praying. 

He’s spent the last 24 years praying for knowledge of God’s will for him, the ability to recognize it when God reveals his will, and the power to carry it out. “It’s a relationship I’ve really been trying to improve for most of my life,” Metzger said. “I had somebody here a while back who said something about how I was a good Christian man. Most of the time I don’t feel very good at it – but I am trying. 

“When I was excitedly telling my dad what I wanted to do, he was quiet for a long time, and finally said, “Brian, sometimes you scare the heck out of me,” Metzger said. “My family is supportive, and my dad seems to be proud of me, which means a lot to me.” He said he also owes a lot to the men who work with him to fix up the properties he buys. “I can’t afford to pay them much, But they have great hearts and are working hard to help me out,” Metzger said. 

He also finds help and encouragement in unlikely places. “A few years ago, I had a heating and air guy working on an air conditioner in one of my places,” Metzger said. “He was asking some probing questions and I told him the abbreviated version of the story.” “I told him I knew it sounded ridiculous and he said, ‘Well, Brian, God needs landlords and heating and air guys, too. Find a mission in whatever you do,’ and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”