Does AC keep bed bugs away?

Air conditioning does not keep bed bugs away, because bed bugs are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and blood, not affected by cool air, and they can survive and thrive in air conditioned rooms. While bed bugs prefer temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and their development slows in cooler temperatures below 60 degrees, typical AC settings of 68 to 75 degrees are still within their comfort range and will not deter them from feeding at night. In fact, AC may make room more comfortable for sleeping, so hosts remain in bed providing regular blood meals. Bed bugs can survive temperatures down to near freezing for short periods and can live for months without feeding in cool conditions, so AC does not kill them. Extreme cold below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 days can kill them, but home AC never reaches that. To keep bed bugs away, focus on proven methods such as encasing mattress and box spring in bed bug proof encasements, using interceptor traps under bed legs, washing bedding weekly on high heat, vacuuming mattress seams regularly, inspecting second hand furniture before bringing home, and using professional heat treatment heating rooms to 120 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit which kills 100 percent of bugs and eggs, as heat is their enemy, not cold air from AC. So while AC provides comfort, it does not prevent or eliminate bed bugs.