Fleas can quickly infest your home and cause a lot of discomfort for you and your family. But what happens to fleas when you move out of your house and leave it empty? How long can fleas live in an empty house?
Fleas that have been detached from the host (you or your pet) will start to look for a new host within 24-48 hours. If they don’t find a new host, they will gradually starve to death.
These fleas won’t survive without a new host and will die within 4 days. Young fleas live a bit longer than adults and can survive without meals for 7 days.
However, it’s an entirely different thing when we’re talking about pupae – the stage between larva and adult.
Pupae are protected inside a cocoon and can stay there for months until the right conditions (like temperature, humidity, or vibration) trigger them to hatch into adults.
This means that if you leave your house empty for a long time, there could still be fleas lurking around, waiting to hatch.
They can survive within 5 – 9 months as these pests can enter dormancy and remain inactive, only to reemerge when they sense a new host.
When moving to a new home (who used to have pets), or if you’re leaving your home unoccupied for a while, treating this infestation should be a top priority to avoid any future problems. There could still be pests lurking around, even if you can’t see them!
Understanding Fleas
Interestingly, fleas don’t travel far from their host. In fact, the average flea only jumps about six to eight inches high and three feet horizontally.
They don’t move out of where they are, mainly because their legs are not built for long-distance travel. With that being said, they’ll stay in one area until they find a new host.
While they’re waiting for a new host, fleas will spend most of their time in cracks and crevices where they’re protected from the environment.
Once they sense a new host, they’ll come out and start feeding. Without a host, they’ll die within a few days up to weeks, depending on the environment and their age.
Getting Rid of Fleas from an Unoccupied and Empty House
If your home is unoccupied and you’re dealing with a flea infestation, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the pests for good.
Tackling an infestation is much easier in an empty house because you don’t have to worry about treating your family or pets.
Use a Flea Fogger
First, you’ll want to treat the inside of your home with a flea bomb or fogger. This will kill any fleas that are currently in your house. You may have to treat your home more than once to make sure all the fleas are gone.
Vacuum Regularly
Next, you’ll want to vacuum your floors and furniture regularly. This will help pick up any eggs or larvae that are lurking around.
Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag after each use, so the fleas don’t come back! Additionally, you can also treat your vacuum bag with flea powder to kill any fleas that might be in there.
Wash Beddings and Curtains (If Any)
If the home you’re trying to treat has any bedding or curtains, be sure to wash them in hot water. This will kill any fleas or eggs that might be lurking there.
You can also put the bedding in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any fleas. High temperatures are lethal to fleas!
Clean Carpets
Fleas love to hide in carpets, so you’ll want to make sure you clean them thoroughly. Using a steam cleaner is a great way to kill fleas and their eggs. You can also treat your carpets with a flea powder or spray to help keep the fleas away.
Alternatively, you may also send it to a professional carpet cleaner to ensure that all fleas are killed. Don’t forget to let the cleaners know that you’re dealing with a flea infestation so they can take the necessary precautions!
Treat Your Yard
Aside from treating the inside of your home, you’ll also want to treat your yard. This is especially important if the previous owners have had pets or animals in their home and yard. Here are some things you can do to treat your yard:
- Mow your lawn regularly.
- Remove any piles of leaves, wood, or debris.
- Trim back any overgrown bushes or trees.
- Get rid of any standing water.
- Treat your yard with an insecticide designed to kill fleas. An outdoor flea spray will usually do the trick.
Seal Cracks and Crevices
Finally, you’ll want to make sure you seal any cracks and crevices around your home. This will prevent any fleas from coming inside.
You can use caulk or another type of sealant to fill in the cracks. Fleas like to stay in dark and moist places, so be sure to check under your sinks and in any storage areas.
Carefully inspect your home to make sure that you don’t miss any cracks or crevices!
Depending on the severity of the infestation, it may take a few weeks to get rid of all the fleas. If you’re having problems getting rid of the fleas, you may want to consider hiring a professional pest control company. They’ll be able to help you get rid of the fleas for good!
Final Thoughts
Fleas require warm-blooded hosts like cats and dogs to survive. They can’t thrive on these host animals if they’re dead. It takes 4 – 7 days for an adult flea to die without re-attaching to another host.
This might not be the main issue. However, if there are pupa or eggs in the home, it takes 5-9 months for them to completely starve to death.
Pupa can survive for months without a host, and they don’t even need to eat. They’re just waiting to hatch into adult fleas so they can jump on the first warm-blooded animal that comes by.
If you think you might have fleas in your home, before moving in, make sure that you treat the area first, or seek help from professionals to make sure your home is flea-free.
