Did you know that of all the ways to combat bedbugs, heat treatment is the most effective strategy for getting rid of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are a complete nuisance. They are exceptionally difficult to control due to the fact that they are capable of hiding in such small spaces – such as cracks and crevices. In addition to this, most bed bugs today are difficult to eliminate with insecticides because of the fact that they have built up resistance through the generations. Due to the difficulty in accessing bed bugs and the ineffectiveness of pest control treatments, both homeowners and individuals within the pest control industry have strived to uncover a method for successful elimination. Success has been found in heat treatments. Today, this is considered to be the most effective strategy for the complete eradication of troublesome bed bug infestations.
The Power of Heat
Heat can be utilized in a wide assortment of ways in order to thoroughly get rid of bed bugs. In the form of direct steam, bed bugs in furniture, behind baseboards, and in carpets may be eliminated. Household items may be treated by heat that is emitted from a portable chamber or directly through the means of a drying system that emits heat.
Professional heating systems may be used to successfully eliminate bed bugs in rooms or through an entire structure.
Unlike professional pest-killing chemicals or over-the-counter pesticides, bed bugs are unable to resist or create a tolerance for exceptionally high temperatures; therefore, heat-producing bed bug treatments are the most effective treatment, to date.
The Advantages
There are several distinct advantages associated with utilizing heat as a bed bug treatment. First, it is considered to be non-toxic to both humans and their pets. Heat does not leave behind any type of potentially devastating chemical residue. In addition to this, bed bug heat treatments are capable of killing off the pests at all stages in their life – even eggs.
Heat treatment is based on the knowledge that we currently have in terms of thermal death points. This is the temperature at which bed bug eggs and the insects themselves die. In addition to this, it is based on what we know about how long the pests must remain in contact with the heat in order to die, or the exposure time.
For example, the eggs of bed bugs must be exposed for at least 90 minutes at a temperature of at least 118°F in order to die. The time may be lower if the temperature is increased.
If exposed to the same temperature for 20 minutes, all other bed bugs will die. Today’s in-home heat bed bug treatments are designed to heat up the bugs quickly so that they die very rapidly.
Here’s a bedbug heat treatment job.
Re-Infestations
If you elect to use an over-the-counter or professional chemical-based bed bug treatment in your home, chances are, re-infestation will start up again the day after treatment. This is because the pests are capable of hiding in the smallest and most difficult-to-reach locations while the substance is being emitted into the home for extermination.
Examples of these areas include the electrical outlets in the home, in the folds of bedding pieces, in shoes, and behind walls. The good thing about heat treatments is that the heat is able to successfully reach all of those hard-to-reach locations that chemical treatments cannot.
A bedbug heat treatment doesn’t leave behind any dangerous chemicals or residues. It’s fast and effective. You and your family are not required to leave the house for a prolonged period of time following the heat treatment. You don’t have to move the furniture in your home. In fact, heat is a natural cleaning and disinfecting agent.
In addition to eliminating that nasty bed bug infestation in your home, the heat treatments are capable of eliminating germs, bacteria, and even viruses that may be lingering in and around your home. Best of all, you do not have to worry about experiencing a re-infestation anytime in the near future!
How Does it Work?
In recent years, specialized heating systems have been developed that are more than capable of superheating rooms and structures that are infested to successfully kill all bed bugs.
The basic principles are that the system uses electric-based or propane-based heat to warm the air within an area very quickly. In most instances, the temperature reached is anywhere between 120°F to 160°F.
The time that the structure is heated will depend upon the severity of the infestation and the size of the area being treated. It may be anywhere from as little as 30 minutes to as much as several hours. This time allows the heat to successfully reach all of those hard-to-reach areas where chemical pesticides fall short.
In most instances, sensors are placed in hard-to-reach areas. Once the thermal death points have been successfully reached – based on the information given off by the sensors – the heating process is continued for a pre-set period of time.
In some cases, this could be an hour or more. This additional time ensures that all the bed bug eggs and live bugs are completely eliminated.
In most instances, just one, single heat treatment for bedbugs will completely eradicate the entire infestation. While it is true that some structures may require additional treatments, this is very rare.
If the construction of the structure is at risk of developing heat sinks, an additional insecticide application may have to be utilized to ensure the overall success of the treatment.
When you choose a pest control company to perform heat treatment for bedbugs, you do not have to worry about the purchase or the rental of the equipment to perform the job yourself. The agency will have the heating system and all components that are necessary to perform the job.
These professionals will carefully monitor the heat that is distributed throughout your home. This ensures complete coverage and it also means that damaging heat levels will not be reached within the home. These agencies also know the ins and outs of the treatments. This means that they know how to set up the heating system so that there is less of a chance for the development of heat sinks and similar issues.
Precautions
Bed bugs can cause many problems – both in the home and to your health, the health of your loved ones, and the health of your pets. While the heat systems used to eradicate infestations are generally considered to be completely safe for the items in your home, the agencies that perform this type of treatment encourage homeowners to remove certain items. This is especially true if very high temperatures will be reached during the process.
The following outlines a brief example of the items that may need to be safely stored prior to treatment. Each company is different.
They will likely provide you with an agreement before the service that outlines items that may need to be removed. Be certain to inquire about this type of agreement before the initiation of the bed bug treatment:
- Any Products Composed of Vinyl
- Certain Musical Instruments
- Certain Electronic Devices
- Pets
- Plants
- Batteries
- Products Composed of Wax
- Fresh Food Products
- Alcohol-Based Products
- Oxygen and/or Breathing Devices
- Medications
- Any Type of Explosive Device
- Pressurized Containers
- Valuables
- Fine Arts and Collectibles
If – for some reason – you are unable to successfully remove the items that the pest control company requests, inquire as to whether or not they may be wrapped in a material that is insulative in nature. In many instances, this is completely acceptable.
Additional Preparation
The agency that completes heat treatment for bed bugs will set up a service day with a time for the initiation of the treatment.
You will want to engage in a little additional preparation to make certain that your home is ready for the treatment. Start by reducing any and all clutter throughout the home. Strip the bedding and wash and dry in the highest heat possible. Move items away from walls.
If anyone or any pets in the household have any type of health issue – such as respiratory problems, allergies, or even pregnancy – be certain to inform the technicians that arrive to complete the service. By taking these steps, you can help ensure 100% success of the heat treatment to kill off all of the bed bugs and eggs in your home.
Set an Appointment Today
Now that you understand why heat treatments are considered to be the most effective for the eradication of bed bug treatments, it is time to call us here at All Pest Control and set up the appointment to have us do the treatment on your home. We can go into more detail on how everything works, outline the process, and help ensure that your home is as ready as possible when we arrive. For more information, contact us today by calling: 765-259-0043