Bed bugs are notoriously hard to get rid of. Adult bed bugs can go a year without eating and survive on very little air. Along with other genetic factors (such as their superb ability to adapt), this makes bed bugs difficult to eradicate.
The good news is bed bugs are susceptible to heat. Theyโll die at 118 degrees after an hour and a half. For this reason, heat treatment is an effective alternative to pesticides.
Reasons (and Benefits) to Get Bed Bug Heat Treatment
1. Whole Room Treatments Gets Every Corner
When bed bugs invade a home, theyโll create a living space anywhere they can hide โ mattresses, box springs, carpet, baseboards, and more. Because they multiply rapidly, itโs minimally effective to treat โonly the places where you see bed bugs.โ They could be anywhere.ย
During a home heat treatment, heat permeates the entire house. All of your belongings reach levels of heat that bed bugs canโt survive. They may be able to hide from sprays and powders, but they canโt hide from the heat.
2. Itโs Done in a Matter of Hours
Heat treatment is often preferred because itโs over in a matter of hours. You can freeze bed bugs, but it takes several days. Some people also bag their belongings and put them in storage until the bugs die. Again, this requires months rather than hours.
3. Heat Treatment Doesnโt Require Harsh Chemicals
One of the biggest benefits of heat treatment is its ability to kill bed bugs without using harsh chemicals. Because bed bugs feed on your body, most of the treatment will need to happen in your living space. You may not want to spray down your bed with deadly chemicals to get rid of bugs.
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How Bed Bug Heat Treatment Works
First, anything flammable or explosive must be removed from the home. Doorways and windows should be sealed so heat doesnโt escape.
Whole home heat treatments are generally done by bed bug control professionals. In our process, we set up mobile heaters, fans, and a generator to power them. As your home heats up, theyโll start rotating belongings (cushions, clothing, luggage) to make sure the heat distributes evenly. The heat in your home will rise to temperatures between 130 and 140 degrees and stay there for a number of hours. Both adult bugs and eggs are killed off in the process.
Why it Works
Bed bugs find their food (your blood) by sensing heat. During the early stages of heat treatment, bed bugs come out of hiding because the heat tells them food is near. The temperature slowly rises to deadly temperatures and the bugs die off.
Heat Treatment Can Accompany Other Bed Bug Treatments (for Maximum Results)
Heat treatments will kill every last bug in your house. However, bugs could return after the temperature cools. For this reason, many professionals recommend applying an insecticide to your homeโs exterior that acts as a barrier once bed bugs are gone.
Once you get bed bugs out of your house, take preventative measures to make sure they never return! Considering heat treatment for bed bugs in your home? Donโt wait as the problem grows! Get in touch with us today to talk about eradicating bed bugs from your home.
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