Bed bugs are a serious pest that must be killed immediately. Using heat to kill them is the best option available.
This method involves raising the temperature of the home to a level that is too hot for bed bugs and their eggs to survive. It is similar to the way saunas work.
Heat Kills
One of bed bugs’ weaknesses is high temperature by raising the temperature in a home until it becomes too hot for them. This sort of treatment is like a sauna, and it hunts down and kills the bugs from every corner of the home no matter where they are hiding. This is much more efficient than sprays or powders, which only work in small areas and require the bugs to move in order to be targeted.
A professional will use special heating equipment to raise the interior temperature of a home until it reaches the lethal levels for the bugs. This process takes some time to complete, but it will ensure that the bugs and their eggs are killed in every single spot in the house. Professionals are also able to target hard to reach spots, such as behind walls or inside crevices in floors and ceilings. This method of killing the bugs is far more effective than any other option, and it is safe for you and your family members.
If you have a large infestation of bed bugs, it might be best to leave the home during the heat treatment. You will need to find a hotel or another way to stay during this time, but it is the only way to ensure that all of the bugs and eggs are killed. If you have a smaller infestation, it might be possible for you to do the treatment on your own. This will require a lot of patience, but it might be the most effective way to eliminate the pests.
You can use your washing machine and dryer to get rid of bed bugs, as they are sensitive to high temperatures. Just be sure to wash the clothes in the hottest water and dryer settings that you can. You can also use portable heating chambers to contain infested items and heat them to a high level.
You should also remove any boxes or bags from floors and walls and stack them away from the wall. This will allow the floors and walls to be properly heated. Lastly, you should purchase protective covers for mattresses and box springs to keep the bugs out.
It is Effective
While some people mistakenly believe that leaving heavily infested items outdoors during winter or putting them on a sunny summer day will kill bed bugs, it is typically necessary to use extreme temperatures far higher than what can be achieved naturally. Luckily, there are many different methods that can quickly and effectively heat infested items to this temperature. One of the most effective is a steam cleaner that is specially designed to blast hot water at high levels, which will instantly kill all stages of the pests. Another is a portable heating chamber that can contain infested items and raise their internal temperatures to more than the insect’s thermal threshold, killing them all in a matter of minutes.
These devices work by using a special electric or propane furnace to super heat an entire room, raising its internal temperatures above the lethal level of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the room is at this temperature for a period of 90 minutes, all bed bug adults, nymphs and eggs will die. While this method may not be suitable for every home, it is a powerful solution for those who need to completely get rid of an infestation in the shortest amount of time possible.
Before any kind of heat treatment is begun, it is important to remove any clutter from rooms. This includes moving items away from walls and removing stacks of clothing, books or other items that can be used as hiding places for bed bugs and their eggs. This will allow the room to be heated more evenly. It is also necessary to open up closets, cabinets and furniture drawers during the initial heating process so that all cracks and crevices can be brought up to lethal temperatures as well.
In addition, it is often useful to apply silica dust (often known as diatomaceous earth) to the areas where bed bugs are found. This natural product is made up of the finely ground remains of fossilized algae, and when it comes into contact with an infested insect’s exoskeleton it causes abrasions that can eventually cut off the insects’ ability to breathe, causing them to dehydrate and die.
It is Safe
The good news is that heat treatment is safe for humans and pets, especially when professionally performed. Many homeowners attempt to kill bed bugs by increasing their home’s temperature with a propane space heater or even their own clothes dryer set on high heat. However, doing this is not only ineffective, but it can also be dangerous for your health and the safety of your possessions.
Professionals use heat treatment in conjunction with pesticide treatments and encasements to provide the most thorough and effective bed bug elimination possible. They are trained to assess a home’s infestation and determine the best approach to solving it. This might include a complete house heat treatment or just treating specific rooms where the infestation is most acute.
To be effective, a house needs to reach a sustained temperature of around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This cannot be accomplished by turning your oven on or using a portable space heater, and it requires the use of specialized equipment to heat an entire home.
Experienced heat treaters also know that it is important to make sure that closet doors, cabinet doors, dresser drawers, and other locations are open during the heating process. This allows air to flow into those areas, reaching crevices and voids where bed bugs like to hide. This ensures that all parts of the home are exposed to lethal temperatures and that all stages of the bug are killed.
It is also important to remember that bed bug eggs are more heat resistant than adults, and they may require a longer exposure time to be killed. This is why a comprehensive bed bug treatment strategy always involves a combination of methods. In addition to heat, this might include a combination of pesticide treatments, encasements, and steamers, depending on the size of your home and severity of the infestation.
It is Cost-Effective
Bed bug infestations are often extremely difficult to eradicate. These bloodsuckers are known to resist many common chemicals used in sprays, powders, and other treatments. Fortunately, heat is a very effective and safe method of killing these pests. It is also much cheaper than other methods. For example, chemical treatments may require multiple services over a month. Meanwhile, a professional heat treatment will usually only take one service.
Heat is a great option for those looking to avoid the use of harmful chemicals in their homes. However, it is important to remember that it is not as efficient as a comprehensive pest control plan. A combination of both heat and other treatments is typically the best way to ensure that you get rid of bed bugs for good.
A comprehensive pest control plan may include a variety of tactics, including the use of protective covers and encasements to keep the insects from crawling out of the home during a heat treatment. In addition to this, the treatment should also include pesticide applications in the affected areas. This will help kill any remaining bugs and prevent them from coming back.
When deciding how to treat a bed bug problem, it is important to consider the size of the infestation. For a smaller infestation, you can likely use home treatment options such as washing clothes and bedding, vacuuming, and treating furniture. In more severe cases, it is essential to hire a professional. These professionals will have the equipment and skillset needed to completely remove the pests from your home.
During the initial heating process, it is important to open up closet doors, cabinet doors, dresser drawers, etc. This allows the heated air to reach all parts of the home and will prevent the bugs from hiding in these locations. The home should be kept at a minimum of 140°F for two hours to kill all the bugs and eggs.
It is also important to note that the temperature will increase over time, which is why it is important to schedule the heating treatment at a time when you are not home. During the heating process, it is recommended to wear light clothing and cover any dark clothing. In addition, you should make sure to seal any small cracks or crevices that the bugs could hide in.
