How to prepare for bed bug heat treatment

Full heat treatment for bed bugs requires careful planning to ensure that the heat applied reaches all of the hidden bugs. Because bed bugs are so good at hiding and avoiding discovery, even employing high heat and lethal temperatures to kill them can be problematic if there is too much furniture or personal belongings in the way of the heat blast waves. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your home for bed bug heat treatment. 

How successful is heat treatment for bed bugs? 

Heat therapy for bed bugs is particularly effective since temperatures above 93 degrees Celsius kill bed bugs instantaneously. This is not the case with chemical treatments, which are dangerous due to the rapid development of resistance in these insects to regularly used chemicals.

Bed bug heat treatment is a type of pest control solution that involves using equipment to distribute heat throughout a structure for several hours in each room. It is extremely important to prepare your home so that the heat can reach even the tiniest spaces where bed bugs hide.

How do you know if you have bed bugs? 

How long does bed bug heat treatment take?

At 118°F (48°C), bed bugs and eggs die in 90 minutes, and at 122°F (50°C), they die instantaneously. The air temperature in the room during a heat treatment is usually between 135°F (57.2°C) and 145°F (62.7°C). 

Remote thermometers are placed by exterminators throughout the house to ensure that the proper temperatures are reached. The exterminator keeps a tight eye on the thermometers to make sure it becomes hot enough to kill bed bugs. Depending on the quality of the region being treated, a heat treatment can take anywhere from six to eight hours.

Bed bug extermination services 

What can get damaged during bed bug heat treatment?

Some items in rooms may be damaged by the high heat so it’s important to know what needs to be removed from the house prior to heat treatment to avoid harm. 

Combustible items

Remove any items that could readily catch fire or that are potentially combustible. Technicians will do a walk-through of the residence to ensure that any objects that could explode or catch fire have been removed, although doing so ahead of time is beneficial.

Wall hanging items

Remove any items that could be destroyed by powerful air blowers that are also distributing heat throughout the house. This is especially important for any artwork or images on the walls that are susceptible to air pressure and heat and could suffer irreversible harm.

Plants and pets

All plants that could be destroyed by high temperatures should be removed from the house. It is best to remove all plants to ensure that they withstand the heat regardless of the circumstances. Furthermore, all pets, including fish, should be removed from the residence. Failure to do so may result in the creatures dying as a result of the usage of hot air blasts.

Because bed bugs cannot reproduce without blood, if you have dogs or cats, you should remove them from the house to prevent bed bugs from jumping on them to survive the heat or being transmitted to other parts of the house that have already been treated with heat.

Sentimental items

Picture frames, personal artifacts, and decorative things should be removed from the home and preferably wrapped in plastic bags or an airtight container with an aerosol pesticide to kill any bed bugs within. Clothing should also be washed and treated at the highest heat temperature possible, then placed inside airtight bags or containers.

Contractor bags work best for keeping pests inside the bag and preventing them from escaping back into the house if you prefer to store clothing in bags.

How to check used furniture for bed bugs 

What should you do before a bed bug heat treatment?

The home should be as clear and accessible as possible in order to prepare for a bed bug heat treatment. Bed bug-infested items should be kept in the house so that the heat treatment can be successful. To allow the heat to enter, open all doors and drawers, as well as any drawers and cabinets.

Heat therapy for bed bugs is only as successful as the area that allows the heat to reach the insects' microscopic cracks and crevices. To be free of bed bugs, every insect must be killed within the house in order to eliminate the colony.

How long after bed bug heat treatment can I return home?

Depending on the size of your home, a heat treatment will keep you away from your home for 6 to 9 hours. After this, you are free to return home. 

What to do after a bed bug heat treatment service?

It is recommended that you wash your linens to remove any bed bug shed skins or droppings. However, this is not required where the bed bugs are dead. Some consumers prefer to purchase a bed insect protective mattress cover to put their minds at ease, although it is not always necessary.

Any bedbugs that came into contact with the therapy should be wiped out. This implies that any bed bugs that are currently in your home will die and not return. If you still have bed bugs after three treatments, it's most likely because you're frequently visiting a bed bug-infested location. Following treatment, you should take precautions and put in place strategies to keep bed bugs out of your home. 

Do bed bugs come back after heat treatment?

Whether it's a regular visitor, a family member, or an acquaintance from the neighborhood. It's critical to figure out what caused the infestation in the first place if you want to have complete peace of mind. Checking out our pest control blog is also a great way to learn how to keep bed bugs and other pests from invading your house. We also recommend purchasing a bed insect protected mattress cover. 

How much does bed bug heat treatment cost?

Professional bed bug heat treatment generally costs between $ 900 and $ 2000. Homeowners should expect to pay roughly $ 300 for an infestation that is contained to a single room. An infestation of the entire house might cost up to $ 5000 to treat.
The total cost depends on the size of the afflicted area, the type of bed bug treatment employed, and the degree of the infestation. If you find a bed bug in your house, contact a professional exterminator as soon as possible.

Extermination services

Bed bugs can do significant damage to a home so domestic pest control is necessary to minimize damage. Exterminators can assist you in eliminating your pest problem by providing expert guidance and assistance both during and after the process.

V Extermination offers the following extermination services:

• Complete protection (exterior, interior, and rodents)
• On the outside, there's vermin prevention and peace of mind.
• Security service for your peace of mind from the outside.
• Wildlife management (capture and relocation).

Please contact us and seek a quote if you're interested in any of the following services and want to get rid of the bed bugs in your house!