About Heat Treatment

Most Effective Bed Bug Eliminator

The use of heat as a treatment on bed bugs is the best know and most often used elimination treatment of bed bugs. This treatment is very simple for both the homeowner and the professional and it is also highly effective.

While a home is being heat treated for bed bugs, the overall temperature within the house is brought up to a temperature high enough that bed bugs of all life-stages as well as their eggs are no longer able to survive. The heat treatment is able to penetrate every crack and nook in your house making it an incredibly effective treatment. There is no place the heat doesn’t reach leaving the bed bugs and their eggs with no place to hide.

The heat treatment is done with a special heater that must be used in a very precise way to maximize efficiency and safety, because of this, these treatments are best left to a professional. The professional will decide which of two common heat treatment methods will be best for the situation in your home. The first method is bringing up the temperature of the house to 140ºF for three hours. The second method consists of bringing the temperature of the house to 130ºF for four hours. The professional will keep a close eye on the house for safety precautions and to ensure all bed bugs have been killed.

Preparing Your Home For Heat Treatment

For your safety as well as to ensure no bed bugs escape by stowing away, it is important that you and your pest all remain outside the home during the process of the heat treatment. This means it is important for you to schedule the heat treatment of your home while you and all other inhabitants can conveniently leave the home.

There are a few steps the homeowner must take in order to prepare the house for the treatment. Making sure the house is airtight is one important step. You can do this by using caulk to seal any cracks or gaps in and around any doors or windows in the house. You will also want to double check that all doors and windows are fully closed before leaving the house during the treatment.

All electronics should be unplugged for their outlets.

A clear path should be created for the professionals and their equipment.

All clothing that is tightly packed in closets and drawers should be moved to more loosely packed laundry baskets.

Any foods or medicines that are susceptible to heat should be placed in the refrigerator.

Items that are flammable or susceptible to heat should be collected in one general area and the professionals should be notified of these items before they begin. The following list will better advise you on items to be rounded up.

Items to be Removed From the Home

All Pets (including rodents, fish, reptiles, birds, etc.)
Houseplants
Seeds and Bulbs
Musical Instruments
CDs
Oil Paintings
Wax Figurines
Candles
Flammable or Combustible Chemicals
Anything Flammable
Pressurized Cans
Aerosol Cans
Compressed Gases
Carbonated Beverages

Advantages of Heat Treatment

Not only is the heat treatment method of bed bug removal the most effective, but it is also the fastest method. This treatment only requires the inhabitants of the home to vacate the home during the 3-4 hours that the home is being heated and setup. Once the professionals have removed all of their equipment, you may immediately return to your home.
In addition to these advantages, heat treatment is also an exceptional method of bed bug extermination due to it being highly successful after only one treatment and how little preparation is required of the homeowner.

Disadvantages of Heat Treatment

While the disadvantage list of heat treatment is short, there are a few things that a homeowner may consider an inconvenience. These being the requirement of everyone to vacate the home while it is being heat treated as well as the minimal preparations required by the homeowner before the treatment can begin. Heat treatment also tends to be the costliest of all the bed bug treatment options.

Cost of Heat Treatment

The cost of bed bug heat treatments varies. Some professionals choose to charge a flat rate for a heat treatment while others will choose to charge an hourly rate. Factor that will influence the cost of heat treatment includes the size of your home, taxes, travel fees, etc. You should always request a quote to get an accurate estimate.