How Heat Treatments For Bed Bug Control Work
Posted on: 25 November 2020
When you spot bed bugs in your home, you may panic. You've probably heard how the bugs are resistant to pesticides and difficult to get rid of, so you may fear you'll be living with the bugs and their bites for a long time. However, it's possible to get rid of bed bugs fairly fast using heat.
Using heat to kill existing bugs and then taking steps to keep a new infestation from happening is often a good way to get a bed bug infestation under control and keep the bugs away. Here's how heat treatments work.
Commercial Heaters Get Your Room Hot
The bed bug control service you use will decide if your entire home needs to be heated up or just your bedroom. Since bed bugs hang around your bed, they may not be in other rooms of your home unless you have a more serious infestation. The service uses a generator outdoors to raise the temperature inside your room well past the temperature needed to kill bed bugs instantly.
You'll Need To Leave For Several Hours
The bed bug control service will advise you on preparing for the heat treatment. You'll need to stay elsewhere and take pets with you. You may also need to place your plants outside and remove items from your room that could melt due to high heat. Heat treatment can take several hours, so plan the day in advance and have a place for you and your pets to go.
The Heat Kills Hidden Bugs
One reason heat treatments are popular for killing bed bugs is that the heat permeates everything in the room. Bugs that are hidden behind wallpaper, in clothing, and burrowed in carpeting will be affected by the heat, and they'll die.
Heat Might Be Used With Other Treatments
Your bed bug control professional will discuss the need for additional types of treatments. They might recommend using heat alone or in combination with pesticides or dry ice. Heat kills bed bugs, but it won't keep them from coming back. Using residual pesticides might be beneficial for keeping bed bugs at bay. Freezing bugs with dry ice might be necessary for items that can't stay in the heat treatment room.
Once the treatment is over, the pest professional might give you tips on preventing another infestation. This could include things like keeping clutter to a minimum, vacuuming regularly, watching for bites and other signs of an infestation, and avoiding second-hand furniture and clothing if possible.
For more information, reach out to a bed bug control service in your area.
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