Guide to Bed Bug Heat Treatments
Are Bed Bug Heat Treatments Effective?
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult bugs to treat for several reasons. They are often immune to pesticides, the can survive for several months without feeding, they can hide just about anywhere, and they move when needed to avoid treatment. These reasons are why the most effective bed bug extermination strategies require thorough treatment that is able to reach the most hidden corners and cracks within a home to completely eradicate bed bugs. One of these treatment strategies includes heat treatment. This strategy utilizes whole house heaters to raise the ambient temperature throughout a home above the bed bug’s temperature threshold. This causes bed bugs and their nymphs and eggs to die off once a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit is reached and maintained for 90 minutes.
Why Are Bed Bug Heat Treatments Effective?
Whole house heat treatments are one of the most effective bed bug treatment strategies because bed bugs and all stages of their life cycle have a thermal threshold that if exceeded, will cause bed bugs to die. This thermal death point requires that a certain temperature is reached and maintained for a certain length of time. Adult bed bugs will die off when 113 degrees Fahrenheit is reached and maintained for 90 minutes. Bed bug eggs must reach a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes to cause 100% mortality. It is important to note that in order for heat treatment to be successful, all parts of a home must reach that baseline temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes to kill all stages of the bed bug life cycle. This includes hard to reach areas like inside wall cavities, crawl spaces, and attics. If the thermal death point temperature doesn’t permeate the house completely, there is a strong chance that bed bugs will escape to areas that are still under the desired temperature causing an infestation to return once the heat treatment is over. To achieve complete bed bug extermination, industrial heaters will be left on so the internal space within a home reaches an average temperature between 140 – 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 – 9 hours. This will allow the heat to permeate into those hard-to-reach spaces for long enough to ensure that all bed bugs and eggs are killed off. There are other methods like single room heat treatment and steam cleaning that heat to kill bed bugs. These methods can be less effective if bed bugs are able to move away from the heat while an area is being treated.
Pros and Cons of Bed Bug Heat Treatments
Compared to other bed bug treatment methods like using pesticides or other chemical / natural deterrents, heat treatment is usually one of the only ways to ensure that bed bugs are killed. That being said, bed bug heat treatments do have their own set of advantages / disadvantages.
Pros of Bed Bug Heat Treatment
- Heat treatment doesn’t require toxic pesticides that are sometimes ineffective against pesticide resistant bed bugs.
- Without pesticides, there is no residual effects or chemicals that need to be cleaned up treatment is applied.
- When applied correctly, bed bug heat treatment should have a 100% success rate in killing bed bugs.
- Bed bug heat treatment usually only needs to be done once when implemented correctly because it kills all stages of the bed bug life cycle.
- Bed bug heat treatments are able to reach even the hardest to reach areas ensuring that well hidden or dormant bed bugs are exterminated.
Cons of Bed Bug Heat Treatment
- Heat treatment won’t stop bed bugs from being reintroduced after treatment is completed.
- Bed bug heat treatment requires a significant amount of preparation that will require the home to be vacant for a short period.
- There are likely heat sensitive items within a home that will need to be removed to prevent damage.
- Bed bug heat treatment is usually an expensive treatment option.
What Does Bed Bug Heat Treatment Cost?
Bed bug heat treatment costs vary wildly on the space being treated and the type of heat treatment being applied. A simple steam treatment won’t cost too much but individual room heat treatments or whole house heat treatments can be a completely different story. The factors that impact the costs of the more expensive bed bug heat treatment options include the size of the home or room and the severity of the infestation.
Different Bed Bug Heat Treatment Options
There are several ways to use heat to treat for bed bugs. The most common ways include:
Treating Bed Bug Infested Items
Having bed bug infested items is the easiest way to introduce bed bugs into a home. Since bed bugs are notorious for hitch hiking on luggage or articles of clothing, they can be picked up anywhere from staying in infested hotels / motels to sitting on infested seats on public transportation and even movie theaters. It is next to impossible to know when a single bed bug might get picked up while going about your daily activities, but with the right precautions, bed bugs can sometimes be detected when traveling. If bed bugs are found in a hotel or motel that an individual is staying at, it is important to treat potentially infested items upon returning to prevent a full blown infestation at home. The best way to treat infested items like clothing and luggage are to wash the clothes using the hottest water and dryer settings. It is recommended that the items are cycled through the wash and dry cycle twice to ensure that the items are maintained above the thermal threshold for over 90 minutes. For non-clothing related items, the best way to treat individual items is to use a steam cleaner or a portable heating chamber. Steam cleaners blast out extremely hot temperatures that will kill bed bugs and their eggs instantaneously while portable heating chambers can be used to contain potentially infested items and heat them to a desired temperature. Steam cleaners can also be used on items like bedding, mattresses, furniture, and curtains if bed bugs have managed to escape into a home, but this doesn’t guarantee a thorough extermination.
Treating Bed Bug Infested Rooms
If an infestation is caught early or contained inside a studio, individual room heat treatments can be applied. Using electric or propane convection heaters to super heat an enclosed room can raise the temperature in your home above the bed bug thermal threshold. Once internal temperatures hit ~135 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours, any bed bugs and their eggs that are inside that room should die. The internal temperatures should be monitored closely to ensure that high temperatures are maintained but not raised to a level where they will cause damage to items like electronics or furniture. By allowing the temperatures to permeate every piece of furniture and the surrounding walls, any bed bugs that are hiding in cracks and crevices should be impacted by the heat. The benefit of this treatment option is that items within a room do not have to be individually treated, prepared, or bagged. The main disadvantage of this strategy is that bed bugs that are hiding in the edges of a room or within wall cavities may be driven elsewhere, increasing the size of the infestation. The other disadvantages include the time it takes to complete this treatment, the cost of heat treatment, and finding a pest control company who specializes in bed bug heat treatments.
Treating Whole Rooms Infested with Bed Bugs
If single room heat treatments are not feasible or have failed, whole house heat treatment is the most optimal solution for an intense bed bug infestation. This strategy uses the same principle as the individual room heat treatment but ensures that all areas of a home are raised above the bed bug thermal threshold. This ensures that bed bugs are not able to escape the rising temperatures and ensures complete bed bug eradication when implemented properly.
How to Prepare Your Home for Bed Bug Heat Treatments
Heat treatments are only effective if the heat can permeate every inch of a home. Certain steps need to be taken to ensure that internal temperatures are raised above the bed bug thermal threshold. On the day of heat treatment be sure to:
- Remove trash and clear common areas.
- Shut off HVAC system to prevent the AC or furnace from turning on when temperatures start to rise.
- Remove the thermostat as the temperature calibration can be damages when put under high heat.
- Ensure that there is a place to stay that is not in close proximity to the heat treated area.
- Ensure that every member of the household is prepared to leave for up to a day by keeping a freshly washed and dried change of clothes.
Preparing Beds for Bed Bug Heat Treatments
The following steps should be taken to prepare beds for bed bug heat treatment:
- Deflate airbeds and drain any water beds to allow proper heat penetration.
- Move all beds 2 feet away from walls.
- Remove any items that are stored under the beds.
- Remove linens and bedding.
- Seal mattresses inside of bed bug proof encasements.
- If heavily infested bed items like mattresses or box springs are discarded, they should be contained in a bed bug encasement and taken to the dump to prevent the spread of the infestation. Be sure to indicate any infested items to prevent individuals from attempting to salvage your discarded items.
Preparing Clothing for Bed Bug Heat Treatments
The following steps should be taken to prepare clothing for bed bug heat treatment:
- Be sure to loosen any tightly packed clothing found in dresser drawers or laundry baskets to allow heat to permeate clothing completely.
- Remove dresser drawers from the dresser to allow heat to pass freely over and around clothing.
- Avoid creating clothing clutter and pick up any clothing off the ground.
- Be sure to create gaps in hanging clothing to allow heat to permeate closet space completely.
Preparing Stored Items, Clutter, & Luggage for Bed Bug Heat Treatments
The following steps should be taken to prepare stored items for bed bug heat treatment:
- Any luggage or stored items should be brought into the main area to be heat treated. This means pulling boxes and totes out of closets, basements, attics, and garages.
- Be sure to open up stored items and create space for heat to permeate all items inside storage containers.
- Dispose of any non-valuable clutter to minimize the amount of items that need to be treated. Discarded items should be contained in trash bags and taken to the dump to prevent the further spread of bed bugs.
Will Whole House Bed Bug Treatment Damage My Home?
The heat levels that bed bug heat treatments will raise the internal temperatures too are not high enough to do any damage to the structure of your home in the time the treatment is being implemented. However, there are certain items inside of a home that will need to be prepared or removed to prevent damages. If items are removed from a heat treated home, they should be closely inspected and proper precautions should be taken to ensure that they do not contain bed bugs. If an item holds even one bed bug, the entire heat treatment process may be ineffective as populations return after reinfesting a home.
Items That Should Be Removed When Treat You Treat Bed Bugs with Heat
Heat treatment is not intended to cause damage to items inside of a home but there are likely several heat sensitive items that should be removed to prevent damage. It is important that if these items are deemed valuable and worthy of keeping, that they should be inspected and treated using other treatment options, if possible, to prevent bed bug reintroduction.
Items That Can Melt or Be Damaged
The following list of items are all heat sensitive and should be removed from the area being heat treated or contained inside heavy duty plastic garbage bags or the refrigerator while heat treatment is being applied:
- Contractor supplies like adhesives and paints
- Pressurized canisters like fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks, or spray cans
- Firearms and ammunition
- Any combustible chemicals
- Recording devices like records, CDs, DVDs, tapes, video cassettes, computer program discs, etc.
- Wax based items like soaps, crayons, candles, etc.
- Perishable foods like fruits, vegetables, chocolates, etc.
- Certain toiletries like deodorant, makeup, creams, lotions, etc.
- Alcohol like beers, wines, liquors, and any other carbonated drinks
- Medications and vitamins
- Sensitive items like prosthesis, items needed for medical care, etc.
Items That Can Be Damaged by Fast Circulating Air
High velocity convection fans are used with the heating element to ensure that heat is dispersed throughout a home. This blowing air can cause damage to certain items that should be removed.
- Hanging items that are not securely fastened to the wall like pictures or other decorative items.
- Light delicate decorations that are left on shelves
- Important paperwork
Electronics
Bed bugs are known to be attracted to the gaps and cracks in everything including electronics like computers, TVs, and remotes. These items should be left to be heat treated since the heat levels are designed to not damage electronics, but certain preparations are important to remember:
- All electronics should be unplugged, and batteries removed.
- Electronics should not be placed in an area where they will be hit directly by the heaters
- If there is any uncertainty about a specific high value item like a computer or TV, check with the manufacturer to determine if the item can safely be heat treated.
Living Plants & Animals
Bed bugs are not the only living thing that has a thermal threshold. Be sure to remove:
- Any living items found inside an aquarium including fish, coral, and plant life
- Any potted plants
- Any small pets like rodents, lizards, or insect that would other wise be held in terrariums or cages
Sentimental Items
Sentimental items may be at risk depending on the item. If these items are removed from the heat treatment space it is incredible important to inspect and treat for bed bugs in another way to minimize the potential for reinfestation.
- Paintings and photographs
- Anything assembled using glue or adhesive
- Antique furniture with delicate finish or repair work
- Musical instruments
- Family heirlooms
What to Expect During Bed Bug Heat Treatment
After preparation is completed, the bed bug heat treatment process begins. This process requires several steps that will require inhabitants to be relocated while heat treatment is completed.
- Equipment setup will require that large heaters and air movers be brought into a home.
- The equipment will need to be strategically placed in areas that will help disperse heat evenly throughout a home.
- Before heat treatment starts, a final walk through is completed to ensure that all sensitive items are removed and that all items that are being treated are ready.
- Sensors will be set up throughout a home to ensure that every corner of a space reaches the desired bed bug thermal threshold.
- The heaters and air fans are activated and the internal temperatures are monitored periodically while internal temperatures climb.
- Once internal temperature reaches the baseline temp of 122 degrees, that temperature range will be maintained for 3 – 6 hours to ensure that heat permeates every single place a bed bug can escape to.
- During those 3 -6 hours, heat treatment specialist will enter the treatment space to move clothing, open drawers and cupboards, and flip items like mattresses and furniture over to ensure every item is fully treated.
What to Do After Bed Bug Heat Treatment
After heat treatment is completed, there are a few things homeowners will need to do to return the home to its original state.
- Give the home a minute to breathe after treatment is completed as the internal temperature of the home will be hot right after treatment.
- Open all windows and turn on all fans to create air movement to help cool down the internal temperatures.
- Do not activate the AC until internal temperatures are back to normal.
- Vacuum the home thoroughly and ensure that spaces that are normally covered by furniture are reached.
- Return all items that have been turned or flipped back to their original position after temperatures return to normal.
- Mattresses should be left encased in bed bug encasements.
- Other bed bug monitoring tools like interceptors should be placed under the legs of beds and furniture.
Contact EcoGuard if You Are Dealing with Bed Bugs
If you are dealing with signs of a bed bug problem, it is time to call professionals to help implement the proper treatment to get rid of bed bugs. EcoGuard Pest Management can help ensure that bed bugs are completely exterminated using the most efficient treatment options. We can provide different bed bug treatment options that cater to your budget and will ensure that bed bugs are completely eradicated.
Bed Bug Heat Treatment FAQs
