Have you got bed bugs in your home? Pretty annoying, right? Don’t panic—heat treatment is one of the most effective ways to get rid of these bloodsuckers for good. However, if you do not prepare properly, even the best of the treatments won’t work. Keep on reading to learn how to prepare for heat treatment of bed bugs and make sure these pests are completely wiped out.
Why Does Heat Treatment Work Efficiently for Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are very tough. They can hide in the smallest of the cracks and go without food for months. The worst part? They can even survive many pesticides. But do you know what they cannot survive? Extreme Heat.
When the temperatures reach around 120°F to 140°F, bed bugs and their eggs die. This is why many DIYers turn to heat treatments instead of chemicals. If you are tackling this problem yourself, you need to rent a high-heat heater to kill bed bugs. The good news is that you can find this bed bug heater for rent at Bed Bug Texas at very affordable rates.
Step By Step Guide To Prepare For Heat Treatment
Declutter (but don’t move items out)
Heat treatment works great when the heat can circulate freely. If your room is cluttered, bed bugs are clever enough to find cool spots to survive. This is why, decluttering is the key, but here’s the catch, do not move things to another room or out of your house. You’ll just spread the infestation.
What you can do instead is bag up any unnecessary items and keep them in the heat treatment zone itself. If you really need to remove items, treat them separately first using a hot dryer cycle.
Handle Heat Sensitive Items
Needless to say, some things can not handle high heat. Here’s the list of things that you should remove before the treatment:
- Candles, wax items, and your precious cosmetics (they’ll melt).
- Aerosol cans and pressurized containers might explode.
- Delicate plastics that can overheat.
- Houseplants and pets (yes, that includes your fish, hamsters, and reptiles!)
Now, if you are unsure whether something is safe or not, just check the label. If it says, “Keep away from heat”, take it out.
Prep Your Clothes and Bedding
Wash and dry all linens, clothes, and soft items on high heat. This will kill any bed bugs hiding in the fabric. Make sure to not overstuff your closet or dresser. Heat needs to get in there, so spread things out. Bag up all the clean clothes (if there are any) and keep them sealed until after the treatment.
Make Sure Furniture is Ready
Move all the furniture in the room a few inches away from the wall. This step is very important so that heat can reach all the areas. Open all the drawers and closet doors to allow the heat to flow.
Lift the mattress slightly off the bed frame to expose the hidden bed bugs. If possible, lean the furniture cushions against the walls so the heat can penetrate all sides.
Unplug Electronics (Keep them in the room, though)
Bed bugs love to hide in electronics, especially things like alarm clocks, laptops, and power strips. Unplug everything, except for refrigerators and freezer, they can stay on. Leave electronics in the room for treatment, they will be fine once the area cools down.
Check for Heat Escape Points
Close all the vents and cover the windows with blankets to keep heat from escaping. Roll up a towel and stuff them under doors if only one room is being treated. Shut the exhaust fans in the bathroom as they can pull heat out of the space.
Be Mindful of Fire Sprinklers
If you have sprinklers in your home, remember to inform our rental company so we can advise of the safety precautions. Usually, many sprinkler systems activate at 150-165°F, which is sorta close to the temperature used in heat treatments.
Have a Re-Entry Plan
Once the heat treatment is complete, the room will be very hot for a while. Wait until the temperatures return to normal before entering. Air out the space by opening the windows and running fans. Check all the items that posed the risk of being affected by the heat.
So, Should You Rent a Bed Bug Heater or Call in the Pros?
The choice between the two depends completely on you. It is pretty subjective and depends on your budget, preferences, and your devotion to keeping your home bug-free.
If you are considering DIY treatment, you already know that you’ll need to rent bed bug heaters. You can easily search for them by typing in “bed bug heater rental near me” on Google. Renting can save money, but it is a lot of work. And, you need to be 100% thorough (otherwise a few survivors will restart the infestation).
Professionals, on the other hand, have commercial-grade equipment that will ensure even heat distribution. They will monitor the temperature in different parts of the room, making sure that no bed bugs survive. While hiring an expert costs more, it is often the best way to guarantee total eradication.
Wrapping Up
Bed bugs are relentless, so you have to be too. Preparing for the heat treatment is just as important as the treatment itself. If you cut any corners, you risk some bed bugs surviving and reinfesting your home.
So, whether you rent a high-heat heater to kill bed bugs or hire a professional, follow the steps above to make sure the job is done and dusted the first time. Because the only thing worse than dealing with bed bugs once is having to deal with them twice!