Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs? This is What You Need to Know

When it comes to bed bugs, there are more extermination myths than accurate facts out there. Some common questions about bed bug treatment include, “What’s the quickest and safest way to kill bed bugs?” “Does heat kill bed bugs?” and “How hot does it have to be to kill bed bugs?”

If you are suffering from a bed bug infestation, don’t worry. We will tell you everything you need to know in order to get rid of bed bugs in your house once and for all.

What Are Bed Bugs, Anyway?

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, wingless parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. They are extremely resistant and hard to kill.

Unfortunately, they are also good breeders. A single female can lay 200-250 eggs in her lifetime.

The popular spots where bed bugs tend to collect are on mattresses, box springs, carpets, and baseboards. Most bed bug infestations are within a few feet of their food source (your body).

The first signs of bed bugs are small, red, itchy dots on your skin. These could be bed bug bites. Also, brown, rusty stains with a musty smell on your mattress are a sign of bed bug excrement, but not everyone shows signs of bites.

Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs?

You may have heard that heat kills bed bugs. This is true, but to be effective, the affected area needs to reach and stay at a high temperature (at least 119-122 degrees Fahrenheit) for an extended period of time.

So, you can’t just turn up your thermometer to get rid of bed bugs. If you have bed bugs in one small area like a pillow or duffel bag, you could bake those items to get rid of the pests. But it’s likely that at least one adult or an egg is somewhere else in your home.

In order to get rid of bed bugs for good, you need to call in the experts who focus on heat treatment and know where bed bugs are more likely to try and hide.

Heat vs Other Methods

There are other methods to kill bed bugs, but for most families, heat treatment is the best option.

Insecticides in forms of sprays or powders are effective at treating small areas for bed bugs. However, you will need to have several applications to ensure extermination.

Professional sprays have to sit sometimes up to 24 hours before it is safe for you to return home. This means you will need to be displaced from your home and stay at a hotel or with family for an entire day.

Some people try to get rid of bed bugs by removing contaminated belongings. Getting rid of infested mattresses, box springs, couches, etc. is not enough to rid your home of these pests, unfortunately. Eggs and adult bugs could be hiding in a number of other places in your home. So before you buy new or repurposed items for your house, make sure to thoroughly check for any evidence of bug infestation.

Heat is the most convenient and effective method for dealing with bed bugs. Let us explain how and why.

What is Integrated Heat Treatment?

As we mentioned, DIY treatments are fine for limited areas but aren’t enough to get rid of bed bug infestations.

The good thing about heat is that one treatment is sufficient to kill the bugs. With chemical treatments, more than one visit is usually needed.

With heat treatment, the exterminators can do their work and have you back in your home on the same day! Unlike other methods, heat can penetrate bookshelves, picture frames, walls, flooring and so on. It’s almost impossible to reach these areas with other methods like chemical sprays.

Our company, Custom Bed Bug, uses a process called Thermal Remediation which includes bringing in industrial grade heaters to heat your whole house. Only companies using Temp-Air heaters can use the phrase, Thermal Remediation to explain their services.

Temp-Air heaters are a special type of heater designed just for eliminating bedbugs. These heaters first attract the bugs and then kill them by turning up the heat.

Best of all, the heaters cycle on and off to keep the room at a constant 135 degrees. Other heaters can ruin your electronics due to them reaching temperatures that are too hot.

Custom Bed Bug exterminators will adjust furniture, move cushions and lift beds so that no bed bugs can escape the process.

They will also monitor your home to ensure that there are no cool spots. Our techs will keep a close eye on thermometers to ensure the high temperature stays even for at least two hours to kill the bed bugs once and for all.

Did you know that heat drives bed bugs to migrate down? So without proper monitoring and strategy the bed bugs could just hide and resurface once the treatment is through.

This is one of the reasons why choosing a company that offers a whole house guarantee is so important. Otherwise, you could be facing re-infestation with no promise that the company you hire will take care of it.

What You Need to Know About Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs

When you schedule your appointment, your exterminator will tell you what you can expect before, during and after your home’s treatment.

Before you leave your home, be sure that all exterior doors and windows are closed tightly. Ideally, you should caulk cracks in your walls or use foam.

You will have to leave your home and take your pets with you because of the high heat levels. However, the good thing about using heat for bed bug extermination is that the treatment will be done the same day. No costly hotel bills or staying at the in-laws!

Heat treatment also is safest for your family and pets. There are no chemical residues left behind that could harm people or pets (or furniture).

Your technician will tell you what time you can return home. This is generally once the equipment has been removed and temperature levels have returned to normal.

Say Goodbye to Bed Bugs with the Help of Custom Bed Bugs

Frequently asked questions about bed bug treatment include information regarding which type of treatment is the right treatment and the wonder if heat does kills bed bugs. Now you know the answers!

At Custom Bed Bug, we have the expertise needed to get rid of bed bugs in your home. We do it once and we do it right.

That’s why we offer a whole house guarantee on our services when you get your whole house serviced. Contact us today for a free quote and peace of mind.

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