Bed Bug Treatment Preparation Guide
Everything you need to know to prepare your home for professional bed bug heat treatment — ensuring the best possible results in a single day.
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Proper preparation is essential for successful bed bug heat treatment. When you prepare your home correctly, our treatment can eliminate 100% of bed bugs — including eggs, nymphs, and adults — in a single day. This guide walks you through every step to ensure the best results.
💡 Why Preparation Matters
Heat treatment works by raising the temperature throughout your home to 135-145°F, which is lethal to bed bugs at all life stages. Proper preparation ensures heat reaches every hiding spot where bed bugs may be concealed. Skipping preparation steps can create "cool spots" where bed bugs survive.
Homes with excessive furniture or belongings may require longer heat times. For the service to be successful, clutter should be addressed prior to service day.
🎬 Watch: How to Prepare for Heat Treatment
This video walks you through the complete preparation process step-by-step.
📥 Download Our Preparation Checklist
Print this checklist and check off each item as you complete it. Bring it with you on treatment day.
Download Checklist (PDF)⚠️ CRITICAL: Systems You Must Turn Off Before Treatment
🚨 REQUIRED: Insurance & Safety Compliance
The following systems MUST be turned off before thermal treatment begins. This is required for your safety and is a condition of our service.
ALL AIR CONDITIONING, HEATERS, SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, GAS, AND BURGLAR/ALARM UNITS must be turned off before treatment is performed. This includes:
- Turning gas off at the meter
- No open flames or pilot lights during treatment
- All HVAC systems must be off
- Fire sprinkler systems (coordinate with your building if applicable)
- Burglar alarms and security systems
Important: No open flames or pilot lights are to be on or restarted until after treatments have been concluded. If any systems cannot be turned off for any reason, please contact us immediately — the customer understands our company and insurers will not be held responsible for any property damages caused by these units, systems, or similar mechanical items that were not properly shut off.
⚠️ Smoke Detectors
Our technician will remind you to temporarily disable smoke detectors during treatment (high heat can trigger them). You can cover them with plastic bags or remove batteries temporarily. Remember to reactivate them immediately after treatment.
📋 Preparation Checklist
Complete these steps before your scheduled treatment. The more thoroughly you prepare, the more effective your treatment will be. Items marked (Recommended) are helpful but not required — we understand many clients have physical limitations and our technicians can work around these items.
1-2 Weeks Before Treatment
- Declutter bedrooms and living areas — bed bugs hide in clutter
- Discard items you no longer need (do NOT donate or move potentially infested items to other locations)
- Schedule time off work for treatment day (plan to be away 8-10 hours)
- Arrange pet care for treatment day
- Make key arrangements for all locked areas
48-72 Hours Before Treatment
- Wash all bedding and linens on highest heat setting
- Dry bedding on highest heat for at least 30 minutes
- Pick up any clothing from the floor — wash and put away
- Make sure all clothing is in drawers or closets (not on floor)
- Do NOT bag items in plastic — that's for chemical treatments, not heat treatments
24-48 Hours Before Treatment
- (Recommended) Pull furniture away from walls for easier access
- (Recommended) Remove items from under beds
- Open all dresser drawers (leave contents inside)
- (Recommended) Remove mattress encasements if present
- Remove electrical face plates if you want wall voids treated
- Unlock all interior doors
- Arrange parking for van and generator close to nearest window or door
Day Before Treatment
- Vacuum all floors and baseboards
- Empty all trash cans
- Open or remove curtains/blinds to allow heat circulation
- Turn off, unplug, and secure all electronics so they cannot tip or fall
🌡️ Heat-Sensitive Items to Remove
Some items can be damaged by temperatures above 120°F. You are responsible for identifying, removing, and protecting all heat-sensitive items. Leave items of concern in a box next to the front door.
Items to Remove Before Treatment
- Medications, vitamins, and heat-sensitive medical supplies — Remove or place in refrigerator
- Aerosol/pressurized containers — Hairspray, cleaners, soda cans, etc.
- Wax products — Candles, lipstick, crayons, etc.
- House plants — Will not survive extreme heat
- ALL pets — Fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, etc. (CRITICAL safety concern)
- Guns, ammunition, and fire extinguishers
- Vinyl records, VHS cassettes, Polaroid pictures, negatives
- Heirlooms and items you consider irreplaceable — Remove from treatment area
- Paintings and picture frames — Place flat on a table/countertop if not removed
- Musical instruments — Heat may cause them to go out of tune or warp; remove from treatment area
- Perishable food — Store in refrigerator. Canned goods and most shelf-stable foods are fine to leave. Perishable items include bananas, chocolate, and other foods affected by high heat
- Pressurized oxygen bottles and similar pressurized containers
- Breast milk and temp-controlled products
⚠️ Electronics
Turn off, unplug, and secure electronics (TVs, computers, gaming systems, routers, fans) so they cannot tip or fall. Modern electronics are designed to withstand heat and may harbor bed bugs, so they should stay in place unless otherwise instructed. If you have concerns about specific items, contact us before treatment day.
📋 Flooring Notice
Thermal treatment may affect certain flooring including vinyl, vinyl plank, vinyl tile, and laminate. We cannot know the quality or method of installation, so we are not responsible for flooring issues (such as bubbling, lifting, or corner separation) caused by pre-existing conditions or installation quality.
🚨 CRITICAL: Treatment Day Morning
- Turn off ALL air conditioning and heaters
- Turn off gas at the meter — no open flames or pilot lights
- Turn off fire sprinkler system (coordinate with building if applicable)
- Disable burglar/alarm systems
- Remove ALL pets from the home
- Gather essentials you'll need for the day
- Leave items of concern in a box by the front door
- Meet our technician for pre-treatment walkthrough
- Vacate the premises
⚠️ Liability Disclaimer: The systems shutoff requirements listed above (HVAC, gas, sprinklers, alarms) are mandatory safety requirements. If you choose not to shut off these systems, you acknowledge that Custom Bedbug Inc and its insurers are not responsible or liable for any property damage, system malfunctions, or other issues that may result.
📥 Download & Print This Checklist
Get a printable PDF version to check off as you prepare.
Download Checklist (PDF)📞 Have Questions About Preparation?
Our team is here to help. Call us with any questions about what to prepare, what to remove, or what to expect.
Call (866) 760-0116🔥 Day of Treatment: What to Expect
🎬 Watch: Our One-Day Extermination Process
See exactly what happens during your heat treatment service.
Commencement of Service
- Our service technician typically arrives between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Vehicles will need adequate parking for the van and generator close to the nearest window or door
- The technician will address any final questions and may exchange contact information
- Leave items of concern in a box next to the front door
- During a typical service, the technician will apply a crack and crevice application on the interior of the structure
- The technician will set up heaters, run cords to the generator, and start the heating process with high velocity fans to create a heat vortex
During the Service
- Our technician monitors the interior temperature to ensure all surfaces reach lethal levels
- At regular intervals, beds, dressers, and all other furniture may be moved or adjusted to allow proper heat penetration
- This critical component ensures all bed bugs, including their eggs, are exposed to lethal heat
- For customers who have purchased bed liners or interceptors, our technician will place protective covers on designated beds
- Towards the end of the heat service, the technician will typically apply a desiccant dust in strategic areas, including wall voids
- At the end of service, our technicians arrange all furniture and beds as they were when we arrived
🐕 You Must Vacate During Treatment
All people and pets must vacate during thermal treatment and remain out of the structure for 1-2 hours after completion, as directed by our technician. Plan to be away for 8-10 hours total. Take pets to a friend's home, daycare, or boarding facility.
For more details, visit our safety information page.
✅ After Treatment: Returning Home
Our technician will contact you when it's safe to return.
- Your home will feel much like your car does when left in the sun on a very hot day — it can take hours for the temperature to return to normal
- Leave unplugged electronics unplugged until the home returns to normal temperature
- Although our technicians do their best to leave things as they found them, some rearranging of furniture may be necessary
- Check the refrigerator and garage areas for items that may have been moved during service (live plants, heat-sensitive materials, etc.)
After Our Service: Ongoing Prevention
- Be vigilant when traveling! Inspect hotel rooms before bringing your luggage in. See our travel tips for more guidance.
- Watch for bed bug signs in areas where people sit for long periods (waiting rooms, buses, movie theaters, etc.)
- Bed bugs that show up after about 30 days from our service are usually brought in from other locations
- If you find a live bed bug following our service, please call us!
✅ Our 30-Day Guarantee
We guarantee control of bed bugs for 30 days after the initial thermal treatment. If live bed bugs (not bite marks) are determined to be present within the guarantee period, we will re-treat as necessary. A canine inspection may be required for verification of live bed bug activity.
Extended guarantees may be available for qualifying customers. See our FAQ page for complete guarantee details.
❓ Common Preparation Questions
What if I'm not fully prepared when you arrive?
If you are not prepared as instructed, you may be charged a $500 rescheduling fee and rescheduled due to insufficient preparation. Please notify us at least 48 hours before the scheduled service if you will not be able to comply with required preparations.
What about my refrigerator and freezer?
Keep your refrigerator and freezer running and closed during treatment. They're insulated and will maintain safe internal temperatures. Remove any items from the tops of these appliances.
Will heat damage my furniture?
Most furniture handles heat treatment well. We monitor temperatures carefully to prevent damage. Thermal treatment may cause building materials and property to expand, contract, and/or dry out — this may reveal or cause warping, cracking, separation, or drying of wood, caulking, and similar materials. If you have antique furniture or specific concerns, please contact us before treatment.
How do I prepare if I live in an apartment?
Follow all the same steps. You may need to coordinate with your property manager for access to utility shutoffs and fire sprinkler systems. We serve apartments throughout our service areas and can coordinate with building management when needed. See our landlord page for more information.
What if I have chemical sensitivity?
If you or other occupants believe you may be sensitive to pesticides, dusts, or their odors, you must notify us in writing prior to treatment. We reserve the right to modify or deny service based on this information.
Have more questions? Visit our comprehensive Bed Bug FAQ page or give us a call.
🔥 Ready to Schedule Your Treatment?
Our team serves Seattle, Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma, Bellevue, and all surrounding areas. Same-day consultations available.
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