Bed bugs are becoming a problem for homeowners and renters alike in Kent, WA and throughout the Seattle – Tacoma area. These minuscule, wily pests bite to itch, cause sleepless nights and a whole lot of fretting. Chemical treatments can be effective, at times, but many pest control professionals — and residents — are instead trying an advanced, environmentally friendly solution: heat treatment.
If you’re struggling with a bed bug infestation and working to find a safe, non-toxic way to get rid of them, heat treatment may be the ideal option for you. In this blog, we’ll discuss how heat treatment operates, why it’s successful at prestopestcontrol.com, and what you can expect when it comes to treatment in Kent, WA.
What Does Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs Mean?
Thermal remediation (heat treatment) is a process where you take an infected area and heat it up to a temperature that will kill bed bugs and their eggs. The bed bugs are killed at 113°F (45°C but heat treatments are typically conducted at between 130°F to 145°F (54°C to 63°C to kill hard-to-kill eggs and nymphs.
They arrive equipped with professional-grade heaters and fans and ensure hot air moves throughout the room as it is continuously heated to temperatures that are lethal to bed bugs and eggs.
How Does Heat Treatment Kill Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs like to hide in crevices and are not easily eradicated with just sprays. Here’s why heat treatment is so effective:
- Whole-Room Coverage: Heat is transferred throughout the room from our heaters to the heated item (furniture, mattress, etc.), and all other items in the room will in turn be heated by the item and air in the room. including the cracks and crevices in the walls, floors, and furniture. While the heaters heat the room, the fans circulate the hot air throughout the room.
- Kills All Life Stages: While some treatments only kill adult bugs, heat works on every life stage: eggs, nymphs and adults. That means you also won’t need multiple treatments over several weeks.
- Chemical-Free: Because people don’t want to live with the dangerous pesticides they believe will keep them safe from bed bugs and the diseases they carry, especially if they have children, pets, or health problems, heat is the solution.
- Fast Results: Most of the heat treatments finish in a day. After staying at/around that temp for a while (several hours) the bedbugs are gone.
What to Anticipate from Heat Treatment in Kent?
Here’s how the heat treatment process typically works at your Kent home if you schedule on for pest control.
Inspection and Preparation
A licensed pest control professional will visit your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs and the extent of the infestation. You will receive a prep list for your space which may include:
- Moving heat sensitive items (candles, electronics, medicines)
- Washing and sealing clothing
- Unplugging appliances
- When all parts are reachable
Equipment Setup: On treatment days, technicians come to install industrial heaters and fans. They’ll also rely on temperature sensors located throughout the area to make sure the heat is balanced.
Heating Phase: The temperature is then slowly raised and maintained at the desired temperature (usually 130°F to 145°F) for several hours. In this way, the heat is able to reach walls and furniture, as well as other potential hiding spaces.
Monitoring and Safety: Safety and effectiveness are also safeguarded, as workers will keep vigilant watch of the temperature during the use. They could regulate airflow or move items to avoid cool pockets.
Post-Treatment Inspection: When the heat treatment has finished and the room has cooled, the pest control professionals may also schedule a follow-up inspection and suggest any action to avoid re-infestation.
Coping with bed bugs can be stressful, and quiet power is a proven solution—pun intended, especially for homeowners and renters in Kent, WA. You can get rid of the infestation in your home in 1 day without the use of any toxic chemicals by using the heat to kill bed bugs at all life stages.
