Bed bugs have plagued people throughout history, and many communities throughout the nation are experiencing a public health crisis due to their resurgence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the reasons for bed bug infestations reaching epic level proportions is due to their increasing resistance to commonly used pesticides. For this reason, more property owners are beginning to explore alternative solutions for bed bugs that involve using heat to eliminate infestations.
Advantages of Using Heat Treatments
In addition to providing a way to get around pesticide resistance, heat has several more advantages over other pest control methods. Those who have respiratory health issues that are aggravated by pesticides, such as asthma and allergies, may find that heat offers an effective way to kill bed bugs without causing breathing problems. Heat is also non-toxic and can be used in homes with children and pets. Heat treatments also work on all stages of a bed bug’s life cycle and can be used to eliminate infestations from the earliest stages to a full-blown house invasion.
How Heat Treatments Works
For heat treatments to be effective, they must reach a high enough temperature to kill bed bugs and their eggs while lasting long enough to ensure every bug has been treated. According to research done by the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural Studies, bed bugs can die within 20 minutes when they are exposed to temperatures of 118 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Types of Heat Treatments
There are several different types of heat treatment methods that can be used depending upon the size of the infestation. Clothes dryers can be used to treat clothing, bedding and other household items that may not be safely treated with pesticides. Professional heat treatments involving steam can also be used to treat mattresses and furniture. For large-scale infestations, professional bed bug control services can also use hot-air treatments that can cover an entire room or building. Newer technologies are also now available to bring hot-air treatments to a smaller (more affordable) scale. Hot House treatments will allow a pest technician to quickly and efficiently eliminate bed bugs from mattresses, couches and all other infested large furniture.
When bed bugs invade a building, it is important to act quickly to eliminate the infestation before it becomes out of control. Heat treatments are one alternative solution to controlling bed bugs that is proven to eliminate bed bugs and their eggs while preserving a person’s home furnishings. This way, property owners can enjoy a healthy home that is pest-free.