Bed Bug Heat Treatment Cost & Considerations

Why Are Bed Bugs So Challenging to Eliminate?

Why are these bugs so hard to eliminate? Well, there are many reasons, and here are just a few.

• They like to hide, so they can easily avoid being detected.

• They reproduce so rapidly that by the time you get rid of all the live ones, any eggs that have been missed are already hatching and ready for round two.

• The eggs are pesticide-resistant, so killing them off is often complicated.

Once you know you’re dealing with bed bugs and not fleas or other pests, you feel panicked as you see the situation is serious. The first place you might go is to the internet to search how to treat them. You’ll find that heat treatment is the best way to handle bed bugs.

The Case for Heat Treatments

When you hear the term heat treatments, many people think about a heat gun or a hairdryer and zapping all the bugs they see. Sadly, something as small as a hair dryer won’t solve the problem. The temperature to kill a bed bug is over 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and they must be exposed to these high temperatures for an extended period.

The process is relatively simple, but it must be done by a pest control professional due to the dangers involved. Most people keep their thermostat between 65-75 degrees on average, so raising the heat to over 145 degrees can be dangerous. The good news is that it will likely kill any other critters lurking in the walls, along with the bed bugs.

This treatment has many advantages because chemicals won’t kill all the eggs that have fallen on your carpets or are in your furniture. Also, bed bugs have become so good at escaping chemicals that they hide in deep spaces until the coast is clear. They can’t run from the heat, as it will penetrate every square inch of the home, and getting into all those nooks and crannies is beneficial so that you won’t have them come back.

The Process of Killing Bed Bugs With Heat Treatment

You’ve called the pest control professionals for help removing these bugs. Here’s a sample of what will happen and what you must do to ensure success.

The Initial Inspection and Assessment

When you call the pest control professional to the home, they need to see what they’re dealing with before they can treat it. They want to know where they’re hiding and the bugs’ main concentration area to target those locations. Some infestations are more severe than others, so the extent of the problem will dictate the many factors in treatment.

Preparing the Space

These things need to be done by the homeowner or renter to prepare for the treatment.

• Remove anything that the high temperatures could damage. Take your time on this and think carefully, as heat can damage some items.

• Get rid of clutter and place anything that could be damaged in the garage or other unattached building. You want to eliminate all hiding spaces.

• Use heavy-duty plastic to cover all the windows and any other openings in the home. You want to ensure you keep the heat inside and it doesn’t escape.

Setting Up the Equipment and Doing the Heat Treatment

The technicians will set up the heating equipment. You’ll need to leave the home and take with you any pets. It’s unsafe for anyone to be there with temperatures at this level.

The technicians will place the heating equipment inside. They will also use temperature probes and sensors to monitor the heat levels to ensure they stay within the proper range. Anything above 120 degrees is sufficient, but the temperature must be raised gradually for the best results.

The temperatures must be maintained for several hours, as this helps them to get the bugs in all life stages, including the eggs. They periodically conduct temperature readings to identify cool spots where a bed bug can hide.

The Importance of the Cooling Down Period

Once the heat treatment is complete, there’s a cooling down period. You can’t go inside right away, as every surface in the home has been affected by the intense heat. The cool-down process will take some time, which will help ensure no damage to any of the treatment areas.

Ensuring Complete Eradication

The final part of the process is to ensure that the bed bugs are dead. The technicians will go through the home and look for spots where these bugs like to hide, like under the mattress, in cracks in the walls, and behind baseboards. If they see any live bugs, they must repeat the process. Thankfully, one treatment is usually needed to kill most infestations.

Cost Considerations

There are many things to consider regarding the cost of bed bug treatment. Here are the most critical factors:

• The Size of the Area Being Treated

It’s only natural that a home over 3,000 square feet will cost more to treat than one that’s only 1,500 square feet. To get the more extensive home up to the proper temperature will require more equipment, fuel, and manpower. All these things go into the cost consideration.

• The Severity of the Infestation

Someone who has a few bed bugs isn’t going to need near the extensive treatment of someone who has a whole house infestation. As pest control professionals, we’ve seen homes where the bugs were sparse because the infestation was newer, and we’ve also seen the very worst from bugs let go for extended periods. The longer you allow the bed bugs to invade your home, the worse the situation will be.

Additionally, it’s always more expensive to treat bed bugs once they’ve been allowed to have free reign and reproduce. It will be costly to treat if you’re pitching furniture and taking down curtains because things are so bad.

• The Extent of Preparation Required

Other considerations include how long the technicians prepare the area for treatment. It pays as a homeowner or renter to help as much as possible. This is why you must eliminate clutter and move things out of the way. Do heat-sensitive items need to be protected? All these little things that must be done before a technician can do any treatment will be extra.

• Dollars and Cents

It’s challenging to pinpoint how much it will cost to heat treat your home for bed bugs. However, as a rule of thumb, you should always get a quote in writing before any work is done. The pest control company considers all the factors mentioned above and gives you an estimate based on the size of the home and other factors.

According to the national average, you’ll pay $1-$3 per square foot for treatment. So, it’s easy to see that a home that’s 2,500 square feet could cost somewhere between $2,500 – $7,500. Remember, this is just an estimate, and you’ll need a technician to evaluate the situation before you can ensure how much it will cost.

The Potential for Damage to Household Items

One of the major concerns people have when it comes to heat treatment is the high temperatures and their items. Can the heat cause permanent damage to your precious possessions? What about the structure of your home?

The good news is that if a heat treatment is administered by a trained professional, the chances of anything like this happening are minimal. The key is to remove items from the home that might be sensitive to the heat, such as pets and plants. Most things can take heat at these levels, but if in doubt, take it out.

You can always ask the technician about any specific item you’re concerned about. Here are some of the most common things we ask people to remove before this treatment:

• Fruits and vegetables sitting on the counters.
• Chocolate and other candies
• Medication
• Wax items like candles
• Plastic items that could melt
• Aerosol cans
• Pressurized items like cans of pop
• Anything with propane or gasoline in it (old-fashioned oil lamps)
• Firearms and ammunition
• Anything flammable
• Cell phones
• Computers, laptops, tablets
• Electronics like TVS, DVD players, and other expensive equipment.
• Instruments with a wooden base

*If items in your home are too large to remove, you can talk to the technician about what to do. Sometimes, items like pianos can be covered with blankets to protect them from the heat and keep them from warping.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Treatment

If you’re considering having your home heat treated, here are some common questions that are often asked:

Will heat treatment be effective for all bed bug infestations?

Yes! This treatment method can be used in a home or commercial setting to get the bugs in all their various life stages. Additionally, using heat eliminates the need to use chemicals.

Are heat treatments environmentally friendly?

While some fuel is used to create the heat, these treatments are more environmentally friendly than chemicals. Heat at these temperatures doesn’t damage the atmosphere, and chemicals are horrible for the environment and those who breathe them.

How do you know if heat treatment was successful?

After the cool-down period and it’s safe for a human to be inside, technicians will inspect the home. They look at all the hiding places to ensure nothing is left behind. If they see any live bugs, they know they must do another heat treatment round. Additionally, monitoring temperature readings during the process helps ensure they get all the bugs and eggs inside the home.

Can I use heat treatment if I live in an apartment or condo?

Technicians often get this question. Heating one unit certainly has an impact on those in immediate proximity. If you’re fighting bed bugs, it’s possible that they are too, and they might like treatment.

A pest control company must get permission from the building manager to ensure that everyone is appropriately notified, so no one is hurt in the process. If the complex or manager won’t allow them to do a heat treatment, don’t worry. Other methods can be used to take care of bed bugs.

How long does a heat treatment session last?

The length of a heat treatment session is determined by many factors, such as the size of the area being treated and the severity of the infestation. Generally, treatments last several hours, as the goal is to ensure that the bugs have sustained exposure to lethal temperatures.

Calling in the Bed Bug Professionals

If you have a problem with bed bugs, there’s no need to be embarrassed. The key is to get treatment right away so that you can avoid further issues. While bed bugs might not carry diseases like roaches, they can undoubtedly cause mental strain and panic by having them invade your home.

It’s best to reach out immediately for assistance, as it’s always easier to treat these pests when the infestation is young and has yet to have time to grow to enormous sizes. The longer you wait, the more of a toll it will take on you and your bank account.

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