Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs? | Thousand Oak Pest Control

Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs?

One of the most common ways to get rid of a bed bug problem is to use heat treatments. But it’s important to remember that heat treatments might not kill bed bugs totally if they aren’t done right.

What Bed Bugs Do When It’s Hot

Even though bed bugs are known for being hard to get rid of, they are not impossible to beat. Bed bugs can be killed if they are exposed to very hot temperatures for a long time. Bed bugs can only be killed if the temperature stays at 113 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for at least 90 minutes. Bed bugs can die faster when the temperature is higher, but this should only be done by a professional.

Do bed bug cures at home that use heat work?

It makes sense to want to get rid of bed bugs as soon as possible, and for many people, their first step is to try do-it-yourself solutions. People often use hair dryers, heaters, and portable electric warmers to try to get rid of bed bugs. But will these treatments from home really work?

If you want to treat bed bugs with heat on your own, keep these things in mind:

  • Bed bugs have been known to avoid many treatments, even heat. Bed bugs can hide in even the smallest cracks because they are so small. They can get through gaps in baseboards, box springs, and even the seams of beds. If you don’t block every possible way in and out and cover the area, they might get away and then come back.
  • It could be hard to figure out how hot your heat source is. If you use a regular space heater, you won’t always know if the temperature is too high to be safe. On the other hand, if your device runs too hot, you could damage your house or ruin things that can’t handle heat.
  • Bed bugs can be killed from linens and sheets that have them by drying them in a machine. Any machine that works should be able to heat up to a high enough level to kill bed bugs. A normal dryer can only hold a certain amount of clothes. Still, you are less likely to bring bed bugs into your home if you put everything that can be dried in a dryer in the dryer as soon as you get back from a trip. This is a great way to stop bed bugs from getting into your furniture, but it won’t work if they are already there.

More Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Fumigation

A bed bug fumigation is when a lot of highly concentrated poisons are sprayed all over your home or building. Fumigations can only be done by people who are allowed to do so, and not all pest control companies can offer this specialized service. We are lucky to have people who are experts in tape-and-seal fumigations, covered fumigations, and other ways to get rid of bed bugs.

Chemical Treatment

There are times when liquid treatments are a good way to get rid of bed bugs. But this method is often used in conjunction with other therapies. A trained pest control inspector can tell you if this should be part of your plan to get rid of bed bugs.