Heat treatment can clear bed bugs in one day. The crew brings in commercial heaters and fans, and sensors track the temperature inside mattresses, cushions and along wall edges. Most Hercules homes can be used again by the evening.
How Heat Gets the Job Done
Bed bugs and their eggs die when high heat is held long enough, and they do not develop resistance to heat as they do to some sprays. Crews generally keep the coolest parts of each room at about 120°F or more, flipping mattresses and moving cushions so the heat reaches every layer.
On Treatment Day
- PrepCrew members remove heat-sensitive belongings and position heaters, fans and wireless sensors.
- Ramp upTemperatures rise to the target over a few hours.
- HoldThe crew checks readings and turns items so no spot stays cool.
- Wrap upOnce rooms cool, the crew inspects results and may apply a residual product along baseboards.
Heat Treatment in Hercules Homes
Heat appeals to parents who want no pesticide where kids sleep and to owners who need a rental back quickly. In a townhome or condo, ask how the crew keeps heat from simply pushing bugs into the unit next door, and whether they treat edges of the common wall afterward. HOA rules may also require notice before heavy equipment arrives.
Take These Out First
- Anything that melts or burns easily: candles, crayons, lipstick and aerosol cans, plus medicine, houseplants and pets.
- Photos, vinyl records and anything that could warp or melt.
- Anything on the crew's list, such as some electronics.
- Leave clothes and bedding in place unless the crew says otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Do we need a hotel on heat treatment day?
Most households do not. When the rooms are back to a normal temperature and the crew has finished, you can usually sleep at home that night.
What about turning the thermostat all the way up?
That will not work. The EPA warns that household heaters cannot heat a room evenly enough and can start a fire.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves Hercules. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.