Heat Treatments

All RPC bed bug heat treatments are performed using specialized professional electric heating equipment. Our heat treatment generally allows us to heat one room, or an entire apartment depending on size, and easily penetrates mattresses, box springs, furniture, carpets, walls, and ceilings without fear of damaging the structure, furniture, or other personal items.

Bed bug heat treatment does require a little bit of preparation prior to the actual treatment. You can download the client preparation checklist here.

Why Choose RPC for Bed Bug Heat Treatments?

Heat treatments offer certain advantages when it comes to bed bug management. Heat is non-toxic, and can kill ALL bed bug life stages including bed bug eggs. However, heat treatment of any kind (except your home clothes dryer) is relatively expensive and has no residual (long lasting) activity. The lack residual activity means that bed bugs can re-infest again the day after treatment. Most heat treatments need to be used in combination with other non-chemical and /or chemical methods to control an infestation. We perform a targeted crack and crevice treatment using a desiccant dust that has no odor and does not stain to prevent re-infestation.

From start to finish it usually takes 6 to 12 hours to thoroughly treat a room.

The Value of Discretion

We understand the value of discretion, when treating for bed bugs our technicians arrive on time, and without drawing attention. We understand that there is a negative stigma to having this service provided. We strive to fly under the radar, not alerting fellow guests or clients of our presence. Example: If treating a hotel room or apartment in a busy building our technicians appear to just be guests checking in or friends visiting.

PREPARING FOR HEAT TREATMENT - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

As with any pest control treatment, there are things you need to do in order to prepare. These instructions will help you to protect your belongings and also help your pest control technician to better and more efficiently treat your residence/building.

Please read the following carefully to receive the best treatment experience possible.

Items that must be removed or protected:

House plants.
Fresh food, fruits, vegetables, etc.
Food that melts - chocolate, candy, etc.
Prescription and over the counter medications.
Make-up - especially lipstick (wax based).
Wax based items - Candles, wax figurines, wax fruit.
Anything pressurized - spray cans, fire extinguishers, oxygen bottles, etc.
Flammables lighters, lamp fuel, alcohol, solvents, etc.
Wooden and stringed musical instruments - leave the cases.
Family heirlooms and irreplaceable items should be inspected and a determination made as to whether they should be treated.
Please note: Some of the smaller items can be stored in the refrigerator during the treatment. Larger items can be boxed and left by the door for inspection. It will be determined if any of these items need to be treated for bed bugs.
Throw out all trash and vacuum thoroughly. The vacuum bag should be thrown out or dirt container emptied, but leave the vacuum to be heated.
Smaller items, knick-knacks and collectibles should be removed.
A thermal remediation treatment requires moving large amounts of air to be successful. All items that can be blown around and possibly damaged need to be protected. Loose papers need to be gathered and boxed.
Glass items and other collectibles will need to be secured. Do not leave breakable items on shelves or other areas where damage could happen.
Pictures, paintings, and other wall-mounted items will need to be taken down to prevent damage.
Un-plug all electronics, televisions, computers, video players, stereos, etc.
Electronics are a hiding place for bed bugs; do not remove electronics from areas being heated.
All pets, including fish, will need to be out by the morning of the service date.
Wheel chairs and walkers must be treated. If needed, make arrangements to use a rental for the day of service.

If possible, increase the temperature on your home's thermostat two hours before confirmed treatment start time.

DO NOT apply your own insecticides before or after treatment. They often worsen the problem.

Take minimal items with you when leaving your home during treatment. Clothing that you wear or take with you should be dried immediately upon returning home following treatment.

Clothing:

The bed bug will seek shelter on and within clothing. To avoid re-introducing bed bugs, any clothing removed from the space before a thermal remediation treatment must be treated (washed and dried at high temperatures) before being returned to the treated areas.
Washing using the hottest water cycle and drying using the hottest dryer setting will treat most clothing.
Avoid contaminating the freshly washed clothing. Do not return the clean clothing to the container (bag, basket, etc.) it was transported in unless that container was also treated.
Clothing left in the heated space must be placed in open weave laundry baskets. Clothing must be packed loosely!
Tightly packed baskets will prevent lethal temperatures from reaching all items. Do not place clothing in plastic bags.
Clothing in drawers can be left in place. Except if clothing is tightly packed, then some items must be removed.
Also, it may become necessary to remove the drawers from dressers to help with the air movement.
Clothing on hangers may be left in closets if the space between the items is large enough to allow the heated air to circulate. Arrange hanging items to open up air space between them.
Larger fabric items - linens, towels, blankets, etc.
These items should be left in the area being heated, as they are likely to shelter insects.
Place these items in open weave laundry baskets. Pack the items very loosely to allow for air circulation. Do not pack into plastic bags.

Water beds and air beds:

Water beds will need to be drained. If the water bed is not drained, it will prevent the frame from reaching lethal temperatures.
Air beds will need to be partially deflated to avoid damage.
Select comfort-style air beds with an electronic pump must be partially deflated and unplugged from the wall outlet.

AFTER YOUR HEAT TREATMENT SERVICE

Your home may still be warm when you return. You may notice some things out of place - we may move things in order to distribute the heat treatment evenly for the best outcome. Once our crew is finished, you may open windows, turn on air conditioning or fans, and move your things back to where they belong.