Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs? What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs?

The simple answer is - Heat Kills Bed Bugs! Heat has been scientifically proven to kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs. The question is how long does it take for heat to kill bed bugs and their eggs and what temperature must be achieved for a complete "kill"?

A great deal of study has been done in recognized institutions in the past three years on this very subject. Now there is real data backed up by leading scientific researchers that give us the answers we've been looking for!

Dr. Dini Miller Ph.D is one of a few leading researchers in the field of killing bed bugs with heat. Dre Miller, among others, have concluded scientifically that not only is it possible to kill bed bugs with heat but that when properly applied, heat will kill all of the bed bugs and their eggs very efficiently.

What temperature kills bed bugs? How hot is hot enough?

The next obvious question is... What temperature is required to kill bed bugs and their eggs? Again, a great deal of effort has gone into studying this very question. Heating a bed bug or bed bug egg to 122 degrees for less than 60 seconds will kill them. However, reputable bed bug exterminators that use heat will routinely keep the home heated to between 140 and 150 degrees for hours. The reason for this is to ensure that the heat permeates into every crack and crevice in the home - especially behind baseboards, underneath air vents and deep into soft furniture like mattresses, sofas and lounge chairs.

Achieving the requisite temperature for bed bug extermination is best done via the closed loop glycol bed bug heat treatment system because the system easily achieves the required temperature kill zone quickly and it maintains that high temperature indefinitely. The glycol system is simply more efficient and much safer than other systems readily available on the market today.

How long does it take for heat to kill bed bugs?

The length of time that it takes heat to kill bed bugs and their eggs depends on the environment in which you find the bed bugs to begin with. Of course, the answer depends on where the bed bugs are. For example, if the bed bugs are out in the open say on the baseboards in plain sight, the heat of the treatment will directly impact the insects and it will only take a short time for he bed bugs to die. This scenario is not the common one however. More commonly, bed bugs hide in hidden places and, as a result, the heat treatment company must ensure that the temperature achieved is sufficient to ensure that all of the bed bugs and their eggs are exposed to the thermal kill temperature range.

Proper air circulation is achieved in the treatment area to ensure maximum hot air flow throughout the structure being treated.

Bed bug heat treatment Toronto - Be smart!

Bed bug heat treatment Toronto - What you need to know!

More people who find themselves facing a bed bug problem in their home in Southern Ontario and particularly in the Toronto area are opting for the most successful form of bed bug treatment out there - Heat!

There are, however, some things that you should consider carefully when choosing a bed bug extermination company to conduct your heat treatment!

Choosing a bed bug exterminator to conduct your heat treatment

When looking through the myriad of ads by bed bug extermination companies based in Toronto that use heat to kill bed bugs it is extremely important to look beyond the flashy web design and colourful graphics. Look for substance and credibility when looking for an exterminator.

Chances are if you are reading this blog you've just found out that you have a bed bug problem. You've also likely done some web browsing and tried to learn as much about bed bugs as you possibly can in the limited time you've been able to research the subject. If you're like most and you've just realized that you do in fact have bed bugs your mental state is probably somewhere between moderate mental discomfort and sheer panic - Relax, this is normal and happens to everyone that first finds out.

Now that you've calmed down a bit its time to study-up and learn something.

There are two different types of bed bug heat treatment companies:

1) Those with experience that are accredited, reputable and licensed

2) Those that are not

When it comes to being an exterminator in the legal sense in Ontario it means that the Company and it's employees are trained, tested and licensed by the Government and its affiliates to conduct a bed bug extermination using Class 3 pesticides. Now, we're talking about heat treatment here not pesticides... right?  Yes, but here's the rub... When a company is licensed by the Ministry of the Environment it also means that they must carry the requisite insurance and have standards in place for safety - among other things. Essentially, the Ministry ensures that when a licensed 'exterminator' enters your home he or she has had at least the basic training and possesses at the least the basic knowledge of what they are doing. Essentially, it means that they possess a degree of credibility and there are regular governmental audits that look at the operation.

Here's the loophole! Because those that use heat to kill bed bugs are not required by the Ministry to also be licensed (they're not using pesticides) there exists NO safeguards for YOU that the person coming into your home has any clue whatsoever as to what they are doing or could tell the difference between a bed bug and a '57 Chevy! In fact, this is happening every single day in Ontario to unsuspecting people!

There is a legislative loophole that allows ANYONE to call himself an 'exterminator' without having had any training, testing or oversight - whatsoever - so long as they don't use a Class 3 pesticide!

If you think that's scary, try this on for size: Did you know that if you hire a bed bug heat treatment company to conduct your extermination and they don't have insurance you may be left holding the proverbial ball should something untoward take place.

Better Business Bureau Accreditation

Selecting a company that is BBB accredited offers some advantages to the consumer. The BBB, although far from a 'judicial body' does require that an accredited company comply with some strict regulatory policies regarding advertising (the company can't lie) and deals uniformly with any disputes that may arise between a company and its customers. In addition, the BBB awards a 'grade' based on numerous factors including how many (if any) complaints have been filed against a company, how those complaints were dealt with by the company, how long the company has been in business and confirms that the company is in fact a real company in the sense that it exists as a Corporation. In the case of bed bug exterminators, they also verify that any required Government licensing exists and is up to date.

Here's what to remember when hiring a bed bug exterminator:

1. Make absolutely sure that the heat treatment company you hire is licensed by the Ministry of the Environment! Ask for their 'Operator License Number'
2. Ensure that the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (Check!)
3. Hire a company that compounds their credibility by being members in good standing with various Pest Management Associations. Examples would be SPMAO, NPMA and CPMA

What to watch out for: False Accreditation & False Claims

• Watch out for companies that do not proudly display their licensing and accreditation clearly on their website!!! This is crucial!!!
• Companies that have spent the time and effort becoming educated, becoming licensed and maintaining membership in industry organizations are proud of it! It will be on their website - look for those accreditations, if you don't see them - move on!
• Some companies in the Toronto area are actually lying about being a member of the BBB! If a company is truly a member of the BBB they must link the BBB logo to their BBB profile... if it doesn't link be suspicious!
• Some Toronto bed bug heat treatment companies have "Licensed" on their website - If they're not licensed by the Ministry they're being dishonest with you! Being "licensed" by the manufacturer of the equipment means nothing! When you call, ask WHO licenses them - If it's not the Ministry, its meaningless.

It's your home, you've worked tirelessly to pay for it and keep it in good shape - Do your homework! Remember, you are your best advocate. Heat is a fantastic way to kill bed bugs and, if done correctly, in just one treatment  the bed bug problem is most likely solved. If you hire the wrong company, however, your problems may just be getting started.

Bed Bug Heat Treatment In Toronto

Thinking of heat as a treatment for killing bed bugs in Toronto? Here are your options...

For people living in the Toronto area bed bugs have become a serious concern. Hundreds of homeowners are being exposed to these insects each and every day and although they may seem small in size, bed bugs can have a horrible impact on those that find themselves having to get rid of them!

Over the past few years a number of new options for treating a home infested with bedbugs have come to the forefront. The most promising - Heat! That's right, heating a home to the 'thermal kill range' and taking care of the problem in one fell swoop.

Unlike pesticides, heat is simply that - the temperature of the air is warmed to the point where it permeates every little crack and crevice where the bugs hide and literally cooks them. An important aspect of this is that the high temperature also kills the bed bug eggs as well - no pesticide approved for use in Canada can do this.

When done properly, a bed bug heat treatment is safe, 100% effective and a true solution to the problem of bed bug eradication.

Not all bed bug heat treatments are the same. As it is a relatively new process, entrepreneurial types have invented new ways to heat a home. Below, see your options and make an informed decision.

Types of bed bug heat treatments

There are three different types of equipment currently being used to kill bed bugs in the Toronto area; Propane, Electric and Heat Transfer Fluid or 'HTF'.

Let's have a look at each one's benefits and drawbacks.

Propane

The propane based system utilizes a truck that is parked outside of the home to be treated for bed bugs. Propane is burned and the associated hot air is then blown into the home through a large flexible duct. Although the air at the source of ignition is very hot, significant heat loss occurs during the airs journey through the duct. In addition, the hot air comes out of one source only - the duct which is inefficient and may cause damage to belongings inside the home.

This system gets kudos for being the first bed bug heat treatment to be introduced but, as you will see below, falls far short in many respects compared to others introduced since. In addition, there have been many reports of this system causing damage to articles located inside the treatment area.

Online reviews of companies using this type of bed bug heat treatment in Toronto show many cases of damage to belongings located in the home.

High marks for being the first but no longer recommended - there are much better options.

Electric

The concept of treating a home with hot air generated by simple electric heaters is not new. In the past these systems were used to treat for spores and even to dry out basements after a flood.

Of great benefit to this system is the ability of the treatment technicians to move the actual source of the heat easily into the affected areas of the home that have the highest concentration of the bed bugs in them.

The electric heat systems now in use for bedbugs are arguably more effective than the propane however, the heaters themselves are not extremely powerful relative to the 'HTF' (see below). 

Heat treating with electric involves moving high-voltage units with their accompanying high-voltage power lines into a home. This, coupled with the heating elements themselves pose an obvious risk of fire and/or electrocution.

In addition, the electric method often takes much longer to heat the space sufficiently to ensure a total kill of the bed bugs and their eggs due to their relative lack of power. This lack of power in heating a space sufficiently and quickly enough posses the threat of repelling the bed bugs deeper into walls and crevices. 

Electric heat systems are better (in some ways) and worse (in some ways) than the propane but fall far short in efficacy relative to the system described below and may pose significant safety hazards while being used.

For these reasons, the electric heat system is not recommended.

And, finally -

Our Winner!... "HTF"  

The Heat Transfer Fluid or 'HTF' system is the latest and most modern heat system for killing bed bugs. It is now available in the Toronto area.

This system is quite ingenious in its simplicity. Here are the basics of how it works...

A simple viscous fluid is heated by two high-power burners (located in a relatively small trailer) and pumped through lines to heat transfer units that are placed strategically inside the home. This system operates much like a simple radiator system. When the hot fluid goes through the heat exchanger(s) inside the home a built-in fan transfers the clean heat to the surrounding air.

Supplemental fans are placed in the space to ensure good and even airflow. The system is  'closed loop'  so there is constant flow of hot fluid circulating through the system at all times. This enables the system to consistently kill not only the bed bugs but also their eggs.

This type of system enables your heat treatment crew to raise the temperature of the treatment area quickly and sufficiently to ensure a 100% thorough job each and every time.

The primary benefits of HTF system are:

1. Absolutely no risk of fire
2. Sufficient temperature to ensure that the bed bugs are not repelled and guarantee a 100% kill
3. It's 'green' as in it does not use a huge amount of electricity or produce extra gaseous emissions
4. This heat system is easy to scale for any sized job from small to very large.

Price

Considering the above mentioned comparisons it is clear that the HTF system has proven to be the safest and most effective system for bed bug heat eradication. When selecting a company for the heat job it is important to remember that killing bed bugs in this way - although extremely effective because only one treatment is necessary and there is very little preparation necessary prior to the commencement of the job - that the cost is usually higher than the traditional pesticide spray treatments, however, the benefits far outweigh the difference in pricing as most companies guarantee 100% eradication.

Conclusion

When all is taken into consideration - there is simply no better option than a heat treatment to solve a bedbug problem.

When selecting a company you are cautioned not to necessarily go with the lowest price. Ensure that the company is legitimate, ask for proof of insurance - it should be a minimum of 2 million dollars in Canada - and take heed that a company that quotes on the very low end may not necessarily take the time required to do the job correctly (they would have to do more jobs to make up for the low price and take less time per job to do so - makes sense right?!).

The time that it should take for a typical heat treatment is between 6 and 10 hours depending on the size of the home that is being treated and the severity of the bed bug infestation inside the home.

The HTF glycol system has been proven to be the best for bed bug heat treatments.

The HTF bed bug heat treatment

One Toronto based company that offers the HTF heat treatment system is GreenTech Bed Bug heat . Reviews of GreenTech Bug Heat have been excellent! They are licensed, bonded and insured and are members of all of the top level pest control associations.

GreenTech Bug Heat services all of Southern Ontario including Scarborough, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Markham, London Ontario and Hamilton.

         GreenTech Bug Heat uses the green glycol HTF system