Heat treatment can wipe out bed bugs in one day. The crew runs commercial heaters and fans while sensors follow the temperature inside mattresses, cushions and wall edges. Most Orinda homes can be used again by evening.
Why Heat Is So Effective
Bed bugs and their eggs die when kept hot enough for long enough, and heat is not something they can build resistance to. Crews usually bring the coolest spots in each room to about 120°F or more and hold it there, turning mattresses and shifting cushions so the heat soaks all the way through.
How the Day Goes
- PrepItems that could melt or warp come out, and heaters, fans and sensors go in.
- Heat upTemperatures climb to the target level over several hours.
- HoldSensors are monitored and belongings are shifted so cool pockets disappear.
- Wrap upAfter cooldown the crew reviews results, and edges might get a residual product.
Heat Treatment in Orinda Homes
Heat is popular with families who want no pesticide on beds. In Orinda, two practical points come up. Many houses in 94563 were built in the 1940s and 1950s, so a careful crew checks the electrical panel first and may bring its own power. And on steep or narrow hillside driveways, tell the company ahead of time so they can plan where the equipment will go.
Remove These Before the Crew Arrives
- Candles, crayons, lipstick, aerosol cans, medicines, houseplants and pets.
- Wine bottles, vinyl records, framed photos and anything that could warp.
- Items on the crew's list, such as certain electronics.
- Leave clothes and bedding in place unless you are told otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Do we need to leave the house overnight?
Usually not. When the rooms have cooled and the crew has finished its checks, most families are back in the same evening.
Why not just turn the furnace all the way up?
The EPA warns that home furnaces and space heaters cannot heat a room evenly enough to kill bed bugs and can start fires.
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 Orinda. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.