Heat treatment can finish a bed bug job in one day. The crew brings commercial heaters and fans and places sensors inside mattresses, cushions and along the walls. In most Sonoma homes, people are back in their own beds that night.
How Heat Gets the Job Done
Bed bugs and their eggs die when held at a high enough temperature for long enough, and unlike some sprays, they cannot grow resistant to it. Crews usually keep the coolest spots in each room at about 120°F or more, flipping mattresses and shifting cushions so the heat gets all the way through.
On Treatment Day
- PrepHeat-sensitive items come out, and the heaters, fans and sensors go in.
- Ramp upRooms rise to the target over a few hours.
- HoldThe crew reads the sensors and moves items so no corner stays cool.
- Wrap upRooms cool, results are checked, and a residual product may be applied along edges.
Heat Treatment in Sonoma Homes
Heat is popular with innkeepers who need a room back quickly and with families who want no pesticide on the bed. More than 2,700 homes in 95476 were built before 1950, so a careful crew checks the electrical panel and outlets before running heaters and may bring its own power.
Take These Out First
- Candles, cosmetics, crayons, aerosols, medicines, houseplants and pets.
- Wine bottles, vinyl records, photos and anything that can melt or warp.
- Anything else on the crew's list, such as some electronics.
- Leave clothes and bedding in place unless the crew says otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Will I be back in my bed tonight?
Usually, yes. When the rooms cool and the crew finishes its checks, most people sleep at home the same night.
Can I just run a space heater in the bedroom?
No. The EPA cautions 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 Sonoma. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.