One day of controlled heat can wipe out bed bugs across a whole house. The crew sets up commercial heaters and fans and places temperature sensors inside mattresses, cushions and wall edges. Most Firebaugh families return home that same evening.
How Heat Kills Bed Bugs
Bed bugs and their eggs die when held at a high enough temperature for long enough, and they cannot build up resistance to heat the way they do to sprays. The target is to keep even the coolest part of each room at about 120°F or more, while the crew flips mattresses and moves cushions so heat gets through.
On Treatment Day
- SetupHeat-sensitive items are removed, then heaters, fans and sensors are placed.
- Warm-upRooms climb to the target temperature over a few hours.
- HoldSensors are watched and cool corners get more airflow.
- CooldownRooms cool, results are checked and a residual may go along the edges.
Heat Treatment in Firebaugh Homes
Heat is a good match for families who do not want pesticide on beds and for landlords who need a unit back quickly. Many older Firebaugh houses have smaller electrical service, so ask the company whether they will use your panel or bring their own generator. Summer afternoons here often pass 100°F, and crews may schedule around that. Ask which rooms and items the heat will and will not reach.
Take These Out First
- Candles, crayons, lipstick, aerosol cans, medicines, plants and pets.
- Vinyl records, photos and soft plastics that could warp.
- Any electronics or other items on the crew's removal list.
- Leave clothing and bedding in place unless the crew says otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Firebaugh summers top 100 degrees. Is that hot enough to kill the bugs?
No. Indoor rooms stay much cooler than the air outside, and bugs deep in a mattress or wall stay cooler still. Only controlled heaters and sensors bring every spot to a lethal temperature.
Will we have to leave the house overnight?
Usually not. Most households are back in once the rooms cool down and the crew clears them, often the same evening.
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 Firebaugh. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.