Frequently Asked Questions

 

How does it work?

 

The high heat draws the insects out of hiding, whether they are in bedding, TV sets, night stands, alarm clocks, behind pictures, or imbedded in computer keyboards and monitors. The heat dehydrates the bed bugs, melts their cell membranes, destroys the bugs’ enzymes and coagulates their proteins.

 

Won’t the bed bugs just run from the heat and spread to other units?

 

Bed bugs are attracted to body heat.  In a similar fashion, it is our experience that bed bugs emerge from hiding and are attracted to the heat from the heaters rather than seeking routes to escape.

 

How long does a typical treatment take?

 

Treatment times will vary depending on the size and construction of the structure, the level of infestation, the type of contents, etc.  We have found the average time to treat a typical apartment to be 6-8 hours from set up to tear down.

 

Will the heat cause damage to my electronics?

 

Not when using a Thermal Remediation® system properly.  All electronics have a storage temperature and an operational temperature. Storage temperatures typically allow electronics to be subject to up to 149°F.  The EBB heaters are digitally locked not to exceed temperatures of 135ºF.  All electronic equipment within the space should be unplugged during a heat treatment.

 

How long will I need to be outside my home?

 

The typical treatment is between 6-8 hours. Once the treatment is complete you will be able to return to your home immediately.

 

What is a Bed Bug / How do I know if I have them?

 

Bed bugs are brown to reddish-brown, 3/16 inch long, flat and oval. The nymphs or immature stages go through a series of five molts (from egg to adult). They range in size from 2mm to 3/16 inches long and are yellowish to almost translucent in color. The eggs are extremely small (1mm) and very difficult to detect with the naked eye. Bed bugs can utilize almost every crack and crevice in a home from the baseboards to the dressers. They are nocturnal making it difficult to identify all of the harborages bedbugs use. Highly trained professionals are able to identify these harborages and determine the infestation levels through a number of clues:

 

• Shed exoskeleton

• Fecal droppings

• Live & dead bed bugs

• Possible pathways into the home

•  

Infestations can grow rapidly under radar and if not caught early can spread easily. Bed bugs can spread very easily from unit to unit in a multi-resident building and the best and most effective way to eliminate bed bugs is to inspect and treat all units surrounding the infested one.

 

How do I prepare for a Treatment?

 

Click on the Link to open out preparation check list Thermal Remediation Checklist PDF.