A bed bug heating device can be an excellent solution to exterminate bed bugs and save you from the misery caused by these pests, including bad smell, contaminating food and irritating your pet’s skin or human skin. These modern devices are powerful, efficient and may provide relief of you have been fighting with such a problem for a long time. Therefore, understanding the working and effectiveness of these devices is worth a glance if you are planning to purchase one.
Most devices consist of four major components:
- A heated trailer
- Circulating Fans
- Encased Infrared gun
- Extension system
The heat trailer has the primary purpose of supplying energy to the device while it is being operated. It may provide enough wattage to ensure the smooth running of the device thus increasing efficiency. The source of heat is the infrared gun which uses power from either gas (mostly propane) or electricity. As the name of the component suggests, it converts electrical current or gas power into infrared waves causing a heating effect. The heat produced may be as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit in most devices while some may operate at 140 degrees on a Fahrenheit scale. The fans installed circulate this heat in the space infested with bed bugs on a more sufficient intensity to kill the eggs, nymph and adult bugs as well. Smaller bed bug heaters may have only one circulation fan while the large ones are normally equipped with two large fans, suitable for heating large spaces. The extension cords are fixed on the device to draw power from a reliable source while the latter is in operation.
Several ways through which the Pest Pro heat treatment works to eliminate the bed bugs and their offspring are based on the vulnerability of these creatures at high temperatures. The heat they are exposed to makes it uncomfortable for them to continue occupying the crevices as well as joints in the furniture or hidden spaces in mattresses and cushions.
However, the heat treatment may not completely kill these pests when used alone. It might require some supplementary techniques such as chemical treatment, encasing and thorough cleaning of the parts being treated. Although some materials and surfaces may act as heat sinks like concrete, absorbing the heat and eliminate the bed bugs, another surface could create a cold spot thus lowering the effectiveness of the heat treatment. This requires thorough rotation of the surfaces being treated to remove residual bugs. Some bed bugs may also hide deeper inside the closed spaces where heat may not effectively reach then resurface and breed again. Such problems can be easily minimized by working on smaller sections at one time and applying simpler methods in conjunction with the heating.