Heat treatment is really effective for eliminating invading insects. This includes species such as bed bugs and termites. However, it’s also effective against other pests.
Still, the idea of heating the house comes with concerns for a lot of homeowners. How will things go? Will it negatively affect the property in any way? And how can you prepare the place for the treatment?
This guide will reveal exactly how heat treatment works. Read on to learn about what to expect during the procedure and afterwards.
What Is Heat Treatment and Why It Works?
Let’s first define heat treatment.
It essentially raises the temperature of your house to levels that are fatal to bugs.
The heat penetrates floors and walls and does its job. Furthermore, it can even seep into furniture, killing off the pests hiding in cracks and crevices.
Heat treatment is a one-time, non-toxic, ecologically friendly option. It’s different from chemical pest control methods, which sometimes call for several applications and could leave a residue.
The heat treatment is also highly effective in eradicating pests in all of their life phases, from eggs to adults, without the use of chemical pesticides.
This guarantees the complete elimination of infestations. So you won’t have to worry about bugs surviving and re-infesting your house.
Getting Your House Ready for a Heat Treatment
Although heat treatment is simple, getting your house ready is crucial to guarantee its success and prevent any harm to your furniture.
The following is a breakdown of the main steps.
Remove Heat-Sensitive Objects
You will have to remove everything that heat can ruin since the temperature in your house will rise significantly during the procedure. Typical heat-sensitive objects include:
- Electronics like laptops, TVs, and gaming consoles;
- Candles;
- Pressurised canisters and aerosol cans;
- Plastic products like some toys;
- Storage containers that could melt or distort;
- Artwork and musical instruments.
Until the treatment is finished, keep these things in a garage or a neighbour’s house. If you are unsure whether certain items are heat-sensitive, it’s better to be cautious and remove them.
Look After the Pets and Plants
Pets and plants can suffer from the high temperatures during the heat treatment. Plan to leave your pet with friends, in a kennel, or another safe place during the procedure.
Try to move any houseplants outside or to a secure, cool spot.
Furthermore, fish tanks need special care. If you have an aquarium, relocate it outside the house since fish can be quite sensitive to temperature variations.
Check the Safety of Your Home
Although the heat itself won’t harm your house, some steps should be followed to protect the construction.
Make sure the windows are closed. Also, any gaps or openings allowing the heat to escape should be sealed. This will help maintain the required temperature for as long as necessary for the pests to be fully eradicated.
Additionally, remove any blinds, curtains, or other objects positioned near windows. The strong heat can make these objects deform.
When doing heat treatments, professionals will closely monitor the temperature to guarantee the structural integrity of any wood flooring and other sensitive structures in your house.
Still, you should inform your pest control company in advance about more delicate items on your property. Especially vinyl or laminate flooring, as these materials are more prone to heat damage.
Clear Your Belongings and Furniture
One of the biggest advantages of heat treatment is its ability to destroy pests in places where conventional methods wouldn’t have worked. The heat penetrates furniture and other objects, eliminating all unwanted visitors.
To guarantee enough air circulation, arrange your furniture away from the walls. This way, your house will be heated everywhere.
Any densely packed belongings, such as clothes kept in drawers or closets, should also be rearranged. This will allow more air to flow and give the heat a chance to reach deeper.
You can remove some precious items, including jewellery or delicate antiques, so you don’t have to worry about them. Generally, heat treatment is safe for most objects.
What to Expect From Heat Treatment?
The heat treatment can start once your house has been prepared. Here is what the process will include.
Monitoring the Temperature
Once at your place, the pest control experts will arrange industrial-sized heaters and fans around your house to increase the temperature.
These professionals will also place sensors around your house to track heat levels. This is done to make sure every room reaches the required temperature to exterminate the bugs.
Depending on the size of your house and the degree of the infestation, the treatment usually lasts six to eight hours. You will have to leave the property during this period.
Will the Heat Treatment Ruin My House?
Homeowners worry most about whether the service can damage their property and possessions. Rest assured, when done properly by experts, heat treatment is safe for your home.
The key is to keep an eye on the temperature at all times. Taking heat-sensitive objects out of the house is also crucial.
The Post-treatment Process
You can go back to your house once the procedure is over.
The heat treatment doesn’t require a waiting period before homeowners can return to their houses.
Once done, there is no risk to your health either. That’s nothing like chemical treatments that need airing afterwards and can leave residues behind.
By the time you get back, your house will be cool and pest-free. Even if it still feels a little warm, this residual heat will fade fast.
Looking After Your Home Following Heat Treatment
There are a few things you can do to guarantee that bugs won’t come back to your house after a heat treatment.
Although this procedure is usually quite successful in eradicating infestations, it is always advisable to take preventative measures.
Search Your House for Access Points
Little cracks, gaps, or unsealed windows and doors usually serve as entry points for pests. So check your house for such openings and seal them.
This could include:
- Cracks close to windows and doors;
- Foundation damage;
- Openings near wires and pipes that lead into the house.
By proofing your house, you lower the chance of new pest infestations.
Frequent Cleaning and Organising
One of the best strategies to avoid future bug outbreaks is keeping your house clutter-free and clean.
Pests like messy places where they can hide and reproduce. Frequent vacuuming, dusting, and decluttering will make your place less appealing to unwelcomed visitors. If you have bed bugs, consider covering your pillows, mattresses and other furniture.
Conclusion
Although heat treatment is a great way to get rid of pests in your house, its success depends on careful planning and preparation.
Eliminating heat-sensitive items, protecting your house, and organising your possessions can help guarantee a seamless treatment and a secure residence. The peace of mind that comes with knowing those bothersome bugs are gone forever makes it all worthwhile.
