Bed Bug Central TV » heat

Effectiveness of Steamers on Bed Bugs

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:51:36 +0000

In this episode Jeff is explains how to determine if the steamer you have purchased or have at home will be effective in killing both bed bugs and their eggs on contact. One thing that we know about bed bugs is that they are susceptible to heat and if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 180oF both bed bugs and their eggs should be killed on contact. In previous episodes we have also discussed how steamers can be effective for killing bugs and their eggs on contact and good be a good tool to address resistance concerns in a bed bug population. If you have purchased a steamer and would like to determine if it will be effective in killing bed bugs and their eggs on contact, you should first purchase an instant read thermometer (similar to the one you would use to cook food in an oven). If you then take the steamer and turn it on and move the steamer over the thermometers sensor you can see if you are achieving temperatures in excess of 180oF. If you do achieve temperatures in excess of 180oF then that steamer should be sufficient to kill bugs and eggs on contact. Please be aware that steamers can damage fabrics and finishes on different surfaces, so always use caution when steamer different items.

Using Solar Heat to Kill Bed Bugs

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:47:12 +0000

In this episode, Jeff will explain how some people have tried to use the sun’s energy to heat treat items by placing them in the hot sun in the yard or car and his position on this technique. Although, if done properly, this technique can be effective, Bed Bug Central does not recommend this technique since the chance for it to fail and possibly infest your car exists. The temperatures in a car or in the direct sunlight during the summer months can be in excess of 160 degrees which is well over the lethal temperature to kill bed bugs and their eggs. The issue with this technique is that there are sometimes ways for the bugs to escape the bags they are contained in and then your car can become infested. Also, if you place items in the yard in the direct sunlight, where the bags of items touch the ground can be a cold spot and provide an area for bed bugs to avoid the lethal temperatures. In conclusion, although this technique can work it is not recommended by Bed Bug Central due to the concerns with failure and possibly infesting your automobiles.

Bed Bug Heat Treatment Demo

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:53:56 +0000

<
In this episode, Jeff will perform an actual heat treatment for bed bugs and explain the basics of how the Temp-Air mobile heating system works. In recent months, using heat to control bed bugs has become an interest for both the pest control industry and bed bug sufferers. Heat presents the opportunity to eliminate a bed bug infestation in just one treatment and at a minimum, drastically reduce the number of bed bugs present in a home. With this increased interest, Bed Bug Central has been evaluating the effectiveness of using this heating system to control bed bugs. This episode demonstrates the use of the Temp-Air mobile heating system and some of the concepts and techniques of heat treating a home.

PackTite Portable Heating Unit

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:18:02 +0000

UPDATE: We filmed an update to this video that discusses placing fully packed bags and suitcases into the PackTite Portable Heating Unit. Click here to watch this update

In this episode, Jeff will discuss the new Packtite™ portable heating unit and it’s potential to address bed bug infested items that cannot be laundered or treated. The Packtite portable heating unit is intended address bed bug infested items that cannot be laundered or treated. We know that when bed bugs are exposed to temperatures in excess of 120^oF, over time all stages, both live bugs and eggs, will be killed. During testing, temperatures inside the unit reached approximately 145^oF which is well in excess of the lethal temperature for bed bugs. If you place these items in the unit, plug the unit in and run the unit for four hours (as mentioned by the directions for use), it theoretically should kill any live bed bugs and their eggs that are present in the items. It is extremely important that you follow all manufacturer directions in regards to what can be placed in the unit and how to properly use the unit. If the directions are followed properly, the Packtite unit can play a significant role in treating items that cannot be laundered or treated. These items are often very difficult to find a suitable solution for and the Packtite unit could be one of the very few good solutions we have for these items.