Using heat is an effective way to kill bed bugs fast without the need for chemicals. However, the success of the treatments depends on how well you follow the directions the bed bug exterminator gives you. The effectiveness also depends on how high the temperature gets inside your home and how long the temperature is maintained. Here are some things to know about the bed bug extermination process using heat treatments.

The Heated Air Circulates Through Your Home

Heat treatments are effective because the heat gets inside closets, drawers, and other areas of your home. This can kill the bugs wherever they're hiding. However, there has to be adequate air circulation for the heat to reach all hiding places.

The exterminator may ask you to declutter your home. That doesn't mean you have to remove things from your house, but you may need to throw out trash and organize your clothing and other belongings so air can circulate through them freely.

Also, the exterminator uses heaters and commercial blowers that put out a strong stream of air. For that reason, you don't want to leave fragile items on shelves or stacks of papers on your desk. Place anything that could be blown around in a safe place.

Heat Doesn't Prevent Future Infestation

Heat treatments can kill bed bugs in all stages of their life cycle, but once your home cools off, new bed bugs can move in if you carry them back home. For that reason, you need to be careful about carrying bugs back inside from your car or carrying them home from work.

Also, you may be instructed to remove and bag the clothes you wore from the house that morning so they can be treated in a hot dryer before placing them back in your home.

Some Of Your Things Won't Tolerate The Heat

Your bed bug exterminator will probably give you a list of items to remove from your home that can't tolerate the heat. This includes things that might explode, melt, or die such as candles and plants.

You might place these items in a shed or your car if your car is in the shade. Inspect them before removing them from your home and again before you return them. Your exterminator may have specific instructions on what to do with items that would be ruined by heat so you don't move the bugs around too.

Bed Bug Extermination Takes All Day

Killing off bed bugs with heat is a lengthy process. The heat is held long enough to make sure all of the bugs are dead. Plus, it takes time to heat up and cool down your house. Make arrangements to be gone all day since you won't be allowed in the house once treatment begins.

You May Need To Clean Up After

Even if you've decluttered your home yourself, the exterminator may move things around to ensure even distribution of heat. You may come home to find furniture out of place, drawers and closets open, and your mattresses moved around. You might have a little work ahead of you to get your home back to normal.

The heat from a bed bug extermination treatment kills other kinds of bugs too, so you may need to spend time vacuuming up dead bed bugs and other insects once your home has cooled down.