Heat treatment can clear bed bugs in one day. The crew brings commercial heaters and fans, and sensors track the temperature deep in mattresses, cushions and along walls. Most Jacumba homes can be used again that evening.
How Heat Works
Bed bugs and eggs die when kept hot enough for long enough, and they cannot build resistance to heat the way they have to some sprays. Crews generally keep the coolest spots in each room at about 120°F or more, turning mattresses and moving cushions so heat reaches every layer.
The Day of Treatment
- PrepItems that could melt are removed, and heaters, fans and sensors are set up.
- Ramp upThe rooms rise to the target temperature over a few hours.
- HoldThe crew tracks readings and shifts items so no spot stays cool.
- FinishRooms cool, results are checked and a residual may go along edges.
Heat in Older Jacumba Houses
Heat works well for families who want no pesticide on beds and for hosts who need a guest room back quickly. Most homes in 91934 were built in the 1940s or earlier, so a careful crew inspects the electrical panel and outlets before running heaters and may bring its own generator. Old plaster walls and deep closets can also hold cool spots, so ask how the crew will monitor them.
Remove These First
- Candles, makeup, crayons, aerosols, medicine, plants and pets.
- Vinyl records, old photos and anything that could warp.
- Electronics the crew asks you to take out.
- Leave clothes and bedding in place unless told otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Will we be sleeping at home that same night?
Usually. Once the rooms have cooled and the crew signs off, most families are back in by evening.
Summers get hot here. Can I just shut the windows and let the sun do it?
No. A shut house will not heat every mattress core and wall gap evenly, even in July. The EPA also warns that home heaters cannot do the job safely and can start fires.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves Jacumba. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.