How to Eradicate Bed Bugs (and Other Indoor Pests) Without Chemicals - By: Scott Workman

The old saying, “don’t let the bed bugs bite!” is a saying we’ve all heard, but which in recent years has taken on a whole new meaning. Bed bug infestation is a growing problem in North America in homes, motels, college dorms, apartments, condominiums, offices and even hospitals.

How do you know if you have a bed bug problem?

Inspect for bed bugs, fecal stains and egg cases in the folds, cracks and crevices of mattresses, beds, wallpaper, carpeting, couches and even in clothing. Even if you find only a few evidences, it is probable that you have a much bigger problem. Bed bugs are good at hiding in the tiniest spaces, even beneath baseboards and inside electrical outlets.

The conventional approach to treating for bed bug infestation has been through the use of chemicals. However, since DDT (the miracle pesticide) was banned back in 1972, bed bugs have been on the increase. Until then, the pests were nearly eradicated in the United States. Other chemicals have been only moderately successful in controlling them. Now, overuse of chemical pesticides could be contributing to the problem by creating highly resistant populations, causing them to grow and making some pesticides virtually useless.

One thing is clear – use of pesticides is not a sustainable approach to the infestation of bed bugs. So what’s the best solution?

Heat. Special thermal heat treatment systems have been designed to completely eradicate bed bugs, ticks, mites, spiders and other pests without the use of chemicals. Thermal heat remediation gets to the heart of the problem safely and economically by getting rid of infestations in only a short period of time, allowing people to move back into the space quickly.

So how does heat remediation work?

Specially designed electric heaters are brought into the actual room space and turned on. Heat is then allowed to circulate throughout the targeted room area for four to six hours at a lethal temperature range of between 130º and 150ºF. A special timer is placed outside the room with which to monitor the temperature and turn the heaters off following the eradication cycle.

Not only will heat kill the live bed bugs, but also their larvae. Therefore, a thermal heat solution kills every life stage from egg to adult.

Will any basic heaters work?

No.

Most basic electric heaters are designed for comfort heating only with limit switches and other safety devices built in, which will not allow the heaters to run at high temperature. Plus, small space heaters are not safe to be left unattended.

By contrast a special heat treatment system consists of a base heating unit, plus additional satellite heaters, designed to operate safely at high temperatures. Special timers and controllers are also used to regulate and bring room temperatures up to the optimum kill level.

Thermal area treatment heaters are normally purchased by pest control companies who contract with homeowners and business people locally. However, they can also be purchased and operated by hotel/motel owners, apartment owners, hospitals and government agencies.

Aside from killing bed bugs, thermal heat treatment eradicates spiders, ticks, mites and a host of other insects. Cockroaches may be the only exception. Water remediation is another very popular use of a thermal heat treatment system.

About the Author

Scott Workman is owner of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., a leading authority in bed bug heat treatment heaters and systems, radiant heaters, infrared heaters and more. To learn more, please visit http://www.heatersunlimited.com and http://www.infraredinfo.com.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Scott-Workman/5487

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