Heat treatment clears bed bugs in a single day. Commercial heaters and fans raise a room's temperature while wireless sensors track the heat inside mattresses, cushions and along the walls. Most Poway homes are ready to sleep in again that evening.
Why Heat Gets Every Bug
Every bed bug life stage, including eggs, dies when held at high heat for long enough, and bed bugs cannot build resistance to heat the way they can to some chemicals. Crews typically hold the coolest part of a room at about 120°F or higher for a set stretch of time, flipping mattresses and shifting cushions so no cool pocket survives.
On Treatment Day
- PrepHeat-sensitive items come out first, then the crew sets up heaters, fans and sensors.
- Ramp upOver several hours, the room climbs to the target temperature.
- Hold steadyReadings are tracked the whole time, and cushions and drawers get shifted so nowhere stays cool.
- Cool and reviewThe space cools off, results get checked, and a residual product may go along the edges.
Heat Treatment Around Poway
Many Poway houses date to the 1960s and 1970s, so a crew checks the electrical panel before setting up heaters. Heat is popular on horse properties and larger hillside lots because it can be run through the main house and a guest unit without leaving product on beds where family, tenants or ranch hands sleep.
Getting the Room Ready for Heat
- Pull out candles, crayons, lipstick, aerosol cans, medicine, vinyl records, houseplants and pets.
- Check the crew's own list for anything specific, such as certain electronics.
- Bedding and clothes can usually stay right where they are.
- Open every drawer and closet door so the heat can circulate.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Can heat cover a guest house or casita too?
Yes. A separate structure can be heated the same way as the main house, either on the same visit or scheduled alongside it.
Will a hot San Diego County summer day do the same thing?
No. Even on a warm day, the inside of a mattress or wall cavity never gets hot enough for long enough. Professional heaters and monitoring equipment are needed to reach every hiding spot.
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 Poway. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.