Bed bug heat treatment Toronto: What you need to know
As the bed bug problem in Toronto continues to grow new and interesting methods of bed bug extermination are being used to combat these pesky little bugs. The latest, using heat to exterminate bed bugs, is proving to be the answer for many.
Actually, using heat to kill bed bugs is nothing new. In fact, heat was used to kill bed bugs in France many hundreds of years ago. It is well documented that raising the temperature of a bed bug to its 'thermal kill range' and keeping that temperature there for a given amount of time will not only kill the bed bugs but also their eggs. This is important because there are no pesticides approved for use in Canada that will kill the bed bug eggs at this time.
The problem - how does one raise the temperature of a home sufficiently and keep it there for long enough to get the job done effectively? The answer is here! Over the past few years the bed bug heat treatment process has been perfected such that it is now available for use in residential settings.
Selecting a company for your bed bug heat treatment in Toronto
There are a number of different types of bed bug heat treatment options available to those in Toronto and Southern Ontario. All will work when done properly and prices of these bed bug heat treatments are usually based on the square footage of area to be treated. As of late the prices range from $1.25 to .90 cents per square foot.
For the most part these bed bug treatments and the equipment used are safe and effective. A reputable bed bug heat treatment company will offer some type of service guarantee. Meaning that if the bed bugs return in a given period of time, the company will return for an assessment and, if necessary, conduct another heat treatment. There are usually (and rightfully) some conditions associated with the service guarantee such as requiring the customer to carry out some steps to ensure that the treatment area is properly prepared prior to the treatment etc. .
Ensure that the heat treatment company you select is properly insured and is covered by the WSIB as you would for hiring any contractor to do work in your home. This protects you as a homeowner.
Bed bug heat treatment methods and procedures
Essentially, the bed bug heat treatment consists of heating the entire home and maintaining that high temperature for the complete kill. Different companies use different methods of achieving this. Most methods are effective when applied correctly and for the requisite length of time.
The bed bug heat treatment crew should arrive an hour before the commencement of the treatment to set up the equipment. The actual treatment will take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours depending on the size of the home and the level of bed bug infestation. A good company will send a representative to your home prior to the day of treatment for a no-charge assessment of your particular situation. during the meeting, the assessor should inspect your home, advise you on your particular situation, give you specific advice on your preparation and issue you with a written quote.
After the heat treatment
After a bed bug heat treatment is successfully conducted in a home it is best to have a professional cleaning service in to remove the dead bugs and their associated remnants such as the cast skins and fecal matter. Allowing bed bug cast skins to stay in place could be harmful to those that suffer with asthma when the particulates become airborne after being disturbed. If this is the case in your home simply have the cleaning service use a Hepa filtered vacuum when cleaning up.
Some Toronto based bed bug heat treatment companies use K9 bed bug detection dogs to confirm that the problem has been rectified. These dogs are highly trained and can detect live bed bugs and their eggs in a very short period of time. If using the K9 bed bug detection it is best to use a third party company to avoid a conflict of interest and be assured of an unbiased result.
Summary
Bed bug heat treatment companies in Toronto are offering a wonderful alternative to pesticide use in the fight against bed bugs. The process of heat treating your home, although taking longer than the traditional spray method, is much more likely to achieve the desired result. Usually, only one treatment on that day is sufficient to kill all of the bugs.
The incidents of bed bug infestations is rising at an alarming rate and it is this author's opinion that, given time, most people living in Toronto will either experience this problem directly or know someone that has or is currently dealing with this dilemma. Arming yourself with the knowledge necessary to deal with this issue is essential.
