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Should you use a bed bug heat treatment for Apartments?

Updated: Nov 17, 2022



Bed heat treatments offer a variety of benefits to both the property management company performing the treatment and building tenants. Only one heat treatment is required for a low to medium level bed bug infestation, while pesticides require 3 to 4 treatments over a time period of 21 to 31 days. The satisfaction of the tenants after treatment will be higher as the problem will be resolved sooner In addition, the tenants may be sensitive to pesticides which leads to a physical reaction with the chemicals. Bed bugs are more resistant than ever to insecticides, which mean that the chemicals may not be able to kill all life stages of insects resulting in bed bugs remaining after treatment. It is also easier to penetrate hard-to-reach areas with heat than with pesticides.


The Thermal Remediation® EBB-40kW Trailer Package is a popular choice of bed bug heat treatment equipment for property managers. This package contains 460V electric bed bug heaters and a generator stored in an enclosed trailer, among other essential heat treatment accessories. The EBB-40kW trailer package handles up to 1,400 square feet of infested area and works well in multi-room apartments, condominiums, or even smaller homes. Property maintenance managers can easily tow this ready-made trailer from one apartment complex to another making equipment investment worthwhile as it spreads throughout the company's portfolio.


Three main temperature stages when performing a bed bug heat treatment:

· 100-120°F: Check for bed bug activity; Remove visible bed bugs with an integrated pest management vacuum

· 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit: Connect high temperature fans and direct hot air into bed bug activity detected in the previous temperature stage.

· 130-135°F: Move and expose the content to facilitate the movement of heat and air into the treated area

When conducting heat treatment for bed bugs in apartments or condominiums, some priority considerations must be taken of specific areas within the living space. Clothes in lockers should not be tightly packed to allow room for air movement during treatment. Furniture in areas that people frequent, such as the sofa in the living room, and furniture near the bed are more susceptible to infection. This furniture should have fans that direct hot air to it during treatment. Kitchen cabinets full of dishes or food need no treatment. Electronics can remain in a condominium or condominium unit as long as they are turned off and unplugged. Bed frames and mattresses should be supported when the temperature in the space reaches 130-135 degrees Fahrenheit. Crown molding and base plates are a concern in an apartment because they prove to be excellent hiding places for bed bugs.


Heat treatment for bed bugs is becoming increasingly common. This is especially true considering that in the past few years; bed bugs have become more and more prevalent in the United States. It is not at all uncommon for these pesky little creatures to be found in shelters, apartment complexes, hotels, motels, condominiums, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, office complexes, apartments, public transportation units, dormitories and other places where people live, stay and travel. If you are an apartment owner, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps to ensure that your apartment complex remains free of bed bugs.


It is a known fact that getting rid of bed bugs can be a very time consuming, cumbersome and costly process. One of the main reasons is that insects are becoming increasingly resistant to the common pest control methods that have been used throughout history to eliminate them. As an apartment owner, you know and understand that a pre-rental tenant cannot be screened to determine if their property has bed bug infestations. You know that it only takes one tenant to move into your apartment complex in the event of an infection resulting in a widespread outbreak that can be very costly.


As an apartment owner, you should take steps throughout the year to eliminate any bed bugs that may be present in your compound and prevent future infestations. This includes making sure that apartments are fully cleaned on a regular basis when they become vacant. Floors, walls and the baseboards must be completely sealed. If your apartment is furnished, you should use covers on mattresses and box springs to prevent bed bugs from nesting in those areas. You should also schedule monthly tours of each rental apartment to make sure your tenants keep it clean and that infections are identified before they spread to other apartments within your complex.


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