A single day of heat is often enough to clear an Occidental house of bed bugs. The crew sets up commercial heaters and fans and places sensors inside mattresses, sofa cushions and along walls to track the temperature. Most Occidental households can move back in that same evening.
Why Heat Works
Held at a high enough temperature for long enough, bed bugs and their eggs die, and they have no way to build resistance to heat as they have to some sprays. Crews generally hold the coolest points in each room at about 120°F or more, flipping mattresses and shifting cushions so every layer heats through.
How the Day Goes
- SetupHeat-sensitive items come out, and heaters, fans and probes go in.
- Warm upRoom temperatures climb to the target over several hours.
- HoldThe crew monitors each probe and moves items so no pocket stays cool.
- FinishAfter cooling, the crew reviews the results and may treat edges with a residual.
Heat in Occidental Homes
Heat is popular with hosts who need a guest room back quickly and with owners who do not want pesticide on the beds. Many houses in 95465 date from the 1950s through the 1970s, and some sit at the end of long rural drives, so ask whether the crew will check your electrical panel or bring a generator.
Remove These First
- Candles, wax art supplies, aerosols, medications, houseplants and pets.
- Vinyl records, photographs and anything else likely to melt or warp.
- Electronics or instruments the crew flags on its checklist.
- Leave bedding and clothes where they are unless the crew says otherwise.
Questions About Heat Treatment
Can guests use the room the day after heat treatment?
In most cases. When the rooms cool and the crew finishes its check, the space can be used again, though many hosts wait for a K9 recheck before booking the next group.
Will running my wood stove or a space heater work?
No. The EPA warns that home heaters cannot raise a room's temperature evenly enough to kill bed bugs and can cause fires, a serious risk in a wooded area like Occidental.
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 Occidental. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.