Exactly What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs Outright?

Bed bugs are a major issue in the UK. In fact, for most people, it’s only a matter of time until you’re infested with these parasites. Over the years, pest controllers have developed a number of techniques for exterminating these pests. In the past, the go-to method was fumigation. While this worked, it did have its drawbacks. Eventually a better technique was developed, known as heat treatments. This method works by using heat to kill bed bugs. But if you’re wondering what temperature kills bed bugs – as well as how this method works – here’s a brief explanation.

What temperature kills bed bugs?

The heat treatments method is based on a simple idea. The idea is that all organic matter perishes under extreme temperatures. This law also applies to humans. When it gets hot enough, we simply cannot survive (the recent heat waves have more than proven this.)

But what temperature kills bed bugs? According to scientists, after bed bugs are treated with temperatures of 45°C for 90 minutes they will die. This time period drops down to 20 minutes if they are treated 48°C. In addition to this, to destroy bed bug eggs and have an effect on bed bugs you’ll need heat of 48°C for about 90 minutes.

This is what really makes the treatment so incredible. It’s scientific and there’s no guesswork whatsoever. This makes the method extremely reliable, a lot more reliable than something like fumigation.

How heat treatments actually work

It’s quite simple. We basically use a heat treatment machine to perform the treatment. This looks like a large generator. The method is also environmentally friendly with eco-benefits.

Before we carry out the treatment, you’ll have to prepare the room. You’ll need to remove any delicate items that could be damaged. For example, things like musical instruments, houseplants or artwork should be taken out. You should also take out anything that could be damaged by heat. Examples of this include candles and food. It’s also a good idea to leave space between items so that the air can circulate.

Once the room is ready, we bring in the machine. It is then turned on and the room is left to warm up to the appropriate temperature. As this happens, the bed bugs become agitated. They crawl out of their hiding places and are eventually killed by the heat.

That’s really all there is to it. As you can see, this method is simple, easy, and best of all fast. This is why it’s now the preferred method compared to fumigation. Hopefully this article has answered the question “what temperature kills bed bugs.” If you have other questions about heat treatments, feel free to get in touch with us.