How Long High Heat is Sufficient to Kill Bed Bugs?
WouterWhen treating a bed bug infestation, you may be wondering how long high heat is sufficient to kill the insects. The answer depends on the type of infestation and the temperature. Heat can kill adult bed bugs within 20 minutes, while cold can kill them for up to ninety-four minutes. Neither of these temperatures is within the range of the average household.
While low temperatures can kill the insects, higher temperatures are more effective. Bed bugs cannot survive higher temperatures than 113 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 3 weeks. While temperatures over that level will kill them instantly, the temperatures inside the home can be as low as twenty-five degrees at night. This can make killing the bugs in the house an impossible task.
The temperature of the treated room is essential for controlling the infestation. The temperature should be kept between forty-five and sixty-five degrees Celsius. It is also important to remember that the temperature should be controlled for two to four hours. For optimal efficacy, the temperature and holding time should be carefully calculated. This will reduce the risk of damaging the occupant’s property and keep operating costs low.
One method is to use a clothes dryer. This will kill bedbugs at all stages of their life cycle, but some dryers can take up to fifteen minutes to reach that temperature. Using high heat can also kill the eggs in the bed bugs. In addition to these methods, you may also want to consider using solar power to kill the bugs. However, make sure the method you use is legal and safe to use.
