Bed Bug Treatment Preparation Guide

How To Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment

You must prepare for bed bug treatment yourself. Every local bed bug treatment provider will have their own preparation instructions that the customer must follow to help the service succeed. Preparation instructions will vary based on what type of bed bug treatment will be performed. Preparing for a heat treatment is very different than preparing for a pesticide-only treatment. Some providers may apply pesticide in addition to their heat treatment, in which case you would follow both sets of instructions.

How to Prepare for Bed Bug Heat Treatment

The main goal of preparing for a bed bug heat treatment is to prevent heat sensitive items from being damaged. Just think of everything that you would not want to leave in a hot car, and take those out of the rooms that will be heated. The heat treatment preparation checklist below is a general guide and may not be as thorough as the guidance from your service provider.

  • Drain and Cap Fire Suppression Sprinklers

    The most important thing you can do to prevent damage from a bed bug heat treatment is call a third party company to de-pressurize, drain, and cap the fire suppression sprinklers. When a room is heated for bed bugs, fire suppression sprinklers can activate causing tens of thousands of dollars in property damage. Some bed bug treatment companies cover up the fire suppression sprinkler heads to insulate them from the high heat. This can work but it is not recommended because the fire sprinkler covers can fail and cause sprinkler activation. After heat treatment the third party fire suppression company can replace the sprinkler heads and reactivate the system. Pest control companies should not attempt this on their own.

  • Call To Deactivate and Disable Burglar and Fire Alarms

    Burglar and Fire Alarms can be damaged or activated during a bed bug heat treatment, especially if there are heat sensors. Fire alarms should be removed from ceilings to protect them from damage. If the fire alarms become damaged during heat treatment then they may not work to save lives as intended. If fire alarms remain active during heat treatment then it is possible that the fire department will be dispatched to the building during treatment which could result in fees for false alarms.

  • Gather and Remove Heat Sensitive Items

    Gather the following heat sensitive items and remove them from the areas that will be heated: Aerosol Spray Cans, Candles, Crayons, Chap Stick, Liquids, Adult Items, Medications, House Plants, Vinyl Records, VHS Tapes and Cassettes, Wooden Instruments, Window Blinds, Batteries, and more. Remove irreplaceable items like photos, valuables, and family heirlooms. Contact your treatment provider for further instructions.

  • Turn off Air Conditioner

    Do not allow the air conditioner to run during a heat treatment. The AC will become very stressed if it constantly runs while intaking super heated air. It may not break the air conditioner but it may cause premature wear and tear of critical components. Remove the thermostat as well to prevent it from being damaged by the heat, especially if it has a digital screen.

  • Unplug All Electronics

    Un-plug all electronics in rooms that will be heated. This will help to prevent damage to electronic items. TVs may need to be removed from treatment areas prior to treatment, consult with your heat provider for further instructions.

  • Prepare To Be Out

    For bed bug heat treatments, prepare to be out of the treated areas for between 8 to 24 hours. All people and pets must be out. Treatment times vary depending on what type of bed bug heating equipment your provider is using. You cannot be in the rooms while they are being heated and should stay out until the heat has dissapated.

How to Prepare for Bed Bug Pesticide Treatment

The main goal of preparing for a bed bug pesticide treatment is to ensure that the pest control technician can access all bed bug hiding places without the risk of applying pesticide to prohibited items. The pesticide treatment preparation checklist below is a general guide and may not be as thorough as the guidance from your service provider.

  • Clear Floors

    Clear small items from floors and place into laundry basket or plastic container.

  • Vacuum any Powder You Applied

    Many of our customers try DIY treatments with powder pesticides. Please vacuum this powder prior to treatment.

  • Put Away All Food

    Remove all food, drinks, and kitchenware from bedrooms and put away in the kitchen.

  • Clothes and Bedding

    Remove all bed linens from beds and folded clothes from drawers. All of these must be washed and dried on high heat to kill hiding bed bugs. Beds must be stripped of their linens so that pesticide can be applied to seams of bed. Pesticide can not be applied to sheets or pillows. Dressers must be empty to allow service provider to apply pesticide inside drawers. Pesticide can not be applied to clothing.

  • Prepare To Be Out

    Plan for all people and pets to be out of treatment areas for at least 6-24 hours after the pesticide has been applied. Liquid pesticide must be completely dry before anyone can re-enter the treated rooms. Contact your provider for further instructions.