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| Bed bug heat treatment Toronto |
Well well well... the competition for your bed bug killing dollar is sure heating up in Toronto - excuse the punn but we couldn't resist!
As the bed bug problem continues to grow in Toronto more and more upstarts are popping up... Now we're seeing companies that have been using electric and other types of heaters to get rid of mould in the past now advertising that they'll come in and kill your bed bugs.
OK, let's look at this for a moment... ALL of it.
It is true that raising the temperature of a dwelling to the required temperature (thermal kill range) will kill bed bugs but only if it's done quickly enough to 'catch' them before they're driven deep into the walls. Like anything, if it's done right it may work, if not - you're likely in worse shape than before.
Thinking of bed bugs heat treatment in Toronto?
Some things you should be aware of:Don't be fooled by claims of these new Toronto bed bug heat treatment companies that pesticides will somehow harm you! Pesticides that are approved for use in Canada are completely safe when applied as per the label and appropriate regulations.
Some heat companies claim to 'guarantee' full elimination with one treatment... this cannot be guaranteed - if you see this claim, move on! There is simply no way to guarantee it and any company that makes this claim should be treated with suspicion.
If you are looking for bed bug heat treatment in Toronto you should know that some of these new companies that tout heat as the only answer are simply scaring people into thinking that they are in danger. This type of marketing is simply disingenuous and could be described as down right fear mongering. Their goal is simple, scare people into thinking that a pesticide is dangerous, throw in the word 'green' and watch the money flow in... Unfortunately it will work on many.
For proof simply look at some of the "Heat preparation checklist" items that are required before the 'treatment'... Many household items must be removed before the treatment takes place... Some include certain types of pictures, frames etc., furniture and household plants - some even require that fire sprinkler systems be drained! If household items are brought back into the home without being treated - reinfestation is quite likely. When that becomes the case you may find yourself in a position where you've spent over $1000 just to find out that you've still got the problem and you have little or no recourse but to spend more money again.
Melted television anyone?
In addition to the above, there are more reports surfacing of these bed bug heat treatments damaging the contents of people's homes. Melted televisions, de-laminated furniture, ruined paintings and more seem to be occurring at an alarming rate.
Risk of fire
Some heat companies claim to 'guarantee' full elimination with one treatment... this cannot be guaranteed - if you see this claim, move on! There is simply no way to guarantee it and any company that makes this claim should be treated with suspicion.
If you are looking for bed bug heat treatment in Toronto you should know that some of these new companies that tout heat as the only answer are simply scaring people into thinking that they are in danger. This type of marketing is simply disingenuous and could be described as down right fear mongering. Their goal is simple, scare people into thinking that a pesticide is dangerous, throw in the word 'green' and watch the money flow in... Unfortunately it will work on many.
For proof simply look at some of the "Heat preparation checklist" items that are required before the 'treatment'... Many household items must be removed before the treatment takes place... Some include certain types of pictures, frames etc., furniture and household plants - some even require that fire sprinkler systems be drained! If household items are brought back into the home without being treated - reinfestation is quite likely. When that becomes the case you may find yourself in a position where you've spent over $1000 just to find out that you've still got the problem and you have little or no recourse but to spend more money again.
Melted television anyone?
In addition to the above, there are more reports surfacing of these bed bug heat treatments damaging the contents of people's homes. Melted televisions, de-laminated furniture, ruined paintings and more seem to be occurring at an alarming rate.
Risk of fire
Bed bug heat treatments are carried out safely, for the most part, quite regularly in North America. However, a recent bed bug heat treatment went horribly wrong in Vancouver. The heat treatment resulted in a a massive fire causing $4.5 million dollars in damage to an apartment building and caused serious injuries to a number of people including two small children and a grandmother. See the following links:
Courtesy CTV News Bed bug heat treatment results in serious injuries
Courtesy CTV News Raw video footage of fire caused by bed bug heat treatment
Now, there are reputable bed bug heat treatment companies out there that are licensed and trained to apply whole-dwelling heat applications. Look for a company that has an Operator License issued by the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario. If they don't have one you risk having an uninsured company do work in your home - this could void your home insurance!
There is no 'magic bullet' when it comes to bed bug eradication - the IPM approach is shown to be the best method. This simply incorporates a number of techniques such as steam, dusting, caulking, pesticides and, yes, could include whole-dwelling heat too. Remember, there is no 'residual' (long-lasting) effect with heat - if they miss even just one bed bug, you're back to square one (with a lot less money in your wallet to boot).
If you're considering whole-dwelling heat to kill your bed bugs, do your homework and hire someone reputable or risk being burned in the process.
Update:
Since posting this article we've been getting frequent reports from people that have gone with these bed bug heat treatment companies and are finding out that they've been had... Remember, Mom always said "if it sounds too good to be true - it usually is".
There is no 'magic bullet' when it comes to bed bug eradication - the IPM approach is shown to be the best method. This simply incorporates a number of techniques such as steam, dusting, caulking, pesticides and, yes, could include whole-dwelling heat too. Remember, there is no 'residual' (long-lasting) effect with heat - if they miss even just one bed bug, you're back to square one (with a lot less money in your wallet to boot).
If you're considering whole-dwelling heat to kill your bed bugs, do your homework and hire someone reputable or risk being burned in the process.
Update:
Since posting this article we've been getting frequent reports from people that have gone with these bed bug heat treatment companies and are finding out that they've been had... Remember, Mom always said "if it sounds too good to be true - it usually is".
