Bed Bug Eradication Field Guide

©2019-03 US

www.tri-flo.com

What You Need to

Know

Site Preparation

Initial Assessment

Equipment Set Up

Eradication Process

Clean Up

Site Preparation

Things to Do Prior to Treatment❑ Dry clothes on high for at least 20 minutes, place

in sealed bag in a tub

❑ Clothes on hangers can be left as long as they are not packed tightly

❑ Turn off alarms, take alarms offline if monitored

❑ Remove batteries from smoke/CO2 detectors

❑ Unplug all electronics

❑ Open dresser drawers to expose content to heat

❑ Bedding can be hung over doors and will be heat treated during our process

Site Preparation

Items to Remove❑ Shampoos

❑ Wine and Liquor

❑ Candles

❑ Aerosol cans

❑ Plasma TVs

❑ Photos and photo albums

❑ Ammunition and guns

❑ Plants

❑ Pets including fish

❑ Musical instruments, records, tapes

❑ Art work

❑ Medicines

Important: Inspect all items for bed bugs prior to removal

Initial Assessment

Available Electric Power❑ Determine the number of independent

– 120 volt 15 and 20 amp circuits

– 240 volt 30 or 50 amp circuits

❑ Check the range, stove, dryer and AC unit

– Helps to determine the type and amount of equipment that can be used during the eradication

Initial Assessment

Managing Heat Loss❑Close windows, blinds, and curtains

❑Place towels under door seams

❑Concrete, cinder block, or brick construction will take longer to heat and may require additional heaters

Initial Assessment

Determine The Level of Infestation

Initial Assessment

❑ Leave contents in place– Removing it risks spreading bed bugs

❑ Content needs to be churned every 30 minutes– Expose all items to heat treatment

Managing Content

Equipment Set Up

Room Layout, Size, and Equipment Placement• Close window blinds, curtains

• If sprinklers are present it is recommended to use a cover or Stop-Gun to prevent them from going off

Equipment Set Up

Determine The Size and Layout of Rooms to be Treated

Equipment Set Up

Determine The Size and Layout of Rooms to be Treated

Eradication Process

Eradication Process1. Treat the most heavily infested area first2. Prior to placing Tri-Flo heaters in the room, set thermostat to raise

room temperature to 90°F (32.2°C)• Slow pre-heating makes bed bugs lethargic and less likely to scatter

3. Place Tri-Flo heaters in room with air flow as indicated in the diagrams on the next page and turn on “high”• Make sure there is 3 feet (1 meter) clearance around each heater

4. Raise room temperature to 106°F (41.1°C), place fan(s) in room with air flow as indicated in the previous diagrams and turn on “high”• The fan creates a convection effect that greatly facilitates killing bed

bugs• Concrete, cinder block, brick construction, will take longer to heat up

5. Practice taking readings with the laser thermometer• Check the heat in each corner in each room to achieve complete heat

monitoring• Post initial temperatures on your spreadsheet and start-up the

equipment• Stay in the area for 30 minutes to see if any breakers are flipped and fix

as necessary by putting equipment on another outlet/circuit

6. If using a remote monitoring system, place sensors in appropriate locations to track temperature performance

7. When room temperature has been at least 135°F (57.2°C) for 30 minutes, place mattress and box spring in a formation to maximize air flow (A-frame), open drawers in night stands and dresser

8. Maintain the room temperature over 135°F (57.2°C) for the next 2 to 4 hours• Add time based on the level of infestation as needed

9. If using laser thermometer check and record temperature every 30 minutes at various locations in the room, adjust equipment to heat up the coolest spots accordingly• Record all temps and move equipment accordingly to confirm full

eradication• Churn clutter every 30 minutes to maximize heat exposure

10. Eradication is usually complete in 4 to 8 hours11. Heat treatment will typically kill most insects in the area

12. Posting and tracking your heat performance is critical to setting up, applying the heat, and getting the eradication done effectively. Use our convenient tracking sheet template to record all of your measurements on your eradication jobs. This sheet provides evidence that the eradication was comprehensive and successful.

Clean Up__________________