Bed Bug
Eradication
Field Guide
©
2020-05 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
❑ PEOPLE
❑ AVOID LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO HEATED ROOM AS THIS CAN RESULT IN
DEATH!
❑ Musical instruments, records, tapes
❑ Artwork
❑ 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 Process
1. Treat the most heavily infested area first
2. 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
• AVOID LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO HEATED ROOM AS THIS CAN RESULT IN DEATH!
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 nightstands 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
• AVOID LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO HEATED ROOM AS THIS CAN RESULT IN DEATH!
10. Eradication is usually complete in 4 to 8 hours
11. 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 your
measurements on your eradication jobs. This sheet provides
evidence that the eradication was comprehensive and successful.
Clean Up
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