Modern Pest Services Offers Heat Treatment to Control the Escalating Problem of Bed Bugs
Heaters and fans are unloaded for a bed bug heat treatment.
BRUNSWICK, Maine; September 1, 2010 – With bed bug infestations on the rise in New England, Modern Pest Services recently invested in a Thermal Remediation® System to provide a safe and highly effective "green alternative" to conventional chemical treatments for this growing epidemic.
Bed bug infestations are in the news on a daily basis and are proving to be a formidable problem and big concern for many local cities and towns. Bed bugs are small, nocturnal creatures that primarily dine on the blood of humans, but can live up to 12 months without a blood meal. Though they do not transmit diseases, their bites can become red, itchy welts, sometimes causing an allergic reaction. Bed bugs are elusive, hiding in mattresses and tiny cracks and crevices close to where humans rest and sleep, and their presence can take an emotional toll on their hosts.
"Bed bug complaints to health officials are increasing and some people think they can easily treat their bed bug problem with over-the-counter applications or other measures." reports Mike Peaslee, Technical Manager at Modern Pest Services. "Infestations are very, very difficult to eliminate and people simply cannot control them on their own."
As soon as bed bugs are suspected, a thorough inspection by a licensed professional should be made. "We're getting lots of calls," continues Peaslee. "Our heat unit has been scheduled every day since we purchased it so we know the problem is growing. In fact, because demand for this service is so high, we've ordered another unit."
Bed bugs are not caused by poor sanitation or someone's social status so no one is immune to an infestation. Known as "hitchhikers", bed bugs will travel into your home or facility via luggage, backpacks, clothes or shoes to be near a food supply. Heat remediation can be used in a residential or commercial setting to treat an entire building or as a spot treatment for high-infestation areas and applications include single-family homes, health care facilities, homeless shelters, group homes, hotels and motels, dormitories, and apartment buildings.
Though "heat remediation" sounds complicated, this advanced treatment process is fairly straightforward. Portable, electric heaters are placed within the space and the heat level is raised to a lethal temperature range of 120º-140 ºF. High temperature fans are used to move the heated air throughout the space to reach bed bugs in all their hiding spots. Trained professionals use infrared guns to monitor the temperature and maintain it via wireless sensors for an extended amount of time, usually 4-8 hours. "Bed bugs have no defense against this extreme level of heat," explains Peaslee. "This treatment will kill all life cycles of bed bugs, from eggs to adults."
For more information, for interviews or to
attend a heat remediation, contact: Mike Peaslee, Technical Manager,
1-207-721-0167, mikepeaslee@modernpest.com
About Modern Pest Services
Established in 1945, Modern Pest Services is a 3rd generation family owned and operated pest control company and has been a leader in the industry for over 60 years. Modern offers commercial pest control services under the ECOCARE brand, as well as residential pest control services under the HomeCare Green brand and employs Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies and philosophies in all operating activities. Modern is recognized by the National Pest Management Association for meeting the established standards of a QualityPro company and is one of only 21 pest control companies in the U.S. to be recognized by the EPA for its green pest control and organic pest control programs.
Modern Pest Services is a Copesan® alliance partner and a member of the National Pest Management Association, the New England Pest Management Association, the Entomological Society of America, The American Society of Quality, and many local Chambers of Commerce. Headquartered in Brunswick, Maine, with service centers in Portland, Bangor and Augusta, ME, as well as Woburn, MA and Manchester, NH, Modern serves over 10,000 customers throughout New England.
