My small studio apartment (~500sf) has had bed bugs off and on for the past year. After the first heat treatment, I think we were able to get rid of them, only for them to return 6+ months later, probably from a neighboring apartment. Our entire building has been struggling with this problem, but at the moment, my apartment is one of the remaining ones to still have them, and all my neighbors have either moved out or successfully been treated.
Early on I sealed up every crevice with caulking that I could find and filled in the cracks with DE in the entire studio. When the bugs returned about a month ago, we have now unsuccessfully heat treated the apartment with temps over 140 degrees for 12 hours or more. The most recent treatment was for the last 2 days only for me to wake up the morning after and find a very healthy adult relaxing on a door jamb. Needless to say, my spirits sank immediately. Luckily, my apartment company owns the heaters and is willing to do it again, but I am reaching out to see if there is something they are missing.
They are treating with chemical before the heat to catch any bugs that move away when the heat starts up. I have left all belongings in the apartment, clothes loosely scattered, and moved items away from the wall. I really dont have the much stuff in the first place. The windows and doors are taped up with thermal screens to trap more heat inside and keep any bugs from escaping.
I'm at a loss for what the next step should be. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
JP
- Koreatown, Los Angeles