We have talked with many pest control technicians who have used the Thermal Remediation EBB-460V Heater, and a common question from these technicians is ‘What options do I have now that my system is no longer working well?’ The answer is pretty simple. We designed the BK10-480 Bed Bug Heater to work as a direct replacement for the Thermal Remediation TempAir System.
Replacement for the EBB-460V Heater
The BK10-480 Bed Bug Heater is a perfect plug and play replacement for the EBB-460V system. It works in conjunction with the Thermal Remediation TempAir 480-volt generator and cabling system. There are other replacement options out there for the EBB-460V, but be aware that they are not a simple plug and play replacement. It requires that you reconfigure the generator to 240-volts and additional cables to be purchased with the heater. The easiest and most reliable replacement is the BK10-480 Heater from Prevsol.
What to expect from the BK10-480 Heater
This powerful 480-volt heater kills bed bugs, roaches, fleas, stored pests, Carpet Beatles, mold, and many other insects. The BK10-480 is a 10-kilowatt heater and will treat 450-550 square feet with 8-foot ceilings. It is powered using one 110-volt 5-amp circuit and one 480-volt 12-amp circuit. It has 34,336 BTUs. It has a built-in fan and is thermostat controlled, automatically set to 140°. The resistor in the BK10-480 Heater evenly distributes heat. Because of its elongated shape and 17 touch points, it also heats more quickly.
The BK10-480 is portable and lightweight. It has a luggage handle and wheels and measures 19”x13”x17″. This lightweight heater weighs only 26 pounds, approximately one third the weight of the Thermal Remediation TempAir Heater and nearly half the weight of the competitor’s model. The BK10-480 unit is easily transported by one technician since it is so lightweight.
One thing that makes Prevsol heaters unique is that they are designed and built in America. Our heaters are made by union steel and electrical workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can expect a better-quality product than heaters made in China, and if replacement parts are ever needed, those parts are easier and faster to get.
The BK10-480 comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on parts and labor with shipping included to the contiguous US and a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on resistors. After the warranty, the manufacturer stocks replacement parts and will continue to repair heaters if needed.
Instructions for the BK10-480 Bed Bug Heater
- Be sure, when using any bed bug heater to cover all sprinkler heads in the treatment area. Even if the sprinkler head doesn’t pop during the first treatment, heat treatments weaken the sprinkler heads each time one is performed. The damage from a burst sprinkler head can be extensive and costly. Sprinkler head covers are included with all Prevsol heater packages. The Styrofoam covers keep the sprinkler head 30 degrees cooler than the room temperature. Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol is not liable for any damage if sprinkler heads are not covered.
- Effective treatments rely on proper setup of the room. Many pest control companies already have protocol for heat treatment preparation and setup. If you’re new to using heat treatments or your company does not have a protocol, follow these instruction to set up the room and use the pre-project checklist to be sure all items that aren’t safe to be heat treated are removed. Also remove inexpensive blinds so they don’t warp. Strip all of the sheets, bedspreads, pillowcases, encasements, and any other linens from the bed. Place all linens and pillows in a plastic bag and take them to be washed and dried. This keeps bed bugs from being spread while transporting to the laundry. If the linens are left in the room during the heat treatment, they could create cold spots where bed bugs could hide and survive the heat treatment process. Cover all air vents and returns and make sure the air conditioning and heating is off in the room.
- When treating a bedroom, put the mattress and box springs in an A-frame on top of the bed frame as pictured. The mattresses will rest on each other at the top creating a wind tunnel that allows the heat to circulate through the room. Additionally, it directs the airflow toward the headboard wall where the majority of the bed bug population is typically concentrated within a five-foot radius. If you are having trouble getting the beds to stay together in the A-frame, use painters’ tape around the top to secure the top of the mattress and box spring. Do not use duct tape as the heat treatment will cause it to leave sticky residue on the mattresses. Be sure to pull that A-Frame back from the headboard wall 8-12 inches to allow good air flow. We have known technicians to set the mattress and/or box springs up against a wall for ease of treatment only later to find they created a cold spot in the room for the bed bugs to hide leaving the treatment unsuccessful. If you are treating a living room or main room, place the heater in the center of the room, pointing into the room. Stand up the couch cushions and pillows on a coffee table making a tent shape to allow air flow. If it’s a sofa sleeper, open the bed up. The main objective is to be sure there is good air flow around all furniture. High temperature fans can be used in conjunction with the heater to help move air around the room if needed. Don’t use ceiling fans during treatment as it can damage the motor.
- This unit requires two cords: one 480-volt 12-amp and one 110-volt 5-amp. Plug one end of the 480 cord from your Thermal Remediation cabling system into the large 480-outlet on the machine and the other into the distribution box which plugs directly into the generator. Plug one end of the included 110-volt cord into the heater and the other into an outlet on its own circuit. You will need to purchase the 480-volt cord to power this machine if you don’t currently own the TempAir EBB-460V system. The 110-volt cord must be plugged in for the heater to turn on.
- It’s time to switch on the power and run the fan. Continue running the equipment until the temperature reaches between 135°-140° and hold this temperature for 3 more hours. Turn the heater coils off and run the fan for 15 more minutes to cool the heater down properly. Then, turn the fan off and pack up the equipment. Do not change the temperature on the thermostat as it comes pre-programmed. Changing the thermostat will void your warranty and deprogram the heater.
If we can be of any assistance with information, training, or set up, please contact us at 844-364-3281 or e-mail jeff.zimmerman@prevsol.com.
