Nine Best Practices for Maintaining your Bed Bug Heater
Whether you have owned a bed bug heater for several years or you are a proud first-time owner of a Bed Bug Heat Doctor heater, it is important to protect your investment to maximize its performance and longevity.
Maintenance is an important factor in quality assurance and in most cases will determine the durability and length of service of your bed bug heater. Poorly maintained bed bug heaters can cause issues and can eventually damage the unit or its accessories. Adhering to the following best practices will prevent malfunctioning machines or complete breakdowns which can become a costly process due to neglect, mistreatment, and abuse.
Fortunately, Bed Bug Heat Doctor heaters are virtually maintenance-free machines so the work on your end is relatively simple. The preventative maintenance needed is basically just common-sense procedures.
We will go over nine best practices for maintaining your Bed Bug Heater. Here are some points of advice from the folks in our technical department…
Read the instruction guide and/or watch the instructional video. When it comes to the proper care of your bed bug heater, you will learn about regular maintenance tasks that are critical to performance and exactly how the machine should be positioned in a room for optimal success.
Clean after each use. Always unplug the heater prior to cleaning and be sure it is cooled down. Clean the outside metal housing of the bed bug heater by wiping with a cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals. Do not push any cleaning tools or products into the voids or open areas of the machine. Never spray your bed bug heater with a water hose or submerse in water.
Do not attempt to service the bed bug heater. You should never allow anyone to disassemble the bed bug heater or remove the screws to open the panels of the heater unless directed by manufacturer or Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol. Proprietary parts are used in all lines of the manufacturing of Bed Bug Heat Doctor’s heaters. So, although a staff employee may have an electrical, mechanical, or maintenance background, most repair parts are not available to the general public for purchase. Contact Bed Bug Heat Doctor directly for warranty information or any technical problems that may arise.
Use cord organizers or a cable holder to hang the heater cords. This will keep from cord tangles and protect the receptacle ends. Cords that are lying on the floor become a trip hazard and are subject to having the receptacle ends broken. It is also important to not wrap the cords too tightly. It is best to drape the cords in 2- to 3-foot loops if possible. Coiling them tightly for storage introduces twists and kinks that can cause damage and make them harder to manage.
Have a designated storage area for your bed bug heater. A preferred area would be a lockable temperature-controlled room that is dry and free of moisture potential. Be cognizant of what is being stored directly above the bed bug heater. Items such as wet mops and towels may drip water onto the bed bug heater causing damage to it. Caution should be used if ever deciding to store the bed bug heater on an elevated shelf. All shelving should be firmly secured. OSHA standards should be followed for securing industrial storage shelves.
Use a storage box/container, for long-term non-use periods. We recommend storing the bed bug heater in its original box with the supporting styrofoam packing pieces. If the original box has been destroyed or is no longer usable, it is a good idea to cover the heater when being stored or place the heater in a durable plastic bag to prevent dust build up.
Secure the bed bug heater firmly when in transport. If you use your bed bug heater in a capacity that requires regular transport from site to site, it is extremely important that the heater is unable to slide or bounce around. Unlike bed bug heaters manufactured in China with lightweight coils, the Bed Bug Heat Doctor heater resistors are not as sensitive to vibrations and impact. However, care should be taken when transporting to avoid unnecessary impacts to the unit.
The bed bug heater should never be exposed to the elements. Bed Bug Heat Doctor heaters have been designed to be used in an interior environment only. Wind, rain, and direct sunlight can be damaging to a bed bug heater.
Inspect your equipment regularly. This is especially important if the heater is stored in an outbuilding that may have the potential of rodent or insect exposure. If a bed bug heater is stored in a portable shed type building, bees may be able to enter the metal sides of the bed bug heater through the fan grate or the exhaust vent areas. A bee nest inside of a bed bug heater can cause multiple damaging issues. Mice and other rodents may chew on cords that could create the potential for an electrical short.
Most times, expensive repairs due to negligence and lack of proper maintenance can be avoided. Bed Bug Heat Doctor is proud to make a quality product that is strong and durable. However, the better you care for your heater – the longer it will remain in good working order. Keep your equipment running without interruption to ensure that bed bug treatments get completed on time and on budget.
If you have any questions or concerns about the maintenance of the specific model of bed bug heater that you have, please feel free to reach out to one of our knowledgeable and experienced technicians.