How many KW to heat a room up to 50C

hettyGreek

I've had a family member stay in my spare room last week, I was informed that there is a chance they could have bought bed bugs with them. If they did it was likley to be just confined to that room.

I've boil washed everything and steamed things. Now thinking about heating it to 50C for a few hours to make sure they are all killed, if there are any. Haven't found any traces yet.

I have a 2kw convection heater, a large central heating radiator, a 2kw oil filled radiator.

The room is about 3.5m 3 in a 90s built semi detacted with 2 external walls and double glazing.

Anyone smarter than me able to guess when / if it will reach temerpature on a day like today where it's 20C. I think once the room is seeled I can't go in to check the temp as they might esacpe. But I can use a infrared thermomitor on the outside window.

Mistermeaner

a gallon of petrol should do it

edit: im joking by the way - dont whatever you do pour petrol into that room

you would never manage to heat a room to that temperature using your central heating or otherwise; do not even attempt it

A chemical solution would be far more effective; contact your council or google local pest control specialists

SummerFun

How many KW to heat a room up to 50C?

Someone once told me the answer was 42 - were they right?

hettyGreek

Mistermeaner wrote: »

a gallon of petrol should do it

edit: im joking by the way - dont whatever you do pour petrol into that room

you would never manage to heat a room to that temperature using your central heating or otherwise; do not even attempt it

A chemical solution would be far more effective; contact your council or google local pest control specialists

Any reason why it would be impossible? The house reached mid 30's during the last heatwave so only another 15 degrees from then is needed. The quotes I've had for a chemical solution are too high for me espeically as its only a small chance at the moment that I have any and not sure it's safe with young children.

I've set up traps and spread stuff to kill them if they are there

SummerFun

hettyGreek wrote: »

Any reason why it would be impossible? The house reached mid 30's during the last heatwave ..

How high does your thermostat go???

My Honeywell only goes up to 30 - but of course that only controls the central heating, not Mother Nature.

SummerFun

hettyGreek wrote: »

... If they did ....

hettyGreek wrote: »

... if they are there

:huh:

You'll see them if they are there.
You'll also see their faeces if they are/have been feeding.

If you can't see them, I guess they are not there.

hettyGreek

SummerFun wrote: »

How high does your thermostat go???

My Honeywell only goes up to 30 - but of course that only controls the central heating, not Mother Nature.

It goes up to 30. But the door to the spare room would be closed and seeled and every other radiator off in the house.

Just because I can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there as they can stay dormant for over a year! Espically as no one usually sleeps in that room.

System

This might help:

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/95813/if-one-electric-heater-makes-the-room-25-degrees-will-two-make-50

Then again, it might not.

SummerFun

hettyGreek wrote: »

It goes up to 30. But the door to the spare room would be closed and seeled and every other radiator off in the house.

Just because I can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there as they can stay dormant for over a year! Espically as no one usually sleeps in that room.

Well leave it like that for a year and problem (if there is one) solved

Btw, most sites seem to indicate bed bugs can only survive 2-3 months, perhaps 5 at most, without eating.
Only Rentokil appear to suggest they will survive a year, and yes, you've guessed it, Rentokill can help you eradicate them ... and your wallet contents

However, being cold blooded, they may last up to a year if you keep the room cold enough. Have you got any air conditioning in there to assist their survival?

Or if you need a quicker solution, assuming one is actually needed, get the room fumigated (as you'll be sealing it anyway, you say)

brewerdave

You can buy sprays for ~ £10 -I'd be inclined to attack the bed frame/mattress with the spray plus any carpetted area by the bedposts and leave the room closed up for as long as possible.

macman

Mid 30's was only possible because the temp was so warm outside, so the room was cooler than the ambient air temp outside.
It'll never reach 50C indoors, because as the temp differential increases, so does the rate of heat loss. Unless you can wait a few decades for global warming to do the job for you...