BUG KILLERS: HEAT TECHNIQUE DESTROYS TERMITES AND OTHER PESTS.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

CAMARILLO - Precision Works, an environmental remediation company in Camarillo, has a relatively new technique which uses heat rather than chemicals to kill termites, dust mites, mold and the Hantavirus in buildings.

The heating technique is called ThermaPure and is similar in philosophy to sterilizing a baby's bottle in boiling water. It has been used as a nonchemical solution to killing pests, bacteria and viruses in homes, schools, commercial buildings and doctors' offices since 1996. It is anticipated that soon it will be used in hospitals.

``We have been talking with hospital architects in San Diego and Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara,'' said David Hedman, chairman and chief executive officer at Precision. ``In my mind one of the greatest benefits will be using the technology to protect people who have compromised immune systems. We could use it in the homes of cancer patients because the chemotherapy causes their immune system to weaken.''

Hedman said because insects' skeletons are on the outside of their bodies, they die quickly in extreme heat.

At 130 degrees, German cockroaches die in 7 minutes, drywood termites die in 6 minutes, Argentine ants die in 1 minute and flour beetles in 4 minutes. It takes 30 minutes to kill the Hantavirus at 140 degrees, Hedman said.

Hedman said structures are heated to between 130 and 150 degrees - about the same temperature as in a sauna or jacuzzi. The temperature is monitored by probes placed throughout the building or home and connected to computers in a van parked outside.

``We put thermal tarps around the edge of the house and pump in propane heat through mylar ducts,'' Hedman said. ``It's a one-day process. People can go to work or school and when they get back it's done.''

Hedman said the company was asked to test the ThermaPure technique by disinfecting the bedroom of an elderly woman who died in her bed and wasn't found for several days.

``We took a bacterial sample from the bed and found 101 colony-forming units,'' Hedman said. ``The coroner removed the body and we began heating the room and noticed the odor oxidized fairly quickly and the insects that were around the body were destroyed. When we took a post-bacterial sample we ended up with only one colony-forming unit.''

To have the process done in a 2,000-square-foot house could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200, depending on how much preparation needs to be done, Hedman said. Afterward the structure is vacuumed with an environmental vacuum containing either a hepa or carbon filter. All procedures come with a two-year guarantee.

``We typically remove candles, chocolates, oil paintings or anything else that could be damaged by the heat,'' Hedman said. ``You can keep your food in the refrigerator unlike when chemicals are used. The computer, TV and other electronics are wrapped in a thermal blanket.''

For more information call [phone] or [phone] or visit the following Web sites: www.precisionworksinc.com or www.bugme.com.

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Photo: Camarillo-based Precision Works uses a nonchemical sterilization procedure to rid structures of pests, termites, dust mites, mold and viruses.