Bed Bug Heat Treatment: How It Works, How Long It Takes and How to Prepare

TL;DR

• A heat treatment is a non-chemical method that heats a room or a whole home until bed bugs and their eggs die, which Penn State Extension calls an effective and quick method.
• Bed bugs die at 50°C (HealthLinkBC), but eggs need more heat or more time than adults, so the heat is held until every hiding spot catches up.
• It often takes about 6 to 8 hours from setup to take down, and you can usually go home the same day once the space has cooled.
• To prepare, remove what can melt, burst or catch fire, such as candles, aerosol cans and live plants (the US EPA also stresses handling heat-sensitive items properly). Leave furniture, mattresses and clothes in place.
• Pets and people must leave for the entire treatment, as the Quebec government advises. Follow your provider's checklist first.
• Need help? Get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

Bagging every belonging and sleeping on a freshly sprayed mattress are the parts of bed bug control most people dread, and a bed bug heat treatment avoids much of both. Most belongings can stay where they are, residential jobs are often finished in one day, and no pesticide is left on the bed or the clothes.

The trade-off lies in the physics. Heat only kills the bed bugs it actually reaches, and eggs tolerate more of it than adults do. The whole space has to get hot enough, for long enough, to reach the mattress seams, furniture joints and baseboards where an infestation hides.

What Is a Bed Bug Heat Treatment?

A bed bug heat treatment is a non-chemical method that heats a room or a whole home until bed bugs and their eggs die. Instead of spraying insecticide into each crack, the technician turns the whole space into a hot box, so the heat reaches bed bugs wherever they hide: mattress seams, furniture joints, behind baseboards and under loose carpet edges. According to Virginia Cooperative Extension, heat is non-toxic, and Penn State Extension notes that temperatures of 131°F or above are lethal to all bed bug stages, including eggs. If you are not yet sure you have bed bugs, start with our guide to the signs of a bed bug infestation.

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs die at 50°C (122°F), according to HealthLinkBC, the Province of British Columbia's health service. Time matters as much as temperature. Virginia Cooperative Extension reports that bed bugs exposed to 45°C (113°F) may need 90 minutes or more of constant exposure to die, while at about 48°C (118°F) they may die within 20 minutes. That is why a heat treatment is not a quick blast of hot air: the space has to stay hot long enough for the heat to soak into every hiding spot.

Does Heat Kill Bed Bug Eggs?

Heat kills bed bug eggs too, but eggs need more heat or more time than adults. In a University of Minnesota study (Kells and Goblirsch, 2011), the temperature needed to kill 99% of eggs was about 55°C, against about 48°C for adults. At 45°C, eggs survived about 7 hours, compared with about 95 minutes for adults. Professionals therefore heat the air well above the kill point, then keep it there until the coolest hiding spots catch up.

Why Is Heat Used Against Bed Bugs?

Heat is used against bed bugs because modern bed bug populations are highly resistant to the insecticides used to control them, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Heat does not depend on the bugs being susceptible to a product, it reaches eggs, and it leaves no residue on your bed or clothes. Chemical treatments still have a role, especially for lasting protection. Our comparison of heat vs chemical bed bug treatment explains when each one makes more sense.

How Does a Bed Bug Heat Treatment Work?

A bed bug heat treatment works by blowing hot air through the treated space with heaters and fans while sensors track the temperature inside hiding spots. Here is what usually happens on treatment day.

Inspection Before Treatment

An inspection before treatment confirms that you really have bed bugs and shows which rooms are affected. Some companies use detection dogs for large or hard-to-read cases. After the inspection, the company should give you a written preparation checklist, because each provider's equipment and rules differ slightly.

Heaters and Fans

Heaters and fans do the main work. Electric heaters or a propane heater placed outside the building can raise the air in the room to about 135°F (about 57°C), according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Powerful fans create air currents that push the heat into corners and furniture and heat the bed bugs faster. Orkin Canada, for example, says it targets 57 to 60°C (135 to 140°F).

Temperature Sensors

Temperature sensors placed in cracks, crevices, furniture and other hard-to-reach places tell the technician where the heat has actually arrived. Air temperature alone is not enough: a thick mattress or an insulated wall heats up much more slowly than the open room. Researchers at the University of Minnesota note that sensors can help technicians see which areas have reached lethal conditions and which still need more time.

Hold Time

Hold time is the period the heat is maintained after the hiding spots reach the kill point. Virginia Cooperative Extension describes heating that continues for 60 minutes or more once every sensor reads the bed bug thermal death point. Ask your provider how they decide when to stop: the answer should be based on sensor readings, not just on the clock.

Cool-Down and Re-Entry

Cool-down and re-entry come last. The technician switches off the heaters and lets the space cool before you return. Orkin Canada says homes treated in the morning are usually ready for re-entry by evening and recommends a short airing out before full use. Follow the re-entry time your own provider gives you.

How Long Does a Bed Bug Heat Treatment Take?

A bed bug heat treatment takes 6 to 8 hours from setup to take down, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Orkin Canada gives the same range. Large homes, heavy clutter or thick furniture can push it longer.

How Do You Prepare for a Bed Bug Heat Treatment?

Preparing for a bed bug heat treatment is mostly about removing what heat can damage or ignite and leaving everything else in place. Your provider's checklist always comes first. The steps below are common to most checklists.

Items to Remove

Items to remove are the ones that can melt, burst or catch fire. Provider checklists typically list:

• Candles and anything made of wax
• Aerosol cans and other pressurized containers
• Fire extinguishers
• Ammunition
• Unopened cans and bottles of drinks
• Live plants
• Musical instruments
• Other heat-sensitive items your provider names, such as some plastics

Items to Leave in Place

Items to leave in place include furniture, mattresses, box springs and clothes in drawers and closets. Unlike a chemical treatment, a whole-room heat treatment does not usually require you to bag and move your belongings, and Virginia Cooperative Extension lists this as one of its main advantages. Do not carry items out of the treated rooms, since infested belongings can spread bed bugs to the rest of the home.

Electronics

Electronics follow your provider's instructions: some ask you to unplug them, others to remove specific devices. Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that a room temperature of about 135°F will not typically damage electronic equipment. For details by device, read whether heat treatment damages electronics.

Pets and People

Pets and people must leave for the entire treatment. That includes cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and, depending on the provider, fish tanks. Plan where your animals will stay and pack a clean, freshly dried change of clothes for yourself. Our guide on what to do with pets during bed bug treatment covers the details.

Furniture Placement for Airflow

Furniture placement for airflow helps the heat reach every surface. Providers often ask you to pull beds and dressers a little away from walls, stand mattresses so air can circulate, reduce clutter on the floor, and secure loose papers and breakables, since strong fans can knock them over.

No Store-Bought Sprays Beforehand

No store-bought sprays should be used before the treatment, unless your provider asks for it. Some provider checklists forbid over-the-counter pesticides before a heat treatment. For a general checklist that applies to any bed bug treatment, see how to prepare for bed bug treatment.

What Other Heat Treatments for Bed Bugs Work?

Heat treatment for bed bugs is not only whole-room heating: steam, hot dryers and portable heat chambers use similar kill temperatures on a smaller scale. They are useful on their own for small jobs and as a complement to a professional treatment.

Bed Bug Steam Treatment

Bed bug steam treatment kills bed bugs and eggs on contact on mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture, baseboards and carpet edges. HealthLinkBC notes that steam cleaners generally emit steam of at least 100°C, but steam only kills the bugs it touches, so you have to move the nozzle slowly. Virginia Cooperative Extension says professionals typically aim for 71 to 82°C (160 to 180°F) at the surface and move about 30 cm every 30 seconds (12 inches every 30 seconds), with a large steamer head so the steam does not blow bugs across the room. The US Environmental Protection Agency adds that steam must be at least 130°F (about 54°C) without forceful airflow. Dry or low-vapour steamers leave less moisture, which lowers the risk of mould. Steam can reduce an infestation quickly, but on its own it usually will not eliminate one.

Clothes Dryer

A clothes dryer is the simplest heat treatment for bed bugs on fabrics. HealthLinkBC suggests drying clothes, bedding, stuffed animals and small non-washable items for at least 30 minutes on a hot setting. Virginia Cooperative Extension adds that a loosely filled dryer on high can kill every life stage, including eggs, in about 30 minutes.

Portable Heat Chambers

Portable heat chambers are zippered tents or bags with a built-in heater that kill bed bugs on items placed inside, such as suitcases, backpacks, shoes and books. Models often heat items above 120°F (about 49°C) and can take several hours per load, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. They only treat what is inside the chamber, not the room around it.

Why Turning Up the Thermostat Does Not Work

Turning up the thermostat does not work because a home heating system cannot get a room anywhere near the temperatures needed. The US Environmental Protection Agency warns against trying to kill bed bugs with a thermostat, a propane space heater or a fireplace: it does not work and it is dangerous. The same agency notes that do-it-yourself heat treatments might not work, while professionals have equipment that can heat a whole house.

What Are the Limits of Bed Bug Heat Treatment?

Bed bug heat treatment can kill what it reaches on the day, but the US EPA notes that heat treatments have no residual effects. Knowing its limits helps you avoid a second infestation.

No Residual Protection

No residual protection means bed bugs brought back in after the treatment will not be killed. Virginia Cooperative Extension points out that heat has no lasting activity, so bed bugs can re-infest the day after treatment, for example from a neighbouring unit or a second-hand couch. Some providers add a residual insecticide in wall voids or along baseboards for this reason. Any product used in Canada should carry a Pest Control Products (PCP) number from Health Canada.

Cold Spots

Cold spots are places the heat struggles to reach, such as insulated walls, thick furniture or cluttered closets. Virginia Cooperative Extension warns that some older, remodelled buildings can have construction features that act as heat sinks, and recommends an insecticide application in those spots. This is why sensors and furniture placement matter so much.

Follow-Up Inspection

A follow-up inspection confirms the treatment worked. Health Canada says bed bug eggs usually hatch in 6 to 17 days, so any survivors show up within a few weeks. If you still see live bugs or new bites after that, call the provider back before the guarantee period ends.

Mattress Encasements After Treatment

Mattress encasements after treatment trap any bug that survived and make new ones easy to spot. HealthLinkBC suggests putting mattresses and pillows in bed bug encasements once the bugs are gone and keeping the mattress enclosed for about a year. Our guide on what to do after bed bug treatment lists the other steps.

How Do You Find Bed Bug Heat Treatment Near You?

Finding bed bug heat treatment near you starts with comparing licensed local pest control companies that own professional heating equipment. Not every company does heat, and HealthLinkBC recommends getting help from a qualified pest management professional for a serious infestation, as the US CDC also advises.

Questions to Ask a Heat Treatment Provider

Questions to ask a heat treatment provider help you compare offers on more than price:

• Do you own your heating equipment, and is it electric or propane?
• What air temperature do you aim for, and how many sensors do you place?
• How long do you hold the heat after the sensors reach the kill point?
• What do I need to remove, and what can stay?
• Is a follow-up inspection included?
• Do you add a residual product, and if so, which one and what is its PCP number?

For more ideas, see our list of questions to ask a bed bug exterminator.

Re-Treatment Guarantees

Re-treatment guarantees vary a lot from one company to another, in length and in conditions. Many are only valid if you followed the preparation checklist and if no new bed bugs were brought in from outside. Ask for the terms in writing before you book.

Landlords and Tenants

Landlords and tenants often share the job in an apartment building, since bed bugs move between units. HealthLinkBC advises building owners to check municipal bylaws before treating on their own. To know who pays in your situation, read whether bed bugs are the landlord's responsibility.

Cost of Heat Treatment

The cost of heat treatment depends on the size of the space and the time needed to reach temperature, and prices vary between companies and cities. Our guide to the cost of bed bug heat treatment in Canada covers the numbers. When you are ready, you can get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.