Bet you had no idea that heat treatment for bed bugs is all the rage. But it is. In fact, more and more BTU forced air heaters are being used to kill bed bugs. And there are certainly good reasons why bed bug heat treatment is becoming the option of choice for dealing with these resurgent pests. As the video below shows.

What’s worse still is they can bite through PJs and the fabric covering furniture cushions. And the anesthetics they cleverly use can keep you from feeling their bite in the least little bit so you won’t even know it.

All of which is why researchers are diligently searching for a silver bullet that if won’t send them back into hiding where they were until recently, will at least keep them in check for now. But such a solution is proving elusive.

For now the closest thing we’ve got to a magic bean may surprise you. It’s not a new super bug killing spray. Nor is it some all-powerful dust. No, it’s heat. Heat can reach bed bugs safely protected out of reach from any spray or dust and effectively eliminate them.

But heat? Yes, heat. The high temps that they get from heat treatment for bed bugs gives exterminators a way to bake the bugs, eggs and nymphs away in one fell swoop. Something no pesticide can do. Which means a reputable pest control company that offers bed bug heat treatment is giving you a get out of jail free card in one application.

Since you may never have heard of so called “thermal remediation” aka heat treatment, for bed bugs, let’s look at the ins and outs of how this approach to bed bug eradication works.

For one, most bed bugs are resistant to pesticides anymore, Especially the eggs. So basically you would need to do around three to four applications to see results, without even any assurance you’ve left nothing alive. Multiple applications of bug killer can be inconvenient not to mention costly.

Two, heat treatment for bed bugs on the other hand kills the bedbugs in all life cycles – adults, nymphs, and eggs alike. Plus it’s safe and environment friendly since there are no chemicals or toxic fumes involved. And there are no potentially harmful chemical residues left behind to linger where your kids sleep. So you now can sleep peacefully without any fear of being bitten by these tiny creatures and without even the hint of risk of being poisoned by such strong pesticides yourself.

The process of heat treatment is simple. Apply high enough heat via heaters that circulates in a specific area and keep it that way over a period of time in order to drive the bugs out of their hiding places. What happens to them is kinda neat. This heat will then cause them to become dehydrated. Their cell membranes will sort of melt. The proteins in their tiny bodies will coagulate and enzymes will be damaged until they eventually die. Even the eggs will turn to dust once they have been exposed to the maximum temperature set long enough. Pretty picture isn’t it? At least for those looking to be rid of the bugs. However, there are two essential keys to effective heat treatment – the degree of the heat and how long the heat should last. In other words how hot do you need to make it and how long do you need to keep it that way to kill bed bugs?

What Degree of Heat Should Be Used?
Specifically 118°F or 48° C is the minimum heat requirement that that heaters need to achieve in order for adult bed bugs to fairly quickly be left for dead. While a slightly higher temperature is required for their eggs to get fried. Preferably around 122°F or 50°C. This is the reason why pest control companies that utilize heat treatment usually use 125°F to 140°F to make sure your bed bug infestation is totally eliminated. Capitalizing on equipment from manufacturers like Thermapure to make it so.

How Long Should Heat Treatment Last?
NFL or not for (that) long. The way it works is the higher the temps the shorter the period of time they need to be maintained to do the trick.

So holding the temperature at 118°F for at least 20 minutes would be enough to kill all the adult bugs. But you want to keep pouring on the heat for over an hour more (about 90 minutes in total) to kill off the eggs. That’s right. The eggs are more heat resistant so obviously you need more exposure to high heat to take care of them.

Of course should the temperature fall below the minimum, say at 113°F, then you’re looking at treating much longer. Because at that temp it takes about 90 minutes to kill all the adult bugs. While 7 hours is needed for the complete annihilation of their eggs.

Will The Heat Damage My Property?
No, not at all. The heat levels needed for any heat treatment for bed bugs to be extremely lethal won’t harm the furniture and other things around the house. Just imagine heat from a sauna would be around 180°F the heat used in the treatment would definitely be even way below the melting point of the CDs or other plastics you may have in say home appliances and electronics.

Never attempt self-treating your home. The lack of appropriate equipment and understanding of the process can only lead to accidents like setting your house on fire. Which is the last thing you want even though it would kill the bed bugs.

Eliminate the clutter around the house and vacuum the entire place.

Make sure all clothing have been washed and stored in sealed plastic bags. The heat tends to drive the bugs out of hiding and they may take to your clothes.

Ask the pest control company on what items should be removed and what other steps should be done before the treatment.

Some feel since they can’t take the heat, any type of heat treatment for bed bugs is the best one shot solution going. While admittedly somewhat more expensive than chemical spraying, it offers the once and done advantage you don’t get, actually can’t get, from sprays and dusts. Which is why some prefer bed bug heat treatment as their extermination method of choice.