How To Make Your Own Bed Bug Heat Chamber Anywhere

Looking for a fast, effective way to eliminate bed bugs from your belongings — without the cost of a full room treatment? You don’t have to invest in a heat treatment chamber to do so.

With a small room and our heaters, you can build your own DIY heat chamber to treat everything from clothes and books to furniture, electronics, and mattresses. As a bonus, the same setup can be used to treat entire rooms or units later on.

Here’s how it works.

What You Need to Build a DIY Bed Bug Heat Chamber

To build your own heat chamber, you’ll need:

• A small, enclosed room or space (like a spare bedroom, large closet, or office)

• Convectex bed bug heater(s) and fans to circulate the heat evenly

• Wireless temperature probes to monitor interior temps

• Insulated barriers or foam panels (optional but helpful for efficiency)

Your goal is to create a controlled environment where the air temperature reaches and holds 113°F+ for several hours — the proven kill range for bed bugs and their eggs.

How to Set It Up

1. Clear the Room: Remove items that could melt, leak, or be damaged by high heat — candles, aerosol cans, vinyl records, etc.

2. Seal the Space: Close off windows, vents, and large gaps with foam insulation, weather stripping, or painter’s plastic to retain heat.

3. Place the Heater and Fans: Position your Convectex heater near the center or most open area. Add fans to keep air circulating. Stagnant air means cool spots — and cool spots give bugs a chance to survive.

4. Arrange Items: Spread items out so heat can reach all surfaces. Avoid stacking — airflow is key.

5. Insert Temperature Probes: Place at least one temperature probe in a hard-to-reach area, such as a corner of the room or inside upholstered furniture so you can be sure those areas reach the right heat level.

6. Run the Treatment: Power on your heater and monitor until core temperatures are over 113F. Maintain for 4–6 hours.

How Convectex Compares to a Cheap Luggage Heaters

Cheap luggage and portable heat chambers that heats items in an enclosed box or tent-like structure are indeed easy to use, relatively compact when stored, and capable of treating a wide range of items.

But you’re limited to only treating things you can physically put inside the tent or device. When you create your own “chamber” using Convectex equipment, you aren’t limited to what you can move or fit into the tent, because our equipment can be used to heat any room, and you can add or remove elements to heat a larger space — an entire bedroom or apartment, even.

Even if you only have a few items to treat, remember bed bugs aren’t known for staying put. Moving and disturbing them only lends to agitating and dispersing the bugs throughout a structure.  If you’ve found signs of bed bugs in one room or possession, it’s usually best to treat the entire room — or even your whole home. Otherwise, they’ll take the first opportunity to spread and start the cycle all over again. 

Why Go DIY?

Professional heat treatments can cost thousands of dollars and require someone else to come in and do the job. With Convectex equipment, you’re in control of your own treatments and warranty. You can handle infestations discreetly, on your schedule.

Plus, with scalable equipment options, you can use your setup for:

• Luggage and moving boxes

• Furniture and electronics

• Entire bedrooms or units

• Repeat treatments without repeat costs

It’s the ideal solution for those who travel often, hospitality businesses, and those who work with secondhand goods. 

Need Help Choosing Equipment?

Not sure which heater is right for your space? Contact the Convectex team and we’ll help you design the right setup — whether you’re tackling a one-time issue or building a system for your business. Ready to take things into your own hands? Click here to find the perfect heat treatment package for you.