Bed Bug Heat Treatment FAQs

Bed bugs start dying at temperatures above 113°F, and the ideal treatment range is 120–130°F. When the whole room and everything in it stays at 120°F or higher long enough, heat kills adults, nymphs and eggs. The higher the temperature, the faster bed bugs die.

Hold the room at 120°F or higher for 2 to 24 hours. Rooms with light infestations and little clutter need less time. Heavy infestations, piles of belongings and thick furniture need more time for heat to reach every hiding spot.

Yes. Sustained heat above 120°F kills bed bug eggs along with nymphs and adults. Eggs are the stage that sprays most often miss, which is why heat can clear an infestation in a single treatment.

Heat overheats bed bugs and breaks down their body systems. Fans push hot air into cracks, seams and furniture, so heat reaches places sprays can't, from mattress seams to baseboards and wall gaps.

Heat is one of the most effective methods because it kills every life stage, reaches hidden areas, and leaves no chemical residue. Most treatments are done in one day, with no waiting for sprays to dry. Read why heat beats sprays.

For most infestations, yes. Over-the-counter sprays, foggers and bug bombs often scatter bed bugs into walls, under carpet and into neighboring units. Heat kills bed bugs where they hide, including eggs, with no odor, stains or residue.

Bed bugs survive only when part of the room never gets hot enough. Common causes are tripped breakers that let the room cool, cold spots behind clutter, too few fans, and heat escaping through vents or doors. Verification stickers and an IR thermometer confirm every area reached temperature.

The top reasons are uneven heating, not holding temperature long enough, and power interruptions. Overloaded circuits trip breakers mid-treatment, the room cools, and surviving bed bugs repopulate. See the top reasons bed bug treatments fail.

Look for live bugs, small rust-colored spots on sheets, shed skins and tiny white eggs in mattress seams, furniture joints and along baseboards. Adult bed bugs are about 1/4 inch long and reddish-brown. A bed bug inspection guide walks through where to look.

Adults are flat, oval, reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed (1/4 inch). Nymphs are smaller and paler. Eggs are tiny, white and glued to surfaces, which makes them hard to see.

Carpet beetles, bat bugs, fleas and booklice are common lookalikes. Confirm you have bed bugs before you treat. See our guide to bugs mistaken for bed bugs.

Bed bugs hide close to where people sleep or sit: mattress and box spring seams, bed frames, headboards, couches, recliners, nightstands, dresser drawers and office chairs. They also travel along baseboards, carpet edges and behind curtains.

A bed bug grows from egg to adult in 24 to 36 days, passing through five nymph stages. Warmer rooms speed this up. Learn to identify each life stage.

Yes. Run clothing, bedding and fabric items in the dryer on high heat for at least 45 minutes. A washing machine alone works only if the water reaches at least 120°F.

No. Carrying an infested mattress through your home spreads bed bugs and eggs to other rooms. Heat treat the mattress in place, then add encasements to the mattress and pillows.

Yes. Heat treatment uses only electricity and moving air, with no pesticides. Learn how heat treatment protects the environment.

Yes. Homeowners use the same professional-grade heaters and fans that pest control companies use. A DIY treatment works when your home's circuits can power the heater and you follow the prep and setup steps. Start with our step-by-step DIY guide.

Yes, when the room reaches and holds 120°F or higher everywhere for long enough. Success depends on enough heating power for the space, enough fans to move the air, and good prep. Thousands of homeowners have treated successfully with Convectex equipment.

The national average is about $1 per square foot. A 2,500 sq ft home costs about $2,500 to treat, and many companies offer a limited warranty or none. See our bed bug treatment cost breakdown.

Usually. A Convectex home package costs about the same as one professional treatment, and you keep the equipment. If bed bugs ever return, you can re-treat at no extra cost.

Convectex heaters start around $1,000 for a small single-room unit. Complete DIY packages with heater, fans and cords run about $1,600 to $3,100. Professional systems run about $3,700 to $11,600. Financing is available.

For most homes, the Home Bed Bug Heat Package with the Elite 33K heater. It delivers the most heat available from standard 110V outlets and includes two high-temperature fans, cords, an IR thermometer and verification stickers.

Renting makes sense for a single small job. Buying makes sense if you have a larger space, worry about bed bugs returning, manage rental properties, or want to treat on your own schedule. Ask us about local rental providers.

Yes, in many areas. Independent rental businesses use Convectex equipment and list on RentBedBugHeaters.com. See our providers page or call 877-375-0005 for a referral.

No. Household space heaters can't heat a room evenly to 120°F and hold it there, and running them that hot is a fire risk. Bed bug heaters are built for this job, with thermostats and fans that circulate heat safely.

No. Home heating systems max out far below the 120°F needed and can't push heat into furniture and wall gaps.

Not reliably. A car may get hot on the surface, but packed items rarely reach 120°F all the way through for long enough. A bag of clothes in the dryer on high for 45 minutes is a surer method.

Most orders ship quickly, and many packages ship free to the lower 48 states. Delivery time depends on your location and whether the order ships by parcel or truck. Call 877-375-0005 if you need equipment fast.

Match the heater to the square footage you'll treat at one time and to the circuits you have. Use this guide, then confirm with our heater comparison chart.

The Elite 33K Hypro, sold in the Home Bed Bug Heat Package. It produces about 33,500 BTU from standard 110V outlets, the most heat available without 240V power.

The Safelok heater in the 110 Volt DIY Bed Bug Heater Package. It treats up to about 200 sq ft, weighs 20 lbs, and plugs into three standard circuits. It's ideal for a single bedroom or hotel room.

Usually not at once. Most homeowners treat one area at a time, moving the equipment room by room, or buy additional heaters. A good rule is one heater for every 150 sq ft in rooms with ceilings 9 ft or lower.

Yes. Fans circulate hot air and push it into cracks, seams and under carpet edges, the way a convection oven works. Without fans, heat pools near the ceiling and bed bugs survive in cooler spots near the floor.

Plan on at least one fan per wall. Point all fans the same direction along the walls so air circles the room. More fans let one heater cover more space evenly.

Yes. Sizing guidelines assume ceilings of 9 ft or lower. Taller ceilings add air volume to heat, so you'll need more heating power or a smaller treatment area.

Yes. Concrete and block absorb heat faster than drywall. Plan on about 50% more heating power for rooms with concrete or block walls or ceilings.

110V (also called 120V) heaters plug into standard wall outlets and suit most homes and hotels. 240V and hybrid heaters, like the VersaPro Elite 46K and 70K Max, draw from dryer, range or 50 amp outlets and heat larger areas faster. They're built mainly for professionals.

BTU measures heat output. More BTUs heat a larger space faster. Convectex heaters range from about 14,700 BTU (Safelok) to 66,000 BTU (70K Max).

Yes. Fill out our free heater recommendation form with your square footage, wall type and breakers, or call 877-375-0005. We'll match a package to your space and power.

Yes. Convectex 110V heaters use standard three-prong outlets, but each heating element needs its own circuit breaker. Outlets in the same room are often on the same breaker, so spreading cords across one room's outlets isn't enough. Learn how to power your heat package.

Plan on one separate circuit for each heating element cord that draws 12 amps. Lower-draw 8 amp cords can share a 20 amp circuit two at a time.

A circuit is one breaker in your electrical panel and every outlet it feeds. One breaker can power several outlets in different spots. Heaters care about breakers, not outlets: two cords plugged into two outlets on the same breaker will overload it.

Check the labels in your breaker panel first. If they're missing, plug a lamp into an outlet, switch breakers off one at a time, and note which one turns the lamp off. Map your circuits before treatment day.

Open your breaker panel. The number printed on each switch is its amp rating, usually 15 or 20 for standard outlets. Watch our 15 vs. 20 amp breaker video.

In single-family homes, it's often in the garage or on an outside wall. In apartments, look in the master bedroom, hallway or laundry room.

Not if you plug in correctly. Breakers trip when too many heater cords share one circuit. Plug one 12 amp heater cord per breaker, and push every plug in firmly so loose connections don't cause problems.

The room starts cooling, which gives bed bugs a chance to survive. Reset the breaker, move that cord to an unused circuit, and reheat the room back to 120°F before you restart your holding time.

Use a 240V dryer or range outlet. The TurtlePro Power Distribution and Step Down Kit turns one 240V outlet into four 110V outlets. Otherwise, power only the elements your space needs, or treat a smaller area.

Yes, with the right adapter. TurtlePro adapters fit both older 3-wire (3-prong) and newer 4-wire (4-prong) dryer and range outlets. Match the adapter to your outlet's shape.

Look at your dryer or range outlet. A 3-prong outlet needs a 3-wire adapter; a 4-prong outlet needs a 4-wire adapter. Then choose the dryer or range version to match the outlet type.

No. Convectex heaters run on a building's own electrical service, through standard outlets or dryer and range outlets. There's no generator or trailer to haul.

Use the cords included with your package. If you must use another cord, it must be a 3-prong grounded, UL-listed cord rated for at least 15 amps. An undersized cord can overheat and start a fire.

At least once a year with regular use, or right away if a cord looks deformed, discolored or feels hot. Cords are wear items and aren't covered by the heater warranty. Replacement cords are sold separately.

Not always. Don't use the heaters in buildings with push-in or screw-in fuses, aluminum wiring, or old wiring that hasn't been upgraded. These are common in buildings from before 1978. Have a licensed electrician check your wiring first.

They draw a lot of power while running, from about 4,000 watts (Safelok) to over 13,000 watts (VersaPro Elite 46K). Because a treatment lasts hours, not days, the added cost on a home electric bill is usually modest.

Pull furniture 4 to 6 inches away from walls, open all drawers, bag piles of clothing and linens, unplug electronics, take down loose pictures, and lay vinyl blinds flat. Remove only heat-sensitive items. Leave everything else in the room so it gets treated. Watch our prep video.

Remove plants, pets, candles, crayons, lipstick, chocolate, deodorant, aerosol cans, lighters, fire extinguishers, soda cans, wine and liquor, medications, vitamins, vinyl records, batteries, printers, wireless routers and items assembled with hot glue. Inspect each item and seal it in a plastic container before it leaves the room.

Almost everything: beds, mattresses, couches, dressers, clothing, books and major appliances. A good rule: if it would be fine in a car on a hot summer day, it can stay.

No. Moving belongings out spreads bed bugs to other rooms. Remove only heat-sensitive items, and inspect and sanitize them before they leave.

No. Propping or tipping the mattress and box spring scatters bed bugs. Leave the bed where it is and let the heat do the work.

No. Repellent sprays, dusts, foggers and bug bombs push bed bugs into walls, under carpets and into neighboring units, where they're harder to reach. Don't use any pesticides before a heat treatment.

Bag them, leave the bags in the treatment area, then wash and dry them on the highest heat setting. Running bagged clothes and sheets in the dryer on high for 45 minutes kills bed bugs. Don't leave clothes on the floor, because piles block heat.

Place fans along the walls, at least one per wall, all blowing the same direction so air circles the room. Position the heater so the fans sweep its hot air around the room. Don't aim the heater directly at furniture or walls. See our airflow video.

Seal HVAC vents, bathroom exhaust fans, light fixtures, door bottoms and wall air conditioners. Cover windows with blankets to reduce heat loss through cold glass.

Use an infrared thermometer to check surfaces, especially inside furniture, under beds and along floors. Place heat verification stickers in hard-to-heat spots; they change color once they reach target temperature.

Plan for most of a day. The room needs time to reach 120°F, then 2 to 24 hours holding that temperature depending on clutter and infestation level, then time to cool down.

Yes, if you have enough heaters, fans and separate circuits. Otherwise, treat one area at a time and keep doors closed between treated and untreated rooms.

Treat every room where you've seen signs of bed bugs, plus rooms where people sleep or sit for long periods. A thorough inspection first shows where to focus.

Inspect everything that leaves with you, including clothing, shoes and valuables. Run clothing through a hot dryer for at least 45 minutes before bringing it back into the treated area.

Yes, once the room has cooled. Heat leaves no chemicals, residue or odor, so there's nothing to dry or air out. Keep children, pets and plants out of the treated room while the heaters are running.

You can stay in another part of the home, away from the treated room. No people or pets should be inside the room while it's heating. Check on the equipment from outside the room or use a remote temperature monitor.

Convectex heaters have adjustable thermostats, and packages are NEC compliant for standard outlets. Fire risk comes from overloaded circuits, undersized or damaged cords, and heat aimed directly at objects. Follow the setup rules, inspect cords before each use, and watch our safety video before you start.

Yes. Every user should plan for fire prevention and monitoring before treatment: know where your breaker panel and fire extinguisher are, inspect all cords, and decide how you'll monitor temperatures. If no one will be on site, use a remote cellular temperature monitor.

Keep the temperature at every sprinkler head at least 30°F below its activation temperature. Sprinkler head covers help shield sprinklers from direct heat.

Most furniture and building materials handle 120–140°F without harm. Remove items that melt or are pressurized, lay vinyl or faux-wood blinds flat to prevent warping, and keep heaters from blowing directly on furniture or walls.

Most electronics tolerate treatment temperatures. Unplug them and keep them out of the heater's direct airflow. Remove printers, wireless routers and batteries.

Once the room has cooled. Open windows and run fans to speed cool-down, and move items around to release trapped heat.

Wait until the room drops to about 98°F. Turning on the AC while the room is still hot can cause condensation on ceilings and damage your AC unit.

Clean and wipe down surfaces, vacuum sleeping areas, mattresses and pillows, then wash and dry all bedding. Dry any clothes worn on treatment day for at least 45 minutes before bringing them back.

Most bed bugs die right away, but a few may take up to two weeks to die off. Seeing a few in the first two weeks is normal. If you still see live bed bugs after two weeks, treat again.

Bite reactions can appear up to two weeks after the bite. New marks in the first two weeks are usually from bites that happened before treatment.

Re-inspect the same places you checked before treatment, two weeks after and then monthly for the first year. Heat verification stickers confirm target temperatures were reached. A K-9 bed bug detection team is the most accurate follow-up check. See our video on verifying treatment success.

Figure out how they got in, such as travel, used furniture or guests. When traveling, inspect hotel beds and headboards, and keep luggage on a rack, not the bed or floor. Use mattress and pillow encasements at home, and inspect monthly for the first year.

Call us at 877-375-0005 for free troubleshooting help. Our team reviews your setup, power and process to find what went wrong, and helps you plan the next treatment.

A heater is the heating unit alone. A heat package bundles a heater with high-temperature fans, rated power cords and usually an IR thermometer and verification stickers, everything needed for a complete treatment. Most first-time buyers should start with a package.

The Home Bed Bug Heat Package includes an Elite 33K Hypro heater, two HTX Elite axial fans, two 15 ft, four 25 ft and two 50 ft lighted power cords, an IR thermometer and 10 heat verification stickers. It ships free to the lower 48 states.

The Safelok is Convectex's smallest heater, built for spot treatments up to about 200 sq ft. It weighs 20 lbs, produces about 14,700 BTU, has a built-in fan and thermostat, and runs on three standard 110V circuits.

The Elite 8 treats up to about 400 sq ft. It produces about 27,000 BTU from eight heating elements, moves 2,500 CFM, weighs 39 lbs and needs four 20 amp, 110V circuits. It suits homes, hotels, apartments and pest pros.

The Elite 33K Hypro is Convectex's most powerful 110V heater: about 33,500 BTU from 12 heating elements, 2,700 CFM, 48 lbs. Full output needs four 15/20 amp circuits plus two 20 amp circuits, but you can power fewer elements for smaller spaces.

The Bed Bug Buster Pro C4 is a 110V heater with four heating elements that use blue twist-lock power cords. The locking cords can't pull loose during treatment. Each element draws 12 amps, so it needs four separate 15 or 20 amp circuits.

The VersaPro Elite 46K is a hybrid heater that runs on 120V outlets, 240V outlets, or both at once, which is why it's called "two heaters in one." Full output is about 46,700 BTU, treating about 650 sq ft. It's for professional use.

The 70K Max is Convectex's largest heater, built for professional jobs up to 1,000 sq ft. It produces up to 66,000 BTU, runs on 120V and 240V inlets, and draws air from 6 ft high through an adjustable duct to reduce hot-ceiling, cold-floor layering. Power cords are included.

Use fans rated for treatment temperatures, like the HTX Elite Axial Air Mover or HSA Elite Air Mover. Standard household fans aren't built to run for hours in a 120–140°F room.

The TurtlePro Power Distribution and Step Down Kit converts one 240V dryer or range outlet into four 110V outlets. It lets you run a heater from one outlet instead of finding separate breakers around the building.

A PTAC splitter lets a hotel room's through-wall air conditioner outlet power a bed bug heater. Convectex sells 2-way and 4-way versions, so hotel staff don't need extra circuits in the room.

The light shows the cord is carrying power. At a glance, you can confirm every heating element is on. A heater element won't heat if its cord isn't powered.

Heat verification stickers are labels that change color once they reach target temperature. Place them in hard-to-heat spots, like inside drawers or under furniture, to prove the whole room got hot enough.

The remote monitoring system sends treatment temperatures to your phone. You can check progress without opening doors and losing heat, and keep a temperature record of each job. It's recommended when no one will be on site.

Accessories include TurtlePro 3-wire and 4-wire dryer and range adapters, the VersaPro 50A Y power adapter, lighted 15, 25 and 50 ft power cords, twist-lock cords, replacement cord kits, an IR thermometer, sprinkler head covers, 20-inch mylar flex ducting, a rolling cord bag and a bed bug identification pen. Shop all accessories.

Yes. Every Convectex heater has an adjustable thermostat and a built-in fan.

Yes. With a hotel heat package, maintenance staff can treat a room the day bed bugs are found, instead of waiting days for an outside vendor while the room sits empty. See our hotel bed bug heat packages.

The Bed Bug Heat Master Package is our top-selling hotel option. It pairs an Elite 8 or Elite 33K heater with two HTX fans, bed bug ID cards and a choice of residential or hotel PTAC power cords, and treats about 500 sq ft.

Through the room's PTAC (through-wall air conditioner) outlet. Hotel packages offer PTAC power cords, and 2-way or 4-way PTAC splitters let one wall-unit outlet feed the heater, so you don't need extra room circuits.

Usually the same day, once the room has cooled and been cleaned.

Outside heat treatment averages about $1 per sq ft, plus lost revenue while rooms are out of service. Owned equipment typically pays for itself in one or two treatments, and every treatment after that costs only staff time and electricity.

Bed Bug Safe is a staff training and certification program that teaches housekeeping and maintenance teams to spot bed bugs early and respond correctly. Completion records help a property show it takes reasonable care. It works alongside in-house heat treatment. Plans start at $249 per facility per year.

Yes. Apartment heat packages are sized for typical units and can run from a unit's standard outlets or its 30 amp dryer or 50 amp range outlet with the right adapter.

Act quickly, inspect the units on each side and above and below, and never use foggers or repellent sprays, which drive bed bugs through walls into neighboring units. Heat treatment kills bed bugs where they are instead of pushing them elsewhere.

Heat treatment uses no pesticides, so it leaves no residue for vulnerable residents or patients. Residents should be moved out of the treated room during treatment and return once it has cooled. Convectex equipment is used in senior living facilities, hospitals and clinics.

Yes. Convectex heaters are used in single-family homes, apartments, condos, hotels and motels, hospitals and clinics, senior living facilities, offices and vacation rentals. Size the heater to the space and the available circuits.

Yes. Call 877-375-0005 to plan equipment, staff training and treatment procedures for your property or portfolio.

Most pros use 240V or hybrid heaters that treat larger areas per unit, such as the VersaPro Elite 46K (about 650 sq ft) and the 70K Max (up to 1,000 sq ft). They run from dryer, range or 50 amp outlets. See our professional heat packages.

No. Convectex systems run on the building's own power and fit in a standard vehicle, so there's no generator, fuel or trailer. That keeps startup costs low and lets you treat a single room or a whole structure.

Choose equipment sized to your typical jobs, get your team trained, then market the service. Sonny's Bed Bug Biz Starter and the Journeyman's Bed Bug Pro System are complete starter systems.

It depends on your state. Some states regulate heat treatment under structural pest control laws. Check your state's licensing requirements before offering heat treatment as a paid service. This isn't legal advice.

The national average is about $1 per square foot, so a 2,500 sq ft home is about $2,500. Prices vary by region, job size and level of clutter.

Yes. The Bed Bug Pro Training Course is a monthly livestreamed class taught by trainers with thousands of heat treatments behind them. It covers bed bug biology, inspection, K-9 tips, health and legal issues, treatment technique and safety, and includes certification and a business starter thumb drive.

Classes run monthly by livestream. Check the training course page for current dates, or call 877-375-0005.

Yes. Call 877-375-0005 to schedule a private livestream for your company.

Yes. Free training videos and manuals cover inspection, power setup, airflow, safety, troubleshooting and verifying treatment success.

Four steps: choose your equipment, get trained, set up your branding and website, then start advertising. Convectex can help with each step. Read our guide to launching a bed bug heat business.

Buy a Bed Bug Heater Rental Business starter package (Basic or Enterprise), then list your business on RentBedBugHeaters.com to receive booking requests from local customers.

A listing and scheduling site for bed bug heater rental businesses. Providers pay a monthly or yearly fee to be listed, and customers find and book rentals near them.

Use heat verification stickers in hard-to-heat spots and a remote cellular temperature monitor to record temperatures through the job. Both give you documentation to share with clients.

Yes. Convectex's design and marketing team offers logos, website builds, printed materials and online advertising for new heat treatment businesses. See bedbugbizmarketing.com.

Yes, on many heat packages shipped to the lower 48 states. Items marked "Free Shipping" on the product page ship free; other items are charged by weight, distance and shipping speed, calculated at checkout.

Smaller orders ship by FedEx. Large or heavy orders ship by freight truck to a dock. Residential delivery, liftgate service, 24-hour notice and inside delivery are available for an extra charge.

Yes, but different shipping terms apply. Call 877-375-0005 for a quote.

Inspect every box when it arrives and count the cartons before you sign. Report any damage or shortage to 877-375-0005 within 3 days of delivery, and keep all boxes and packing material for the carrier's inspection.

Call 877-375-0005 for a Return Authorization (RA) number within 30 days of receiving your order. Items must be new, unused and in original packaging, shipped back prepaid. A 20% restocking fee applies. Returns without an RA number aren't eligible for a refund.

To make sure returned equipment is free of bed bugs before it goes back into stock. Returns may be subject to a $280 K-9 bed bug inspection, and equipment that may have been contaminated during use may not be eligible for credit.

Heaters carry a 1-year manufacturer's warranty on the housing, parts and labor from K & J Representatives, LLC. It covers defects in materials and workmanship for the original buyer. It doesn't cover misuse, shipping damage, or normal wear items like power cords and plug adapters.

Call 877-375-0005. You ship the unit in for evaluation. Covered repairs are made and the unit is returned at no charge. Repairs outside the warranty are billed to the owner.

Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and PayPal. Businesses can apply for Net 30 terms. Checks and COD are accepted with conditions.

Yes. Apply online in about 30 seconds with no obligation, sign your documents electronically, and your order ships. Pay nothing for 90 days. For financing questions, call 602-483-1169.

Call 877-375-0005. Our team can suggest a comparable heater or package for your space and power, or tell you when stock is expected.

Yes. Convectex has a retail location in Prescott, Arizona.

Yes. Convectex gift cards start at $250 and can be used on any equipment.

Yes. Every purchase includes free phone support at 877-375-0005, plus access to online training videos and manuals.

Convectex is a family-owned distributor of professional bed bug heat treatment equipment for homeowners, hotels, property managers and pest control companies across North America. Since 2013, Convectex has been the master distributor for K & J heater products. Learn more about us.

Convectex sells the same heaters to homeowners and professionals, backed by free expert phone support. The equipment runs on a building's own power with no generator or trailer, and Convectex trains pest control professionals through monthly courses.

Convectex sells equipment, training and support rather than treatment services. For a local treatment or rental provider, see our providers page or call 877-375-0005.

Convectex is based in Prescott, Arizona, and ships across the United States.

Call toll-free at 877-375-0005 or use our contact form. Our bed bug heat experts can help you choose equipment, set up your power and troubleshoot a treatment.