Bed Bug and Pest Heat Treatment in NYC
Heat that kills bed bugs and their eggs, usually in one visit
What Is Bed Bug Heat Treatment?
Bed bug heat treatment kills bed bugs by heating a room to between 120°F and 140°F and holding it there for several hours. The heat reaches mattresses, furniture, closets and gaps in the walls, and it kills bed bugs at every stage, eggs included. Most treatments are done in one visit.
NYC Extermination uses heat for bed bugs in apartments, houses and buildings across the five boroughs. Industrial heaters and fans spread the heat evenly, and we check temperatures throughout the space. The heat itself leaves no pesticide behind, and we often follow it with a targeted treatment of the cracks and outlets where bed bugs could come back. Our bed bug exterminator page explains how the two steps fit together.
Why Heat Works
- Every life stage. Eggs, nymphs and adults all die at these temperatures.
- Hidden spots. Heat gets into seams, furniture and wall gaps that sprays miss.
- One visit. Most treatments are finished in a single day.
- No pesticide residue from the heat itself.
- Homes and businesses. It works in apartments, houses, hotels and offices.
What Heat Treatment Can Treat
Bed bugs are the main reason people call for heat treatment. Heat can also help with other insects that hide in furniture, fabric and wall gaps. After the inspection we’ll tell you whether heat is the right tool for your problem.
Bed Bugs
Heat reaches mattresses, box springs, furniture and wall cracks and kills bed bugs and their eggs. It’s the most common reason we bring in the heaters. See our bed bug exterminator page.
Moths
Heat reaches closets, carpets and stored clothing, where moth larvae feed on wool and other natural fibers. Learn more about moth control.
Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetle larvae feed on rugs, clothing and upholstery. Heat gets into the fibers where they hide.
Termites
For a small termite problem inside a piece of wood or a wall, heat can be one option. Most termite problems need a different plan, which our termite control page covers.
Cockroaches
Heat can help with roaches hiding in kitchens, appliances and cracks, egg cases included. Most roach problems are handled with targeted treatment instead, as our cockroach exterminator page explains.
Ants
Heat can reach ants nesting inside walls, floors and small gaps. We’ll recommend it only when it’s the best fit.
How a Heat Treatment Visit Works
Every heat treatment starts with a free on-site inspection, so we know which rooms need heat and how far the bed bugs have spread.
On treatment day, the rooms are heated to between 120°F and 140°F for several hours. A typical visit takes 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size of the space and the infestation.
Here’s how the day goes:
1. Before
You get a prep list and a short contract, and you sign both. We go over what to take out, such as plastics, cosmetics, medicines, electronics and plants. People and pets leave for the treatment.
2. Heating
Industrial heaters bring the rooms up to temperature, and fans move the heat into closets, furniture and corners.
3. Checking
We watch the heat three ways, so no spot stays cool enough for bed bugs to survive. First, handheld laser thermometers while the rooms warm up, to make sure the temperature keeps climbing. Second, heat-sensitive stickers in the places bed bugs hide, such as between the mattress and box spring, behind the headboard, in closets and inside drawers. They turn from blue to orange at 123°F, the heat that kills bed bugs, and they don’t turn back. Third, a wireless thermometer with four probes, on and under the bed, in a closet and on the floor, sends readings to our phones the whole time.
4. After
We let the space cool, check the results and recommend a follow-up treatment when it’s needed. Our guide on what to do after heat treatment covers the days after.
Optional: a fungus spray after heat
You can add a biopesticide made from a natural fungus. It’s classed as a green product. We spray it with a small airbrush only where bed bugs travel: the piping of the mattress, the bottom of the box spring and the bed rails. A bed bug that crosses it picks up the spores and carries them back to its hiding spot, where they spread to the others and kill them.
Our 30-day warranty
Every bed bug heat treatment comes with a 30-day warranty. If any bed bugs survive, you’ll usually get bitten in the first week, so you’ll know well before the 30 days are up. Call us and we come back and treat again at no charge. Recently, a customer saw bed bugs again about 10 days after treatment, and we went back and treated it again for free. The warranty covers a return treatment, not a refund.
Heat Treatment for Every Kind of Property
Apartment Buildings and Businesses
In a building, bed bugs rarely stay in one apartment. We inspect the units around the problem and plan treatment for the building, not one door at a time. See how we handle pest control for apartment buildings.
Hotels, offices and other businesses use heat because most treatments finish in one visit, which keeps rooms out of service for less time.
Apartments and Houses
For a single apartment or house, heat is often the fastest way to end a bed bug problem without repeat spraying. We treat the bedroom and every room where we find activity, then follow up when it’s needed.
If you rent, tell your landlord or building manager. In New York City, landlords have duties around bed bugs, and the apartments next to yours may need checking too.
Is Heat Treatment Right for You?
Heat is a strong choice when bed bugs have spread through a bedroom or apartment, when sprays haven’t worked, or when you want the problem handled in one visit. It also helps with furniture and belongings that are hard to treat any other way.
It’s not always needed. A small, early problem may only need targeted treatment, and some spaces need both. The inspection tells us which, and we’ll explain why before any work starts. To compare the methods, read heat vs. chemical treatment for bed bugs.
Getting Ready for Heat Treatment
- Don’t move things out first. Carrying belongings to another room or apartment can spread bed bugs. Wait for our instructions.
- Take out heat-sensitive items such as plastics, cosmetics, medicines, electronics and plants.
- Follow your prep list. We give you a prep list and a short contract before treatment day, and you sign both, so you know exactly what to do.
- Plan to be out with your children and pets for the whole treatment.
- Read the prep guide. Our guide on preparing your home for bed bug treatment covers the basics.
How Much Does Bed Bug Heat Treatment Cost in NYC?
Heat treatment costs $1,500 per room and up. Each bedroom counts as a room, and so does the living room, so a two-bedroom apartment is three rooms, or $4,500. When we treat several rooms, you can get up to 10% off.
How big the rooms are and how far the bed bugs have spread also affect the final price. Heat costs more than a basic spray, but it can clear bed bugs at every stage in one treatment, and it comes with our 30-day warranty. The on-site inspection and the estimate are free. Call (347) 988-2315 to book.
Why Call NYC Extermination for Heat Treatment
NYC Extermination is family owned and has worked in New York City for 25 years. Founder Jeffrey Pasternack is a New York State DEC Certified Commercial Pesticide Technician in Structural and Rodent Control. You get a free on-site inspection and estimate, same-day emergency service across the five boroughs, and a plan built on Integrated Pest Management. Call (347) 988-2315 or book your inspection online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does heat treatment kill bed bug eggs?
Yes. Bed bug eggs die at the same temperatures as adults when the heat is held long enough. That’s one of the main reasons heat works where many sprays don’t.
How long does a heat treatment take?
Usually 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size of the space and how far the bed bugs have spread. Most homes are done in one day.
Is one heat treatment enough?
In most cases, yes. For a severe infestation we may recommend a follow-up inspection or a targeted treatment afterward to catch anything that hid in a cool spot.
How soon can I go back home?
Once the treatment is done and the space has cooled to a comfortable temperature. We’ll tell you when on the day.
Is heat treatment safe for children and pets?
The heat itself leaves no pesticide behind, but no one can stay inside while the rooms are hot. Children, pets and adults leave for the treatment and come back after the space cools.
Do I need to prepare before heat treatment?
Yes. You get a prep list and a short contract to sign, and we’ll go over what to take out, such as plastics, cosmetics, medicines, electronics and plants. Don’t move belongings to another room or apartment first, because that can spread bed bugs. Our preparation guide covers the basics.
Is there a warranty on heat treatment?
Yes, 30 days. If bed bugs show up again within 30 days, we come back and treat again at no charge. We don’t offer refunds.
How do you know the heat reached every spot?
We check three ways: laser thermometers while the rooms heat up, heat-sensitive stickers in hidden spots that turn from blue to orange at 123°F, and a wireless thermometer with four probes that sends readings to our phones during the whole treatment.
Is heat treatment better than pesticides?
Heat kills bed bugs at every stage in one visit and reaches spots sprays miss. Targeted products keep working after we leave. For many bed bug problems the best plan uses both, and the inspection decides.
Can heat treatment be used in hotels and offices?
Yes. Hotels, offices and other businesses use heat because most treatments finish in one visit. For apartment buildings, see pest control for apartment buildings.
For Any Service Request Please Call (347) 988-2315
Schedule an inspection and let us help determine the right next step for your New York City property.