How each method works
Heat treatment raises the temperature of a room or whole unit to a level that kills bed bugs at every life stage, including eggs, and holds it there for several hours. Bedding and clothing are treated in place.
Chemical treatment uses targeted contact and residual products in seams, cracks, bed frames, baseboards and outlets. Because eggs are harder to kill, a second visit about two weeks later catches the bugs that hatch after the first.
Cost and visits compared
| Heat | Chemical | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price (GTA, before HST) | $450 – $800+ | $450 – $600 per visit |
| Visits | Usually 1 | 2 or more |
| Kills eggs in one visit | Yes | Not reliably |
| Time out of home | 6 to 8 hours | A few hours per visit |
| Best for | Heavy infestations, fast turnaround | Early, contained infestations |
Preparing for treatment
- Heat: remove heat-sensitive items such as candles, medications, aerosols, plants and instruments. Leave bedding on beds and clothes in drawers.
- Chemical: wash bedding and clothing on hot, dry on high heat and bag it. Vacuum mattresses and baseboards, and pull furniture away from walls.
- Both: do not move items into other rooms, which spreads bed bugs.
Which should you choose?
Choose heat if the infestation is heavy, if it has spread to several rooms, or if you need your home back quickly. Choose chemical if it is caught early and limited to one room, or if heat-sensitive belongings make heat impractical. Your technician will recommend one after the inspection, and sometimes a combination works best.
Condos, apartments and basement units
Bed bugs move through shared walls and laundry rooms. If you live in a multi-unit building, tell your landlord or property manager, because treating only one unit often leads to re-infestation.