Controlled heat
Heat works only when the whole insect reaches a lethal temperature for long enough. A laboratory study of whole-room conditions found that 48.3C killed 99% of adults, while eggs needed 54.8C. Eggs also survived seven hours at 45C, so a mild warm-up is not enough.
BPCA's heat treatment guide, written with a specialist in the method, gives a target of 50C for two hours or 52C for one hour, measured on the insect and not just in the room air. BPCA calls cold spots the core of heat-treatment problems. As a result, ask for a temperature report that shows where each sensor sat. Our post on bed bug heat treatment covers the questions in more detail.
Steam and physical removal
Steam can kill exposed bed bugs and eggs where it reaches them. A 2018 laboratory study found that steamers killed every bed bug on mattresses and in cracks, and over 89% behind fabric covers. However, bugs behind a leather cover did not die in significant numbers, so coverage matters.
BPCA's guide takes a stricter view, because steam adds moisture and BPCA does not count it as a heat treatment. Vacuuming removes accessible insects and debris, but it does not prove the room is clear. In both cases, technique and access decide how much you cover, so ask who will do the work and how.
Residual insecticides
Councils show how residual products work. Manchester uses a residual insecticide that stays toxic to bed bugs for several weeks. It asks you not to wash or vacuum the treated area for at least seven days, because that would remove the product. Leeds says its products keep working for several weeks too.
Resistance is a real problem. The NHS says bed bugs may resist some insecticides, and a 2012 review by Rothamsted Research scientists found that pyrethroid resistance is making control harder. Therefore, a spray-only promise is unreliable. The Manchester area guide and Leeds area guide show the council wording.
Monitoring and follow-up
No method works without checking the result. Monitoring gives the evidence for deciding whether to treat again. Seeing one or two bugs soon after treatment is common, as Manchester notes. However, a rising count needs a call, because it may mean the first treatment missed a hiding place.
Ask when the first review happens and what will trigger an earlier visit. Then write the dates down. A review only helps if it looks in the right places, so read the inspection guide to see what a review visit should check, because it works like the first survey.
Choosing between methods
No single method suits every home. A small flat with few belongings may suit a different plan from a large house with heavy furniture, because access and heat-sensitive items differ. The firm should explain why its choice fits what it found.
Use our questions to ask checklist to test the answer. Then compare the cost of each approach in the cost guide. Read the guide to preparing for a visit so the work can go ahead. For DIY ideas, see our post on what backfires, and use the help request form when you want a professional to look.
Frequently asked questions
Is heat treatment better than insecticide?
Neither is better in every home. Heat can work without chemicals, but only if every hiding place reaches the target temperature. Insecticide programmes spread the work over visits, while heat concentrates it into one window. The right choice depends on the property and the evidence.
Does steam kill bed bugs?
It can, where the steam reaches them. A 2018 study found full kills on mattresses and in cracks, but not behind leather. Steam also leaves no lasting protection, because it is not a residual product. It works best as one part of a plan.
Why do some insecticides fail?
Resistance is one reason, because a 2012 Rothamsted Research review says pyrethroid resistance is making bed bugs harder to control. Poor preparation and hidden harbourages also play a part. As BPCA notes, a missed hiding place can undo a good spray.
How long does a programme take?
It varies, so we do not give a standard figure. However, council examples show the range. Leeds covers up to three treatments, and Manchester offers a revisit after 21 days if many bugs remain. Ask any firm for its planned visits and review dates in writing.
Sources and further checks
Open the source before acting on information that may change, including council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels. Each link below goes to the organisation that publishes the original guidance.