Bed bug heat treatment versus chemical treatment
The epidemic of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) obliges professionals to reinvent themselves. In the face of increasing resistance to insecticides, two major schools are competing: heat treatment and chemical treatment. As Certibiocide certified technicians, this is our technical verdict.
1. Chemical Treatment (Biocides)
It's the traditional method. It consists of spraying insecticide molecules (pyrethroids, carbamates) into plinths, base frames and cracks.
Benefits:
- Remanence: The product remains active for weeks, killing the nymphs that will hatch later.
- The cost: Generally more affordable (between €200 and €400 for two passages).
Disadvantages:
- Do not kill eggs directly (must require a 2nd pass 15 days later).
- Some strains have developed genetic mutations that make them resistant.
2. The Thermal Treatment (Shry Vapor / Heat Canon)
The bed bug and its eggs die instantly from 60°C. Dry steam (up to 180°C at nozzle outlet) burns insects without humidifying mattresses.
Benefits:
- Total thermal shock: Kill ALL stages of insect development, including eggs, at the second touch.
- 100% Ecological: No toxics. The accommodation is immediately habitable without re-entry (RED).
- No resistance: No insect can mutate to withstand 180°C.
Disadvantages:
- No remanence: as soon as the temperature drops, the treatment is finished.
- More expensive and longer to put in place carefully.
Our Recommendation: Integrated Struggle (La Synergie)
For a guaranteed eradication, Speed 3D recommends the combined action : a powerful heat shock with dry steam on the fireplaces (matlas, sofas) to kill the eggs, coupled with a chemical barrier on the ground and in the plinths to neutralize the leaks thanks to the effect of remanence.