How Thermification™ Works?

Lower the Humidity. Lower the Kill Temperature.

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs?

Most heat systems try to solve bed bugs by pushing temperatures higher. Thermification™ works differently.

By aggressively removing moisture from the air first, Thermification™ creates true dry-heat conditions, killing bed bugs up to 30°F lower — with complete mortality in minutes, not hours.

What that means for professionals:

  • Starts killing in ~15 minutes — not hours like traditional heat
  • Lowers the thermal death point through powerful dehumidification
  • No damage to electronics, furniture, or sensitive contents
  • No generator, propane, or fire risk
See Thermification™ Packages

Featured in PCT Magazine

Distributed by Target Specialty Products

Invented by Professionals for Professionals

Backed by U.S. and International Patents

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs?

Every professional knows heat is effective for treating bed bugs — but the real question isn’t if heat works. It’s what temperature kills bed bugs reliably, so you don’t have to treat again.

And how much heat you need depends entirely on one thing — humidity.

While there was some debate, the studies are in on what temperature kills bed bugs.

In high-humidity environments, you need extreme temperatures to kill bed bugs:

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs:
Adult Bed Bugs: 113°F for 30+ minutes
Bed Bug Eggs: 118°F for 60–90 minutes

This is why traditional systems, electric or propane, often run excessively hot. By adding or trapping moisture, they force operators to push temperatures well beyond what’s actually needed, sometimes approaching 200°F, just to ensure mortality.

Thermification™ Lowers the Thermal Death Point

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ATC Thermal’s patented Thermification™ system is the only solution that removes humidity first, using advanced de-humidification and indirect dry heat.

By removing humidity first, the system creates dry-heat conditions that reduce the temperature that kills bed bugs, without sacrificing effectiveness. What temperature kills bed bugs goes down when you can control humidity. This is what makes ATC Thermal’s Heat Treatment Solutions unique.


This engineered combination creates ideal kill conditions:

  • Dry heat strips bed bugs of their natural moisture barrier
  • They rapidly dehydrate and collapse
  • Complete mortality occurs at temperatures as low as 92–103°F
  • Even eggs die in as little as 30 minutes after system turn on


This approach allows operators to eliminate bed bugs in mattresses, box springs, and deep cracks and crevices, without overheating the structure.

That Means:

  • Lower Energy Use!
  • Faster Kill Times!
  • Safer for Furniture & Electronics!

This chart shows capable killing conditions in just 15 minutes!

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Why Lower Temperatures = Safer Structures

Traditional systems often run 160–200°F, which can damage electronics, trigger sprinklers, or crack wood floors. Thermification™ systems operate around 118–135°F, making them dramatically safer for:

Great For

  • Apartment units
  • Hotels and dormitories
  • Safer for structures and belongings
  • Electronics and sensitive finishes
  • Sprinkler-equipped buildings

Frequently Answered Questions

About Bed Bug Control and Thermification™

Most pest control professionals assume higher heat is the solution. In reality, humidity has always been the unknown limiting factor.
Traditional systems trap or add moisture, which raises the lethal temperature, increases exposure time, and forces operators to rely on extreme temperatures for several hours. Thermification™ removes humidity first—allowing heat to work faster, safer, and more predictably across all the bed bugs and their life stages.

Under standard conditions, the temperature that kills bed bugs depends on exposure time and humidity.

According to widely referenced bed bug temperature charts:

  • Adult bed bugs typically die around 113°F with prolonged exposure
  • Eggs require about 118°F for a longer duration

However, these numbers assume dry conditions. In humid environments, bed bugs survive longer, forcing operators to increase temperatures or hold heat for long periods. So there is some amount of “it depends on humidity” when answering what temperature kills bed bugs.

Thermification™ removes humidity first, allowing lower temperatures to kill bed bugs reliably, while still reaching lethal conditions throughout mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, cracks and crevices, and electrical outlets.

There is no truly “instant” kill at low temperatures. Even high heat requires enough heat plus sufficient exposure time.

That said, Thermification™ dramatically accelerates mortality. By creating a low-humidity heated room, the system causes rapid mortality in bed bug adults and eggs at temperatures as low as 92–103°F.

This dry-heat environment breaks down the insect’s moisture barrier, allowing bed bugs to die quickly, often in minutes, not hours, without relying on the hottest setting or extreme temperatures.

Humidity protects bed bugs.

Moist air slows dehydration and raises the temperature to kill bed bugs. This is why traditional systems often struggle with cold spots, hiding places, and insulated areas like box springs, mattress seams, and bed frames.

By removing humidity first, Thermification™ forces bed bugs into rapid desiccation, leaving them vulnerable at lower temperatures across all stages of bed bugs, including eggs before they hatch.

This approach helps control bed bugs in a whole structure, not just surface areas where bugs are visible.

Traditional propane and electric systems often require several hours just to reach target temperatures, followed by prolonged exposure, sometimes 6–8 hours or more.

Thermification™ begins removing bed bug infestation in as little as 30 minutes and completes most professional treatments in 4–6 hours, depending on room size, contents, and infestation level.

Because humidity is removed early, heat penetrates hiding spots more efficiently, reducing missed bugs, cast skins, and re-infestation caused by untreated areas (Source).

Yes. Thermification™ is designed specifically for professional pest control companies and pest management firms that prioritize safety, control, and repeatable results.

Unlike propane-based or improvised systems, Thermification™ uses indirect-fired dry heat, not open flames.

This means:

  • No sprinkler activation in living rooms or facilities
  • No generator overloads or electrical risks
  • No damage to electronics, or plastics
  • 100% Non-toxic, 100% chemical-free, 100% and safer than pesticides

Thermification™ delivers high-end heat treatment that pest control professionals can trust—without relying on extreme temperatures, desiccant dust, diatomaceous earth, or ineffective consumer methods like soapy water or alcohol.

Yes, professional heat treatment is widely considered the most effective method to eliminate bed bugs when done correctly.

Heat is the only approach that reliably kills all bed bug life stages, including bed bug eggs, without relying on repeated chemical applications. Unlike sprays, bug bombs, desiccant dust, or diatomaceous earth, heat penetrates mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, electrical outlets, and other hiding spots where bed bugs hide.

Thermification™ improves on traditional heat by removing humidity first, allowing operators to kill bugs faster, use less energy, and achieve more consistent results across a whole room or structure.

Yes. Bed bugs can survive heat treatment if the lethal temperature is not reached everywhere or if exposure time is insufficient.

Cold spots, insulated areas, and moisture-heavy environments allow bed bug adults and eggs to survive longer, even when average room temperatures appear high. This is why some treatments fail despite using extreme temperatures.

Thermification™ reduces this risk by:

  • Providing thermal imagers and sensors for constant cold-spot checks
  • Allowing lower temperatures to kill bed bugs by removing humidity
  • Maintaining consistent conditions across all hiding places

This results in rapid mortality, even in areas where other systems struggle.

Cold temperatures and cold treatments do not reliably eliminate bed bugs. At lower temperatures, bed bugs will shut their bodies down (Diapause) and wait it out. Once things warm back up, they wake and come right back to life like nothing happened.

Extreme temperature swings (hot then cold) increase risk to structures, electronics, and materials while still leaving gaps in coverage. Thermification™ provides a safer alternative by using controlled dry heat, achieved naturally through de-humidification, to create lethal conditions quickly, without relying on prolonged exposure, freezing, or damaging temperature extremes.

Most heat systems focus on producing more heat. Thermification™ focuses on changing the environment.

By removing moisture before heating, Thermification™ lowers the temperature to kill bed bugs while increasing kill speed and consistency. This allows professional pest control services to:

  • Use less electricity
  • Reduce treatment time
  • Minimize risk to contents and structures
  • Deliver more reliable outcomes

It’s not just heat, it’s engineered pest management designed by professionals who understand and have lived real-world treatment challenges.

Yes. Thermification™ is designed for use in apartments, hotels, dormitories, hospitals, government buildings, and other sensitive environments where safety and control matter.

Because it uses indirect-fired dry heat:

  • No open flames are present
  • No toxic residues remain
  • Electronics, plastics, and sealed items are protected
  • Treatments are safer than multiple chemical pest control methods

This makes Thermification™ an ideal solution for pest management companies serving high-value or high-liability properties.

Bed bug elimination isn’t just about heat, it’s about control, monitoring, and precision.

Consumer solutions, improvised heaters, or under-powered systems fail because they cannot maintain lethal conditions across all rooms, hiding spots, and life stages. Professional treatments require special equipment designed to manage airflow, humidity, and exposure time accurately.

Thermification™ was built specifically for professional pest control companies that need repeatable results.

Traditional Heat vs Thermification™

When you try it, the difference is immediate and obvious 

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Traditional Heat

  • Adds or traps humidity
  • Requires 150–200°F
  • Trips breakers
  • Needs generators
  • Fire risk
  • Long treatment times
  • Often left unattended
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ATC Thermification™

  • Removes humidity rapidly
  • Kills at 90–118°F
  • No breaker issues
  • No generator
  • Safe for structures and contents
  • Kill begins within minutes
  • Faster safer supervised operation

Choose The Equipment That Fits Your Business

Not every job requires full-scale heat treatment. Thermification™ gives professional operators the right tool for the right application — from instant verification to complete structural remediation.
Whether you need precision heat or a full commercial system, every ATC Thermal solution is engineered to reach the temperature to kill bed bugs safely, efficiently, and consistently.

Hex Pro Mini Heater

Precision Heat

The Hex Pro Mini is designed for professionals who need fast confirmation or targeted heat without deploying a full system. This lightweight, handheld unit delivers lethal heat in seconds, making it ideal when you need immediate answers, not estimates.

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Perfect for:

  • K9 inspections
  • Spot treatments
  • Mattresses, furniture, vehicles, luggage
  • Technicians who need a dependable handheld heater

By applying controlled heat at the temperature that kills bed bugs instantly, the Hex Pro Mini allows technicians to confirm activity, treat isolated infestations, and address bed bug adults and eggs without excessive exposure or downtime.

Electric Bed Bug Heater

Full Thermification™ Systems

Commercial-Grade Dry Heat for Complete Control

For professional pest control companies ready to deliver safer, faster, and more efficient whole-structure treatments, Thermification™ systems set a new industry standard. These systems are built for scale, reliability, and repeatable results.

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Perfect for:

  • Pest control companies
  • Commercial operators
  • Multi-unit housing
  • Hotels and property managers
  • High-volume and high-reliability treatment teams

Thermification™ systems use indirect-fired dry heat and engineered airflow to treat entire rooms or buildings with precision. By rapidly removing humidity, they reach lethal conditions in minutes and maintain effective kill zones across all bed bug life stages, without pushing unsafe temperatures.

Full Thermification™ Systems

Find The Heat Treatment Equipment
That Fits Your Business

Some jobs need precision. Others need full-scale power. We built both.

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