The 6 signs of an infestation
Bed bugs are discreet and nocturnal. You rarely see them directly — it's their traces that give them away.
- 1. Bites in a line or cluster, mostly at night, on exposed skin (arms, legs, back).
- 2. Small black spots (droppings) on mattress seams, box spring, behind the headboard.
- 3. Blood smears on sheets, crushed during sleep.
- 4. Translucent shed skins and whitish egg shells in crevices.
- 5. Flat brown insects 4-5 mm (apple-seed size) in seams and cracks.
- 6. A sweet, cloying odour in heavy infestations.
Why DIY treatments often make it worse
Store-bought aerosols and sprays are repellent: instead of killing the colony, they scatter the bugs to other rooms or neighbouring units. They're also increasingly resistant to hardware-store pyrethroids.
Common result: a localized infestation becomes general, and in a building it spreads unit to unit through walls and conduits.
What a professional treatment does
A certified protocol combines several approaches the public doesn't have:
- Full inspection and identification of every harborage.
- Dry-steam heat treatment (lethal to eggs and adults) paired with non-repellent Health Canada-approved products.
- Guided unit preparation: up to 40% of success depends on it.
- Follow-up visit to eliminate hatched eggs after the first treatment.
- Written guarantee.
How to avoid reinfestation
Certified anti-bedbug encasement on mattress and box spring, systematic inspection of second-hand furniture, caution after travel (treated luggage, never on the bed), and prompt reporting in shared housing. Vigilance in the weeks after treatment is decisive.
A pest problem at your place?
Clear diagnosis, quote from $99, written guarantee. Service within 24h across the Greater Montreal area.
Frequently asked questions
Do bed bugs transmit diseases?
No, no disease transmission is demonstrated. But bites cause itching, allergic reactions, insomnia and significant stress. The impact is mostly psychological and financial.
How long to fully eliminate bed bugs?
Generally 2 to 4 weeks with a professional protocol: an initial treatment then a follow-up visit. Duration depends on infestation level and preparation quality.
How much does a bed bug treatment cost?
From about $99, depending on the area, infestation level and method. The quote is set after inspection, with no commitment.
Do I need to throw out my mattress?
Not necessarily. A mattress can often be treated and protected with a certified encasement. Throwing out infested furniture carelessly mostly scatters bugs elsewhere.