Home › Bed bugs
Bed bugs: find an exterminator in Montreal
Bites when you wake up and black dots on the mattress. Bed bugs do not go away with a store-bought spray, and the wrong moves push them into other rooms. Here is what to check, what to avoid and how a real treatment goes.
How to recognize them
- The insect. Brown, flat, oval, 4 to 7 mm: the size and shape of an apple seed. It does not jump or fly.
- The bites. Often in a line or a cluster, on arms, legs and neck. Some people do not react at all, so no bites proves nothing.
- Black dots. Small dark stains, like felt-pen marks, on mattress seams, the box spring and the headboard.
- Blood spots on the sheets, and the empty skins the insect sheds as it grows.
With a flashlight, check mattress seams, box spring corners, the back of the headboard, baseboards and outlets near the bed. If you find an insect, keep it in a sealed bag or on a piece of tape so the exterminator can confirm.
What makes it worse
- Spraying store-bought insecticide. It kills few and drives the rest into other rooms and neighbouring units.
- Sleeping in another room. They follow you and settle there too.
- Throwing out the mattress or furniture. Bugs drop off in hallways and stairs on the way out. A mattress can be treated and kept inside a sealed cover.
- Waiting. A female lays several eggs a day. A month of delay turns a simple job into a heavy one.
Tenant or landlord: who does what
In a rented home, the City of Montreal recommends these steps:
- The tenant notifies the landlord right away, preferably in writing, and keeps proof.
- The landlord calls an exterminator and gives access to the building. Neighbouring units often need to be inspected as well.
- The tenant prepares the unit as instructed and lets the exterminator in on the scheduled dates.
If the landlord delays, the tenant can send a registered letter, then ask the city for an inspection. In Montreal, call 311. As a last resort, Quebec’s housing tribunal (Tribunal administratif du logement) can order the extermination.
In Montreal, the exterminator must report every bed bug treatment to the City. Ask them to confirm it was done.
Treatment methods
| Method | How | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Insecticide | Targeted application on beds, baseboards, cracks and furniture, over two visits or more. | The least expensive. The second visit deals with bugs hatched since the first. |
| Heat | Rooms are heated above 50 °C for several hours. | Costs more, but reaches the eggs in one day. Some items must be removed first. |
| Steam | Dry steam on mattresses, box springs and upholstered furniture. | Often used alongside the other two. |
Preparing your home
- Bag clothing and bedding, then run them in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
- Empty bedside tables and drawers near the bed.
- Vacuum mattresses, baseboards and furniture, then put the bag outside, sealed.
- Pull furniture away from the walls to give access to baseboards.
- Reduce clutter: fewer hiding spots means a treatment that works.
Incomplete preparation is the most common reason a treatment fails. If you cannot do it all, say so before the visit: some companies offer that service.
What bed bug treatment costs
| Situation | Rough range |
|---|---|
| One bedroom, insecticide, 2 visits | $250 to $500 |
| 4 or 5 room apartment, 2 or 3 visits | $450 to $950 |
| Large home or heat treatment | $950 to $1,600 |
Ranges published by Montreal-area pest control companies in 2025 and 2026. The number of rooms, the method and the number of visits set the price. Taxes are extra.
Common questions
Are bed bugs a sign of a dirty home?
No. They feed on blood, not dirt. They arrive in a suitcase, on used furniture or from the unit next door, and settle just as easily in a spotless home.
How long does treatment take?
With insecticide, three to six weeks from the first visit until everything is confirmed clear. With heat, the treatment takes one day, followed by a check.
Do I have to throw out my mattress?
Almost never. A treated mattress sealed in a bed bug cover can be kept. Throwing it out is costly and spreads insects along the way.
My neighbour has them. Am I at risk?
Yes. Bed bugs move between units through walls, outlets and hallways. In a building, the units beside, above and below the affected one should be inspected.
Page reviewed November 13, 2026
Tell us what you are seeing
Two minutes. A local exterminator calls you back with a price. No commitment.