Getting Rid Of Cockroaches In Your Chester Springs Home For Good

Habits And Behaviors Of Common Cockroaches

Cockroaches are scavengers. They come inside your home looking for food, water, and shelter, and they’ll make their homes near good sources. They tend to be most active at night, looking for things to eat. There are four species of cockroaches that are commonly seen in Chester Springs homes.
 
Oriental cockroaches prefer cool, dark, and damp areas. These are often called “water beetles” because they tend to gather near water. They might be seen under sinks and washing machines as well as in basements. These roaches are about one inch long and shiny, dark brown. They don’t fly.
 
Pennsylvania wood roaches are usually a problem in the fall and winter, when infested piles of firewood are brought inside. These roaches are also dark brown and about an inch long. The males can fly quickly but not for long periods of time. 
 
American cockroaches are the biggest roach species seen in Pennsylvania. They can be up to 1 ½ inches long. They can fly, but don’t very often. American cockroaches prefer dark, warm, moist areas. They’ll usually be seen in basements, crawl spaces, around bathtubs, and near sewers. 
 
German cockroaches are the most common roach species. They’re also the smallest, only reaching about half an inch in length. These cockroaches are usually seen in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Why Cockroaches Are Considered A Health Hazard

Cockroaches don’t just eat your food; they also spread disease. Cockroaches have spines on their legs that pick up bacteria and parasites from the places they’ve walked, which then get moved to the surfaces they touch in your home. This is why sanitation is very important after a cockroach infestation. Cockroaches can also cause allergies and asthma flare-ups in humans, especially children.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Cockroaches In Your Home

Cockroach infestations can be difficult to treat on your own. Roaches reproduce rapidly, which means that infestations can exponentially grow in size in a short period of time. They’re also extremely hard to kill. Cockroaches can live up to a month without water, and two or three months without food. That’s why the best way to get rid of a cockroach infestation is to call a professional. Masters Touch Pest Solutions has the tools and the skills to get rid of a cockroach infestation. 

Five Simple Tips To Prevent Future Cockroach Problems

Once an infestation has been taken care of, you can take steps to prevent another one from settling in.

1. Keep your home as sanitary as possible. Cockroaches thrive in places where they have easy access to food. It’s important to keep your home clean if there’s a history of cockroach infestations. Clean up spills immediately, vacuum often, and don’t let dishes pile up in the sink.
2. Store food in airtight containers. Keeping all food sealed away means that roaches can’t get to it easily, which means they won’t see your home as a food source.
3. Seal up entry points. Cockroaches can gain entry to your home through small cracks and spaces. By eliminating those, you minimize the ways roaches can get inside. 
4. Repair any causes of excess moisture in your home. This one might require a little more effort, but any places with standing water or extra dampness are perfect homes for cockroaches. Fix leaky pipes, air out the basement, maybe even consider a dehumidifier; whatever it takes to make your home inhospitable to cockroaches.
5. Spray peppermint oil. Cockroaches are naturally repelled by the smell of peppermint oil. A small amount diluted in water or diffused in a room might keep the bugs away. Larger amounts will kill roaches, but be careful; pure peppermint oil is toxic for humans and other animals, so be sure to take care when using it.

Following these tips can keep your home free of cockroaches. For help treating an infestation, call Masters Touch Pest Solutions. We’ll provide high-quality pest control treatments while prioritizing your safety.