West Chester Property Owners' Guide To Total Cockroach Control

Clear Signs Of A Cockroach Infestation

Cockroach identification is vital; however, roaches in West Chester are nocturnal creatures that prefer to inhabit remote, damp areas of the house. That means that you'll rarely see them in the daylight. It also means that you probably won't see them moving about in high-traffic areas of your home. Cockroaches will likely hide in leaky plumbing or your attic, basement, or crawl space.

While it's true that you are unlikely to see cockroaches during the day, you certainly can look for clues that they leave behind in plain sight. Here are some clear signs that you have a cockroach infestation:

• Shedding: Cockroaches leave trails of molten skin behind.
• Eggs capsules: These capsules can contain as many as 30 eggs.
• Damp smell: Cockroaches leave behind a damp, musty smell.
• Markings: Unexplained smear marks on your floors are a clear sign of a roach infestation.
• Defecation: Cockroach droppings look like coffee grounds.

Due to the health risks they pose, it is important to get rid of cockroaches as soon as possible. The best way to do that is to accurately and quickly determine that you have a cockroach problem in your home. Pay attention to these clear signs; they can help protect your family from the dangers cockroaches pose.

The Dangers Roaches Bring Into The Home

While cockroaches can leave bite marks on your possessions, they are not known particularly to damage property. The serious issues involving cockroaches have to do with the diseases they can spread. Here are a number of illnesses roaches can transmit:

• Dysentery
• Plague 
• Listeriosis
• Leprosy
• Salmonellosis
• Typhoid fever
• Cholera

It is important to note that cockroaches do not have to come in contact with or bite you to spread these sicknesses. You can also contract these bacteria through incidental contact with roach eggs and droppings. If you suspect that you have a cockroach problem, make sure to wear gloves to avoid direct contact with cockroach organic matter.

Factors That Attract Cockroaches Into Homes

Cockroaches come into your home in search of food. Keeping food in airtight containers is an important way to avoid an infestation. Important ways to keep from attracting roaches are to clean up spills quickly, take out the garbage, and clean up pet food.

Roaches often enter your home searching for shelter, and they love humidity. If you want to control a roach problem, make your home less hospitable to cockroaches. You can do this by regularly cleaning your gutters, fixing areas prone to flooding, repairing leaky pipes, and running a dehumidifier or air conditioner as needed. These pests also like remote areas with clutter. Keeping your basement, crawl space, and attics neat and organized makes the area less desirable to roaches.

Unfortunately, it's very easy for cockroaches to get into your home. They can gain access through gaps no larger than 1/16 of an inch in size. Knowing how to deter cockroaches is vital. Keep your home's exterior as tight as possible in order to prevent cockroaches from getting into your house in the first place. The following are useful tips for removing roach access points:

• Replace broken window screens.
• Repair foundation cracks.
• Caulk gaps as needed.
• Restore siding.

The bottom line is that cockroaches enter your home, searching for food and shelter. Understanding what roaches eat and what their optimal environment looks like goes a long way in helping you make your house less hospitable to these dangerous pests.

The Best Method To Total Cockroach Control 

Roach infestations can bring dangerous health ramifications. If you have observed any of the signs of a cockroach infestation, make sure to call Masters Touch Pest Solutions today. Schedule an appointment with us, and we will conduct a thorough inspection of your home, resolve your cockroach infestation, and help prevent one from occurring in the future. We've provided roach pest control in the greater West Chester area for over 30 years. We are the best at effectively exterminating all types of cockroaches indigenous to your neighborhood. Call us today to book an appointment for cockroach pest control in West Chester.