How Do Roaches Get In Your House and How to Prevent Them

Does this sound familiar? You open your pantry and find chew marks on bags of food. Or worse, you spot actual roaches, their droppings, or egg casings. If you notice any of the above, you may have a cockroach infestation.

But how do roaches get in your house and how do you remove them?

Since these pests quickly multiply, it’s important to remove roaches before you have an infestation. Roaches can transmit Salmonella, amongst other things, which makes them unwanted visitors. 

Here’s how they might be entering your home. 

Cracks in Foundation

If your home’s foundation has any cracks or chips, odds are roaches are making their way indoors. However, it can be challenging to spot these cracks, which is why you might need to enlist professional help. 

If you seal cracks and other gaps, you can work to prevent roaches from entering your house, along with other pests. 

Holes in Screens

The next time you open a window or door, consider the condition of your screens. Are there rips or tears in them? If so, roaches – and other pests – can enter. 

The best way to correct this issue is to make a patch with screen mesh. If the rips are too big, you may need to replace the screens altogether. 

Moisture

If you see cockroaches in your house, odds are you have a bigger issue on your hands. Cockroaches may be an indicator of moisture in your home, such as a leak. They’ll enter via cracks in your home or screens, in search of moisture.

It might be a good idea to have a plumber inspect your home for signs of a leak while a pest control company works to remove your cockroach infestation. 

Shoes and Backpacks

Cockroaches are incredible hitchhikers and can make their way indoors on shoes and in backpacks, purses, and more. 

You can combat this issue by removing your shoes indoors. You should have guests remove their shoes as well. When traveling, you may inadvertently bring cockroaches home in your suitcase or other bags. 

To avoid bringing roaches home, avoid putting luggage, pocketbooks, and backpacks on the ground. Keep them zipped when not in use. Don’t store food in them unless it’s in an airtight, sealed container. 

How to Prevent Roaches

There are several ways you can prevent roaches, starting with pet food. They’re drawn to dog and cat food, as it provides them with essential vitamins and minerals.

Always keep pet food in sealed containers and consider putting your animals on a feeding schedule so food isn’t left out on the floor. Once they’re done eating, wash their bowls with soap and water. 

Next, keep kitchen counters clean at all times. Keep food in containers, close your garbage cans (as cockroaches thrive on decaying matter), and clean up after every meal.

Additionally, keep food prep areas clean, including stoves. Make sure your sink is clean as well. 

It’s also wise to remove clutter and vacuum often and sweep the floors. 

How Do Roaches Get In Your House?

So how do roaches get in your house? They can travel on shoes, backpacks, and luggage. They can also enter through windows and in cracks in your foundation. Additionally, they’re known to contaminate food and lead to food-borne illnesses.

The best way to handle an infestation is with professional pest control. 

Chet’s Termite and Pest Management has been helping customers remove pests for more than thirty years. We have the knowledge and expertise to remove roaches, ants, termites, and more. Contact us today at 813-935-7554 for an estimate and to take advantage of our money-back guarantee.