There are many things to be excited about as we head into summer. Sunny skies, nicer weather, cookouts, and an influx of summer pests! Except, that last one is not something South Carolina homeowners are excited about. Dealing with summer pests in your home can be overwhelming and downright irritating, to say the least. However, when those pests happen to be cockroaches, the frustration that is brought on by having to deal with their filthy habits and behaviors is multiplied.
Why Are Cockroaches In My Home And How Did They Get Inside?
Cockroaches are fairly simple insects. To survive, they depend on food, moisture, and warmth—all of which they can often find within homes. Now that it is summer, roaches are not seeking out warmth. Instead, they are searching for the other two things, food, and moisture. The scent of food coming from your trash can and the moisture a leaky pipe produces are both strong incentives for cockroaches to enter your home.
Most cockroaches enter homes by finding a fault in the exterior of the building and then squeezing their way inside. These faulty areas could be anything from gaps in your foundation to holes made for wires and piping, or even openings around ventilation and roofing. Some cockroaches may even be brought inside by us! Paper bags, cardboard boxes, and used items may potentially have a cockroach or two hiding somewhere inside. No matter how they got in, once cockroaches are inside your home, if they find food and water, there is no reason they would ever decide to leave.
Problems Cockroaches Cause And How To Keep Them Out
Other than simply being filthy and repulsive in general, cockroaches also bring a massive number of bacterial and viral pathogens that can be spread to humans through food items, counter surfaces, or contaminated water sources. Additionally, cockroach excrement and shed skin have been known to cause mild allergic reactions in some people and trigger asthma in others. Roaches are drawn to our food, which means if you have a cockroach infestation, your countertops and food items have a high probability of being contaminated by bacteria or disease. To keep yourself protected, it is important to take a few preventative measures before cockroaches get inside:
- Clean the interior and exterior of your home thoroughly. This includes sweeping, cleaning counter surfaces, and picking up food or drink spills immediately.
- Repair leaking pipes, faucets, or other leak-prone areas.
- Seal gaps, cracks, and crevices found around the exterior of your home.
- Get help from a professional pest control company.
Preventative measures can only go so far, and if your home already has a cockroach infestation, they won’t help much to reduce your cockroach problem. If your home has already been infested, the next step to take is to contact the licensed pest control experts here at Aiken Pest Control. When roach infestations get out of hand, our pest technicians have your back. We will communicate with you to help you find a pest control solution suited to your needs. Don’t wait for cockroaches to spread their disease and filth, call Aiken today and have a pest-free home for years to follow.