For the most part, the holiday season is a great time of year in San Antonio. The weather has cooled down, but it’s not frigid like in more northern states. But this more temperate climate means that pests have a better chance of surviving winter. Many pests, such as cockroaches, can survive year-round in Texas. Cockroaches are especially problematic throughout the winter because they can get indoors to escape the cold and benefit from your climate-controlled home. Instead of attracting cockroaches to vacation inside your house, learn how to keep roaches outside and away from your family.
Cockroaches In Your Home
Do you know what types of cockroaches are most likely to find their way into your home? You may not have even known that there are multiple types of cockroaches. But there are hundreds of species of cockroaches! However, only four types are likely to show up in your Texas home. These are German cockroaches, American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches. All of these are nocturnal and all come inside looking for food and moisture.
Do cockroaches only like dirty houses? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Cockroaches can get inside any home, no matter how clean it is. All they need is a crumb, and suddenly you could have an infestation. Cockroaches come to look for food. They’ll find this in the kitchen, under appliances and cabinets, or in the bathroom (where they are happy to eat products like toothpaste). Keep in mind, you’ll be more likely to find cockroaches if you have water damage or leaky pipes, since they love moist areas.
Dangers
Are cockroaches dangerous? Can cockroaches harm you? While it is extremely rare for roaches to bite humans, they are dangerous. Roaches spread bacteria and disease everywhere they go. They like human food, but they also love eating rotting materials, fecal matter, and other decaying products. They pick up dangerous pathogens in these dirty places and then carry them through homes. They contaminate cooking surfaces and can contaminate food if they get into it. They’ve also been known to exacerbate symptoms of asthma and allergy. Another danger of a cockroach infestation is the difficulty of getting rid of them. Lots of people attempt to control roaches on their own by using cockroach-killing sprays. However, these chemical sprays may use toxic materials that could cause lung problems for you and your family.
Dealing With Roaches
There are problems with trying to control cockroaches alone. Chemical sprays are dangerous and often ineffective. Anti-roach sprays usually only work if the cockroach comes in contact with it. This means that you may kill one or two, but you won’t be able to eliminate the many other cockroaches that are hiding deep in your home. You can also try to control a cockroach infestation by keeping your house cleaner. It’s important to keep a clean house in order to prevent cockroaches, but it’s not a guarantee. You’ll need to clean hard-to-reach areas like under appliances and inside cabinets and drawers. Plus, you’ll need to eliminate moisture by fixing leaky pipes and using a dehumidifier in damp areas.
If cockroaches are getting inside despite these efforts, it’s time to reach out for professional help. Don’t put your family at risk with dangerous chemicals or endless bacteria. Instead, let Romney Pest Control inspect your home and create a custom cockroach control solution to put a stop to your roach problem. The best way to keep cockroaches out this season is to let the professionals do it for you.
