May 1, 2025 | Pest Control
Cockroach infestations are a common issue for Newnan homeowners. These pests are more than just a nuisance; they can spread bacteria, trigger allergies, and contaminate food. With Newnan’s warm, humid climate creating the perfect conditions, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect your home.
Protect Your Home From Cockroach Infestations
Why Cockroaches Thrive in Newnan
The warmth and humidity in Newnan provide an inviting environment for cockroaches. They typically infest dark, damp spaces like basements, kitchens, and bathrooms, making them difficult to detect until the infestation has progressed. Common species in the area include German, American, and smoky brown cockroaches.
Cockroaches pose health risks by spreading pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. Their droppings and shed skin can also exacerbate allergies or asthma, making prompt and effective pest control essential.
Simple Tips to Prevent Cockroach Infestations
Preventing cockroach infestations starts with making your home less appealing to these pests. Here are some key steps:
1. Keep Your Home Spotless
Cockroaches forage for food, so cleanliness is critical.
- Wipe down surfaces and sweep floors regularly.
- Store food in sealed containers and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
- Take out the trash daily.
2. Reduce Moisture
Cockroaches thrive in damp areas, so eliminate sources of excess moisture.
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets promptly.
- Use dehumidifiers to manage humidity in basements or damp areas.
- Improve ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Seal Entry Points
Block areas where cockroaches might enter your home.
- Patch cracks and crevices in walls and foundations.
- Repair torn window screens and install door sweeps.
- Seal gaps around pipes and wiring.
4. Minimize Clutter
Cockroaches love to hide in clutter. Keep your home organized and clear of piles of paper, old newspapers, and magazines to deter them. Opt for plastic storage containers instead of cardboard boxes, which can attract pests and give them a place to nest.
Why Consider Green Pest Control?
Green pest control is an environmentally responsible approach that uses low-toxicity solutions to manage pests. It’s just as effective but avoids the use of harsh chemicals, making it safer for children, pets, and the planet. Options include:
- Natural Repellents like peppermint oil and cedarwood to deter cockroaches.
- Green Bait Stations, which attract and eliminate cockroaches without toxic pesticides.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM), combines prevention, habitat modification, and minimal intervention for sustainable, long-term pest control. A professional pest control company can design and implement an IPM plan tailored to your home’s specific needs.
Green pest control not only eliminates cockroaches but also helps prevent future infestations while prioritizing the health of your home and environment.
Take Charge of Your Home
Cockroaches are a persistent problem in Newnan, but they’re not unbeatable. By maintaining a clean, moisture-free, and clutter-free home while sealing entry points, you can make it difficult for these pests to move in. For more severe infestations, don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional pest control company that offers both traditional and eco-friendly pest control options.
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Feb 28, 2023 | Pest Control
Augusta Pest Control: Eliminating Roaches
Having an influx of roach activity in your home is never ideal! Cockroaches are year-round pests and are known for their rapid rate of multiplying. The most common roaches found in Augusta homes include the American roach, German roach, and brown-banded roach. Once these roaches have invaded, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of them. Whether you see one roach, multiple roaches, or want to get ahead of the prevention game, consider these cockroach prevention tips below!
Clean Up
To survive, roaches need water and food, typically looking to our homes to search for both. The best way to discourage them from entering is to eliminate their food and water sources. After you’ve cooked or had a meal, it’s important to clean up all the dishes, washing them and putting them away instead of leaving them out at night. Likewise, clean up any leftover spills and crumbs from your meal as soon as possible. Don’t forget to clean your appliances too, as well as wiping down your stovetop, as roaches prefer areas with warmth and the likelihood of spilled food.
Eliminate Entry
Using their small bodies, roaches will enter homes through the smallest gap, hole, or crevice. At least once a year, consider inspecting your windows, doors, foundations, roof, attic vents, crawlspace vents, and even electric, gas, and plumbing lines for points of entry. A good rule of thumb is if you can see daylight shining in, roaches can get inside! Utilize caulk to seal smaller holes and steel wool or foam for larger holes. Consider utilizing a chimney cap and attic vents too.
Reduce Moisture
Moisture provides roaches with a reason to infest, making it essential to eliminate it. These pests only need a small amount to survive. While you’re inspecting for roach entry points, make a note of any leaking faucets, sinks, or pipes and repair them as soon as possible. Likewise, don’t forget to check behind appliances like your refrigerator for excess moisture. Also, consider enclosing your crawlspace to help control moisture underneath your home.
Call a Pro
While placing preventative measures around your home can deter roaches away, sometimes it’s best to call a professional for some extra help. If you’ve noticed roaches on your property or are looking to prevent them before they infest, consider contacting your pest control company. These professionals can thoroughly inspect your home, identify the type of cockroach present, identify areas of entry, and provide you with the best treatment and prevention options!
Aug 5, 2021 | Pest Control
Cockroaches are household pests known for spreading bacteria and triggering allergies and asthma. These nocturnal pests come out at night to feed and hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Roaches are attracted to moisture and are most commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and drains. Because they are nocturnal, you may not notice you have a roach problem until a full blown cockroach infestation has set in. Spotting the signs of cockroaches can help you head off an infestation before it gets out of hand. Here are 7 signs you may have cockroaches.
Roaches Next Door
If your neighbors mention having a roach problem, especially if you live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse, the odds are likely that they will make their way over to your home, as well. One way to help prevent this is by getting rid of what attracts roaches in your home. Don’t put open food containers in the trash; don’t leave crumbs on the floor; clean up messes as they happen; keep garbage cans sealed; and try not to store outdoor trash cans near your home.
Smear Marks
Roaches are attracted to moisture so they are often found in areas of high moisture in your home. In these areas, they will often produce dark, irregularly-shaped smear marks as they rest or crawl along walls. These smears are often seen on horizontal surfaces and where the wall and floor meet.
Droppings
Roaches leave droppings behind wherever they are. The size and shape of droppings vary between species. Some species leave behind a small brown stain. German cockroaches leave behind pepper-like specks that can also resemble coffee grounds. The larger American cockroach species leaves behind droppings closer to a grain of rice. The most common places to check for droppings are floor corners, cabinets, under the fridge, and under the stove. It is important to clean any droppings up when you find them as they are known to spread bacteria.
Egg Casings
Egg casings are long, hollow, light brown tubes that hold cockroach eggs, anywhere from 20 to 50 at a time. Although most species leave egg casings behind once the eggs are laid, some species actually carry them with them until their offspring hatch. Egg casings are usually found at the base of the refrigerator, in cabinets that store food, and near leaky pipes. If you find a casing that still has eggs in it, dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet.
Musky Odor
Roaches and their feces give off a musky, unpleasant odor. While one roach usually doesn’t emit a strong enough odor to be detected by humans, when larger numbers of roaches get together the smell gets stronger and more easily detected. While the smell is usually associated with live roaches, dead cockroaches can also emit the odor as part of the decomposition process.
Allergy Symptoms
The feces and exoskeleton of cockroaches contain proteins that can trigger allergies and asthma. If you don’t usually have allergies and have symptoms appear without a known trigger; or your current allergy and asthma symptoms seem to get worse without a known trigger this may indicate the presence of cockroaches in your home. Symptoms include stuffy nose, wheezing, red itching eyes, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and the increased use of your inhaler.
Live Roaches
If you see one roach, the odds are likely that there are many others present. Roaches are nocturnal and usually spotted at night. If you are seeing roaches during the day, overcrowding from an infestation may be forcing them out in the open.
The best way to avoid a roach infestation is to prevent them in the first place. Prevent cockroaches by:
- Thoroughly cleaning your home each week.
- Storing all food in tightly sealed containers.
- Cleaning up yard debris such as leaves or fallen tree limbs.
- Not letting shrubs, trees, or woodpiles touch your home.
- Remembering to clean under forgotten spaces such as under the fridge, stove, and inside cabinets.
If you have a problem with roaches or any other pest, contact your local pest control company for a free analysis and comprehensive treatment plan.
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