Here's How Cockroaches Get Into San Jose Homes

There are only two ways cockroaches will get into your home. They'll find an entry point in your exterior and squeeze in, or they'll be carried in. Unfortunately, this simple answer doesn't really provide insight into how you can keep cockroaches out of your San Jose residence. So let's dig a little deeper.

How Cockroaches Squeeze In

Cockroaches are drawn to tight spaces. If you provide one for them, they'll squeeze into it. If that tight space provides a path for the cockroach to get into your wall voids, and eventually every part of your home, it will take you up on your invitation. Here are a few examples of tight spaces you might tempt a cockroach with.

A crack in your foundation wall. While some cracks are only surface deep, others can provide a complete route for a cockroach to get inside. The worst cracks are the ones that develop around window or door frames. These can give a cockroach access to the voids within your door and window frames.

When moisture dampens a door or window frame, spores can attach to the wood and begin the process of decay. If decay is allowed to weaken the wood, it can begin to splinter. This creates thin entry points for cockroaches.

When wood rot begins, it will invite pests to chew on the wood. Some will chew on your wood frames even if they aren't rotting. When carpenter ants, termites, powderpost beetles, mice, rats, and other pests create holes, cockroaches take advantage of the holes.

Over time, the weather stripping around your exterior doors can become damaged. This creates gaps that will draw the attention of cockroaches. A cockroach can run right across your door at full speed and slip through a small gap in weatherstripping faster than you can say, "Was that a roach?" When you check your weatherstripping, inspect all the way around each door.

When you check your exterior doors, make sure you have door sweeps that are in good working condition. These can break or wear over time, and gaps can develop.

How Cockroaches Are Carried In

Cockroaches are notorious for hitching rides. They can climb into a bag of groceries, a piece of luggage, a pocketbook, a duffel bag, and other items that are transported. When they do, they ride into your home like the soldiers in the Trojan horse. Once inside, they can get out and get into every tiny gap in your home.

There is another way cockroaches can be carried into your home. It is a little disgusting to think about, but it is important to consider. If you step on a cockroach egg sac, you can get eggs in the tread of a boot or sneaker. These eggs can survive and be viable. Fortunately, it is rare for the perfect conditions to occur. Those eggs need to hatch quickly and the nymphs need to find a food source within a few days or they will perish. They'll also need warmth and humidity. So, you don't need to be too worried about cockroaches getting into your home this way. And you can worry even less if you don't step on any cockroach egg sacs.

Why It Is Important To Keep Cockroaches Out

When cockroaches get into your home, they can spread illness in many ways. They contaminate food. They contaminate dishes and silverware. They contaminate counters and food-prep surfaces. They contaminate toothbrushes. Worst of all, cockroaches can bite. Roaches eat dead skin. One place they find dead skin is on eyelashes, eyebrows, and around the mouth of sleeping people. Yup. It is as disturbing as it sounds. When they feed on the dead skin, they can accidentally bite live skin tissue. These bites tend to become infected because cockroaches have harmful bacteria on them.

How To Get Cockroaches Out

Now that you know how cockroaches get into your home, and why it is important to keep them out, how do you get them out when they find a way inside? The best way is to contact Bay Pest. We provide industry-leading pest control in the Bay Area. We use the most trusted methods and products to exterminate cockroaches, and stop cockroaches from getting in. Connect with us today for assistance.