The Greater Tampa Bay area is known for its warm, humid Florida weather, and as a result its nearly 4 million residents are no strangers to cockroaches. Consistently cleaning your house can discourage certain species, such as German cockroaches, but it won’t completely protect your living space from these pests.
Cockroaches are known to invade dirty homes in search of food, moisture, and shelter. But did you know that roach infestations can happen to clean homes, too? At Critter Control, we’ve provided residential pest control and cockroach control to Tampa residents for years, and have plenty of experience in getting rid of roaches from homes of all types. Here are five things that we know can draw cockroaches to your clean Tampa home.
1. Where You Live
The location of your home is one of the largest determining factors in whether or not it’s invaded by cockroaches. As a tropical state, Florida has high humidity and temperature levels throughout the year—perfect for cockroaches. While German cockroaches rely entirely on Tampa homes and apartments for shelter and food, other types of cockroaches such as American cockroaches, can survive outdoors as well.
As peridomestic cockroaches—ones that survive indoors and outdoors—American cockroaches roam throughout the Sunshine State’s wetlands, woods, and more in search of food, shelter, and moisture. The closer you live to wooded areas, ponds, or rivers, the more likely you are to find cockroaches scuttling into your house, no matter how clean it is.
2. Moisture Levels in Your Home
Your Tampa home may be clean, but is it well-maintained? From leaky pipes and faucets to condensation in your HVAC system or crawlspace, Florida homes offer a wide range of moisture that cockroaches need to survive. Regardless of how clean your kitchen sink may be, its dripping faucet acts like a beacon for these unpleasant invaders.
While you may be able to notice a leaking sink or showerhead, there are other sources of moisture in your home that may go unnoticed. If you’re worried about critters crawling into your home in search of moisture, contact Critter Control of Tampa—our experts can inspect your living space for potential leaks and provide preventative measures to stop cockroaches.
3. The Condition of Your Yard
Speaking of maintenance, it’s critical to take care of your yard the way you take care of the interior of your home. If you have any form of standing water in your yard, you could be unintentionally putting out the welcome mat for cockroaches. If you have the following sources of standing water in your yard, be sure to pour them out or treat them for pests:
- Bird baths
- Ponds
- Overwatered flower pots
- Clogged gutters
4. Access to Your Living Space
While you’re out in your yard pouring out standing water and covering your compost pile, check the exterior of your home for any holes or cracks in your walls, around your window sills, and near your doors. While American cockroaches and other outdoor species may be larger than German cockroaches, they can still easily squeeze into your home through any unsealed or damaged entry ways.
“Do-it-yourself” maintenance, like caulking cracks and putting sweeps under your doors, can help discourage cockroaches from invading, but they won’t completely stop them. If you’re concerned about cockroaches finding ways to get into your living space, you should always consult pest professionals for preventative solutions.
5. Available Food Sources
Think you’re safe from a cockroach infestation because you keep your kitchen clean? Cockroaches may be attracted to human food waste, but it’s definitely not their only source of food. From wall paper and glue to cardboard and leather, these pests are anything but picky when it comes to food. Piles of leaves, uncovered trash, and thick, unpruned vegetation in your yard also provide food and hiding places for cockroaches and other pests.
Request Your Critter Control of Tampa Quote Today
If you live in Tampa, there’s only so much you can do on your own to prevent cockroaches from invading your space. Once they’ve made it into your home, cockroaches are difficult and frustrating to get rid of without the help and tools of professionals. When your clean Florida home attracts the attention of these scuttling critters, you can trust Critter Control of Tampa to get rid of them and stop future infestations.
For almost 40 years, we’ve provided reliable cockroach control and prevention services for our friends and neighbors throughout Tampa. From sprays and traps to fumigation and removal, we’ve got you covered with our effective pest control technology and strategies. Give our team a call to learn more about our services, or request your free quote today.
