Cockroaches Swarm As NYC Residents Return to the City!

Summer of 2020 has officially come to an end and the cooler weather is starting to come.  Although the summer heat might be a sweet reprieve from some, there are some others who are prepared to do anything to avoid the cold weather...cockroaches.

What Type of Cockroaches Are These?

Officially known as the American Cockroach these bugs are also called waterbugs.  They spend most of their lives in or around water and are constantly on the hunt for warmth and food.  These bugs are generally around 1.5 inches - 2.5 inches long and are gross infestation based insects.  They are generally regionally located in the Northeast of the United States, but they can also be found in other locations in the US.

Why Are These Cockroaches So Prevalent Now?

American Cockroaches Aka(Waterbugs) have become a big issue in the city because a large number of people vacated during the pandemic and left their apartments empty. Waterbugs tend to propagate inside of the water and waste lines, which of course have been inactive since no one has been living in these apartments.  Waterbugs find their way into these lines when the lines have dried due to inactivity and eventually crawl their way up and find their way into your apartment via your waterlines from sinks, bathtubs, showers, and washing machines, as well as garbage disposal lines.

This means for those NYC residents who are now moving back into their apartments and coming back into the city, might be greeted with an unwanted cockroach infestation.

Although these cockroaches are actually very difficult to completely eradicate, there are quite a few tips and steps you can have to help keep them away:

• If you are planning to leave your home for an extended period, try to have someone watch your home and run the plumbing at least once per week.  This includes all sinks, bathtubs, showers, and washing machines (you can just put them directly on rinse and then switch to spin cycle).  This will keep the water lines clear of cockroaches and helps to prevent them from crawling up into your home.
• Run water for 10 seconds and then pour a couple of ounces of vegetable oil down the drain. This helps to delay the evaporation process so the pipes don’t dry up, allowing the cockroaches to enter the home. 
• Contact a licensed exterminator to inspect your home and treat the problem as necessary.

If you're dealing with cockroaches in NYC now that you're back in the city, you're not alone.  But thankfully, now that you understand what you're dealing with and how you can prevent them, you can get professional help to take your NYC home back from pests! Call Suburban Pest Control for cockroach control if you want help from the experts!