If you've spotted bugs around drains it's no surprise. Pests look for water and food sources as well as shelter, especially during adverse weather or if resources become scarce.
But did you know some pests such as centipedes, cockroaches, and pill bugs come up through your drains, especially in fall? Our pest control pros shares the what to watch out for, why these bugs do it, and how you can stop them.
Identifying these pests and wiping them out around drains in your home will help you keep a sanitary space that doesn't give you the heebie-jeebies.
Why pests come up through drains in fall
Before you panic and start to fear your drains, Joe Malinowski, vice president of pest management at Pest Authority says, 'It’s first important to note that unless there is a breach in the sewer system where pests may enter, pests typically come from the outside in during cooler weather to find harborage inside a home or drain.'
The most common potential pests that may be found in drains include pill bugs, house centipedes, American cockroaches or the Oriental cockroach looking to set up their home in a drain.
What can you do about them?
Pest pro Joe says, 'Keep all drains free flowing by removing or cleaning debris and build up.' This will help water moving freely and making it physically harder to pests to get a foothold and work up and inside your home.
Additionally, be sure to periodically inspect the outside of your home for possible pest entry points, including cracks around windows and doors, plumbing pipe cracks or holes and electrical conduits, making regular repairs as needed.
Joe adds, 'As cooler months approach and leaves begin to fall, make sure all gutters are clean and free flowing as well, ensuring that water is flowing away from the home.'
You can also call pest control pros in as a precautionary measure to see if your home has any weaknesses that may make it prone to pests coming up your drainage systems.
Joe adds, 'Unless there is a hole, crack or other perforation in the pipes themselves, whether underground or within the home, the pests are likely to be entering through other points outside of the home and will then stay or live in the pipes.'
This might explain why you are finding pests around drains if you confidently know there isn't a leak anywhere in your piping system.
Why these pests like drains
Many insects including ants need water nearby for their nests. Joe explains American and Oriental cockroaches, some of the most common type of roach found in the States apart from German roaches need water for their harborage – where they grow their colony.
He says, 'American and Oriental cockroaches find the drain areas perfect harborage due to the environment being constantly moist and dark with never-ending food sources. Pill bugs and house centipedes also need drains as a moist, dark environment to hide in for harborage.
Learn more about the things attracting roaches to your clean home.
How to stop pests coming up your drains
How often have you heard 'prevention is better than cure'? There's a reason most cliches come out: because it's true!
Joe says, 'One of the biggest prevention methods includes trying to reduce moisture wherever possible. Keep ventilation fans on in the bathroom for at least 10 to 15 minutes after you shower or run water for an extended period of time.
'If a window can be opened in or near kitchen and bathroom drains, this will also help to remove moisture that attracts these pests.'
Additionally, laundry dryer vent cleaning and maintenance is an important prevention method, ensuring that ventilation is sealed, free flowing and working properly. 'Ultimately, 80% of all pests come from the outside of the home, so a proper inspection of the outside of a home, sealing any cracks or crevices and entry points, is essential to keeping pests out,' Joe says.
Next, learn how to use a drain snake unblock clogs and get your water moving quickly.
