The windows are shut, the heat is on, and the decoration boxes are coming up from the basement. That is what cockroaches in Montgomery County homes want: a warm house with damp spots by the sink and cardboard to hide in.
Knowing how to prevent cockroaches comes down to four jobs. Seal the gaps they use to get in and take away water. Then remove food and hiding spots, and set sticky traps so you spot the first roach long before the fiftieth. Our fall pest-proofing checklist pairs well with these steps.
Do cockroaches hibernate in winter?
The cockroaches that infest Pennsylvania homes stay active all winter because most live in heated rooms year-round and keep feeding and breeding wherever the indoor environment stays warm and damp. That means cockroaches do come out in winter, but only indoors.
Texas A&M puts the ideal temperature for German cockroaches near 80°F, where they thrive. As Montgomery County nights near freezing, they settle into the warmest, dampest spots indoors. Left unchecked, a German cockroach infestation grows fast: one female produces four to eight egg capsules of up to 48 eggs each, which at the high end adds up to over 10,000 descendants a year across two generations.
How German cockroaches and other species get into Pennsylvania homes
Each species has its own route indoors, and cockroaches prefer different hiding spots.
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The light brown German cockroach arrives in cardboard boxes and store bags or crosses over from adjacent units, then settles in kitchens and bathrooms. See how to identify German cockroaches.
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The brown-banded cockroach also arrives in boxes and bags. It favors warm, dry spots higher up, such as upper cabinet walls and refrigerator motors.
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Oriental cockroaches are dark brown to black and go by the nickname “water bugs.” They favor damp, cool basements and travel along plumbing and under door and window jambs.
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American cockroaches are reddish-brown and favor hot, damp areas of the home. They often come up through floor drains and sewer pipes.
How to prevent cockroaches: 8 preventive measures for fall and winter
- Seal pipe and cable gaps in walls, especially under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Fit door sweeps and close gaps under exterior and basement doors.
- Fix dripping faucets and water leaks promptly for moisture control.
- Store human and pet food in containers with tight lids.
- Wipe up crumbs and grease, and wash dishes before bed.
- Empty the trash regularly and keep all bins lidded.
- Unpack grocery bags right away, then get cardboard boxes out of the house.
- Place sticky traps under the sink and beside the fridge, and check them weekly.
These preventive measures follow the integrated pest management approach that Penn State recommends and Terra’s technicians use.
Sealing entry points closes the routes roaches use
Sealing entry points starts where roaches follow plumbing, so check potential entry points such as pipe and cable gaps under kitchen sinks. Seal them with silicone caulk or copper mesh, the materials Penn State recommends for cracks and crevices.
For the sanitation basics, see our guide to keeping cockroaches out of your Collegeville home.
- Cover floor and basement drains with rubber covers or metal screens to keep American cockroaches from coming up.
- Caulk under the door and window jambs and fit door sweeps.
Mice use these gaps too, so see how to keep mice out this winter.
Take away water and food, then clear out the cardboard
Moisture attracts cockroaches first. Penn State reports that Oriental cockroaches can live a month without food if they have water, but they die within two weeks without it. Dry the area under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms to cut moisture, and pick up pet water bowls at night.
Grease buildup from cooking and crumbs under appliances attract cockroaches, and any food scraps left out give a colony a steady supply of food. Clean the kitchen floor and wipe grease off the stove to keep the kitchen clean.
Cockroaches hide in dark places such as stacks of old boxes and newspapers. Holiday decoration boxes and delivery cartons pile up in basements, so switch to lidded plastic tubs. Hauling old boxes out of a basement is dusty, tedious work, but it removes the best hiding spot in the house.
Cockroach droppings and shed skins contain allergens that trigger allergic reactions and asthma, and cockroaches spread bacteria onto food.
Catch problems early with sticky traps
Sticky traps show where cockroaches are and whether numbers are rising, but they will not clear an infestation. Cockroaches travel along edges and settle and hide in secluded areas such as corners and cracks. Purdue Extension suggests placing at least six traps around a home.
- Set traps along walls and in corners, and place a few under appliances.
- Regularly inspect them and record the weekly count to track cockroach activity.
- One roach after a grocery run is a warning.
- Roaches in several traps, or out in daylight, point to a growing infestation, so call a pest control professional.
Keep traps out of reach of children and pets to avoid contact.
Do smells or natural remedies keep cockroaches away?
Smells and other natural solutions are not a proven way to keep cockroaches away, since the Penn State and Purdue guides do not recommend scents or essential oils. Some natural pest products are sold under a minimum-risk label that exempts them from EPA registration. The agency does not review them, so it has not checked their claims.
What cockroaches hate most is a dry, sealed environment with nothing to eat and nowhere to hide. Follow the label on store-bought gel baits. Penn State warns that sprays kill only some roaches.
When prevention isn’t enough, call pest control
Professional intervention is the next step if traps keep catching cockroaches after you repeat the cleaning and sealing steps. Penn State suggests considering a certified, licensed pest control service. Small dark droppings in cabinets or behind appliances signal trouble, as do brown-banded roaches in furniture or electronics.
If you already have a cockroach problem, getting rid of roaches for the long term takes targeted treatments plus the eight preventive measures above. Pesticides alone give only short-term results. Treatment is covered in our guide to eliminating cockroaches for good.
Keeping up the eight preventive measures helps prevent cockroaches and protects against re-infestation. If roaches return after treatment, read why roaches keep coming back.
“Great company- friendly and punctual. They handled all of my seasonal issues that other companies could not. Highly recommend switching your pest company to terra if you want actual results. Reasonable pricing as well!”
If your traps are filling up, call Terra Pest Management at (610) 908-7353 for cockroach control services in Collegeville and Lansdale.