Roach Exterminator Tips

Roaches are one of the oldest and most primitive insects, surviving millions of years of evolutionary changes. It's no surprise that humans find their fetid odor and destructiveness offensive. Roaches are omnivorous nocturnal insects who hide during daylight hours and feed at night.

They can be found in damp, wet places such as under kitchen and bathroom cabinets, under floors and inside walls. Some have even been known to crawl into ceiling lights such is their ability to access a hiding and breeding place. Most homeowners are appalled to find roach infestation in their homes. For commercial buildings, roaches crawling into personal belongings under desks and in supply cabinets, closets and storerooms exacerbates the problem of infestation.

Generally, the "Do-It-Yourself" homeowner will attempt to exterminate roaches through the use of roach sprays, powders and pastes. The difficulty here is reaching areas with these methods that are hidden and fully infested. Also, there are several other problems that should be addressed: whether these applications are hazardous to humans and pets and long-term contamination from chemicals used for extermination. After several failed attempts, a homeowner may choose a professional exterminator.

Choose a professional exterminator with as much care as you would any residential service representative. Select a company with good business credentials. Check to insure that each exterminator is licensed by a state regulatory agency as well as a business association. This will prevent less experienced individuals from endangering your home to unnecessary exposure to extermination methods that can be harmful to your family's health.

A good exterminator will usually require a quarantine period for extreme or prolonged infestation. This will entail evacuation from the premises for a period of 24 to 48 hours, depending on the infestation problem. If infestation problems are limited, a few hours evacuation may be all that is necessary, followed by a full and complete airing of the premises, just as you would for interior painting or floor sanding.

Most exterminators will provide a complete list of follow-up actions by inhabitants to avoid unnecessary contact with contaminants. Usually, one application by a professional exterminator is all that is required for less resistant infestation. However, most exterminators will provide a second application usually at half the cost or often, free of charge.

Obviously, following the advice of your professional exterminator with regard to roach damage is critical to avoid serious structural problems. As well, your professional exterminator may make recommendations as to correcting possible future infestation such as maintaining plumbing so that moisture is reduced; thereby reducing the fertile environment for roach breeding. Roaches tend to breed egg sacs in dampness. But, certain types of roaches often breed live offspring.

Most helpful is to avoid contact with places that tend to breed these insects and maintaining a home that doesn't invite roach proliferation.

David Wilson is the man behind the Roach Exterminator guide, a site devoted to helping you learn how to kill roaches and more.