When you think about it, roaches love vents, especially when the heater keeps them warm and comfy. Roaches are always looking for a way in, and this is an easy entry point because the air ducts inside connect to the vents on the outside of the house. Once entered, roaches may move unseen through the house. Roaches can also enter the air conditioning system via the drain line.
Roaches come through vent into the house given that the vents on the outside of the house connect to air ducts inside. Through air vents, the roaches can access any part of the house. Fill holes, trim the landscape, build a rock garden, and seal water leaks to keep roaches away from air vents.
Vents are also attractive to roaches because of their gloomy, cavernous habitat. In addition, cockroaches are nocturnal roaches that prefer to remain hidden in the dark. Therefore, roaches may utilize vents to travel about the house in complete darkness.
Can roaches come through vents?
Cockroaches may squeeze through paper-thin holes. They favor areas with water droplets, such as condensation on pipes, but condensation can also build on the inside of air conditioning vents, giving an attractive hiding location. That’s why one of their favorite entry points is through your air conditioning system drainpipe.
Vents provide a gloomy, seemingly safe area ideal for hiding during the day. They like to stay out of the light and can only come out after everyone is asleep and the lights are turned off. Another reason they enjoy your vent is that it keeps them warm when the heat is turned on in the winter.
Heat and moisture are two more factors that make vents ideal for roaches. Roaches enjoy warm, damp environments, which is why they are so common in the south. Therefore, when the heat is turned on in the fall and winter, the air vents are one of the most inviting places in the house for roaches.
Once inside the air vents, they have complete freedom to wander around your home. If you have a heating system connected to other flats, the heat can be transferred from one apartment to the next via the building’s ductwork. You may believe that the air passing through your vents is sufficient to keep them out, but they are strong climbers who are unaffected.
Signs that roaches are using vents to get into the house
Some of the signs indicating roaches are using your vents to get into your house include:
- There are no screens on your vents. This makes it impossible for roaches to get through. Sealing around the vents is also a good idea.
- The vents are broken or fractured. Cracked vents allow in more than roaches. Significantly larger pests such as rodents might squirm if the bend is damaged. Vents and air ducts should be regularly inspected for damage and pest activity.
- The vents are surrounded by vegetation. Vegetation provides a haven for a variety of pests. For example, vines, plants, or branches near the vent make it easier for roaches to sneak inside.
- Exoskeletons. Cockroaches shed their skin as they develop and mature. This procedure will repeat itself multiple times until the cockroach is fully mature. Cockroaches discard their skin after they shed it. That means you might uncover cockroach exoskeletons, which is incontrovertible evidence that you have a cockroach infestation.
- Cockroach droppings. They will resemble black pepper or coffee grounds that have been spilled. Alternatively, cockroaches crawling on your walls and leaving feces behind may leave some unexplainable smear markings.
- Odd odors. Cockroaches will degrade the quality of the air. You may notice their noxious stink in your home. The roach feces will keep coming no matter what you do to freshen the air.
- Live cockroaches. If you encounter live cockroaches in your house, be sure it’s infested. Cockroaches are nocturnal; they are traditionally hidden throughout the day. However, if you disturb a cockroach during the day, it will most likely scurry and flee to a new hiding spot.
These signs require you to take steps on your end to deal with the roach infestation before it’s too late.
How to stop roaches from coming through the vents
You won’t know if you have roaches in your vents unless you witness them crawling in and out from the outside or the inside. The first step in eliminating a cockroach infestation is eliminating their food and water supplies, but this is easier said than done.
Cockroaches devour a variety of objects, including wood, drywall, books, carpet adhesive, cardboard, and paper, among other things. Almost anything in your house can be used as a food source, and they can go for up to a month without eating.
However, here several things you can do to keep them away:
1. Fill in any holes
Start by walking outside and visually inspecting the area around your condenser. Are there any visible fractures or holes? The simplest solution is one that you can carry out on your own.
Get some caulk or concrete from your local hardware shops, such as Home Depot or Lowes. Fill in the holes and cracks with a tiny amount of the material.
This is a simple yet efficient method of preventing roaches from entering your home.
2. Be attentive to your landscape
Roaches prefer thick, uneven grass to create their home. So it’s a good idea to maintain your grass and other landscaping trimmed for this reason, as well as a few others.
There are also a few fundamental guidelines when planting around your condenser.
The first requirement is that all plants be kept at least 2-3 feet away from your condenser. This reduces the amount of junk that enters your condenser. Roaches, ants, and other critters love to live in leaf waste mounds. It also allows optimal airflow to your condenser.
The second rule is to keep everything that can attract roaches away from your condenser. Garbage cans, wood stacks, and lawn clippings are all examples.
3. Build a rock garden
Have you considered creating a rock garden? Gravel, stone, bricks, river rocks, and other organic elements make up most of this landscape design.
Many roaches find it difficult to create a home in these rock structures. This garden type is also gaining favor due to its drought resistance.
4. Maintain your gutters and downspouts
Dust, leaves, and other debris can accumulate in your roof gutters and downspouts. All of this organic debris provides a haven for a variety of roaches.
Checking your gutters and downspouts regularly is one of the best ways to break through the buildup. First, make sure they’re free of debris and prepared for rain. Also, check to see if any roaches have settled in.
5. Stop any water leaks
Dust, leaves, and other debris can accumulate in your roof gutters and downspouts. All of this organic debris provides a haven for a variety of roaches.
Checking your gutters and downspouts regularly is one of the greatest ways to break through the buildup.
First, make sure they’re free of debris and prepared for rain. Also, check to see if any roaches have settled in.
How to get rid of roaches in air vents
You’re undoubtedly itching to get those cockroaches out of your air vents. However, when it comes to getting rid of cockroaches from your HVAC system, you do have several options.
1. Call in an HVAC Professional
If you suspect a cockroach infestation in your vents, contact a professional as soon as possible. They’ll be able to evaluate your system, clean your AC evaporator coils, and advise you on whether or not a complete duct cleaning is required to remove the buildup that could be a food source.
You may then hire a local air duct cleaning service to clear your system and wipe up any unwanted material left behind by your visitors. It’s also a good idea to contact a pest control firm in your area to prevent the roaches from returning.
2. Plug Any Holes or Cracks
Run a home audit from the outside. For example, do your walls have any cracks or holes in them? If this is the case, seal the holes with caulk, concrete, or silicon to prevent pests from entering. Patching materials are available at any neighborhood hardware store.
3. Fix Leaks Around Your Air Conditioner
Cockroaches love dampness. As such, if there are any plumbing leaks near your air conditioner, you may be inviting them in. If you see any leaking pipes or dripping water, contact a local plumber to inspect the situation and fix or replace any broken pipes.
4. Keep Your House Cool
Roaches are specific about their preferred temperature, and anything below 77 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold. If you have roaches in your vents, set your AC temperature below 77 degrees, and they’ll be less likely to camp out there.
5. Clean Regularly
Roaches find food and resources to form nests in dirt, dust, and dander. Roaches cannot live in a clean environment. Therefore, keeping your home clean will help keep roaches out of your vents. Remember to freshen up areas such as closets. Keep your home dust-free by vacuuming your furniture regularly to remove pet hair, dander, and crumbs.
6. Perform Regular Gutter Maintenance
When debris builds in your gutters and rain wets it down, you create an excellent nesting environment for cockroaches. When these roaches develop homes near your home, it’s easy for them to get inside your home through cracks and holes and wind up in your ducts when they’re looking for food.
To keep your property secure and roach-free, clean your gutters at least once a year and get them examined regularly.
Conclusion
Getting cockroaches out of your ducting and vents is difficult, but not impossible. Sealing the vents and using screens to keep them out in the first place is the best way.