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Houston Pest Exterminator: Cockroach Control
After several late-night run-ins with roaches, you are probably ready to evict these pests from your home—for good. Unfortunately, these creatures are surprisingly resilient and can be extremely difficult for homeowners to exterminate without the help of professional pest control services in Houston. ABC Coach Roach exterminators offer effective and safe ways to eliminate cockroaches from your home or business. We use an innovative combination of insecticide, dust, and pellets to eradicate the target pests. The mixture is easy to apply and will not harm humans or pets. ABC Roach control experts also provide tips on preventing future infestations by sealing off entry points, reducing food sources, cleaning regularly, and monitoring activity.
Types of Houston Cockroaches
Here in Houston, the two most common species of cockroach that make their way indoors are the German and the American. Each type of roach impacts our daily routine in a different way, and the different species often require distinct extermination approaches for long-term results.
German Cockroach Pest Control
German cockroaches are smaller and more likely to invade our homes since they always seek food and water. They are small, penny-sized insects with an elongated shape, light caramel brown color, and two black stripes along the top. They have a complete set of wings, but they do not fly. Therefore, we apply non-repellent pesticide treatments in areas where roaches most commonly travel, so they take this material back to the nest, which halts the reproductive cycle. In addition, our technicians use bait stations to reduce the mature cockroach population.
American Cockroach Pest Control
On the other hand, American cockroaches are much giant, and you’re more likely to see these types of roaches around the perimeter of your home. While encountering an American cockroach can be more shocking due to its large size, these roaches prefer to live outside. Sometimes, these pests accidentally enter your home through doors or other small cracks and crevices. To prevent these roaches from coming in, your ABC technician will use a repellent to keep these creatures in their natural habitat, seal off potential entry points, and replace weather stripping to keep these pests outside.
No matter what type of cockroach you have on your property, the best way to prevent these pests is to eliminate excess moisture and keep things tidy around your home and yard.
Warning Signs of a Roach Infestation
Since Houston cockroaches are nocturnal and prefer to avoid interacting with humans, if you start seeing these creatures during the day it can mean that you have a full-blown infestation.
Other than seeing a cockroach, check your property for:
- An unusual, musty smell
- Cockroach droppings that look similar to coffee grounds
- Smear marks where cockroaches are traveling, such as along wall and floor junctions
- Shed skins that are about the shape and size of a cockroach
- Cockroach egg casings that are long, cylindrical, and yellow
When inspecting your home, you should look in the common areas where Houston cockroaches like to nest. These pests prefer warm, moist areas, so we focus on your bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room drains, and other areas near water.
Preventative Measures for Houston Cockroaches
When your ABC pest control specialist comes to your home, preventative measures can be put into place that is specific to your property. If you’d like to reduce your roach population between visits, we’d recommend the following:
- Keeping counters, stovetops, floors, and tables clean
- Wiping down surfaces after using them
- Avoiding leaving dirty dishes in the sink
- Emptying pet food and water bowls at night
- Regularly taking out the garbage
- Sealing off potential entry points around drains, windows, and doors
- Keeping firewood and other vegetation away from the perimeter of your home
After your initial inspection, your specialist will provide tips tailored to your property on preventing future infestations. Also, you can sign up for ongoing monitoring visits to ensure these pests don’t come back.
The ABC Process
Step 1: Contact ABC
When you contact us, we will schedule an inspection to get an understanding of the problem. In some cases, we can give you a quote over the phone.
Step 2: Get An Estimate
If you have an inspection, we will send you a custom treatment plan and estimate afterward. Once we get your approval, we will schedule your treatment.
Step 3: Treatment
We will come to your property and treat for pests in common hiding and nesting areas. Over time, you will start seeing less and less pest activity.
Step 4: Prevention
Customers with our ongoing pest management services will receive periodic retreatments to prevent the return of the most common pests in our area.
At ABC, we understand that once most homeowners discover they have a cockroach problem, they want to arrange for a professional to begin treatment as quickly as possible. Reach out to us by calling or scheduling an appointment online, and we’ll work with you to implement an effective cockroach control strategy as quickly as possible.
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We offer a full range of pest control services.
ABC is a family run business which has delivered effective, reliable cockroach control solutions for over 60 years across Texas, as well as in Oklahoma and Florida. Our customers tell us that they have added peace of mind knowing that our technicians are all drug-tested and background checked before joining the ABC family. In addition, our cockroach control specialists all go through an extensive in-house training program before arriving at your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after I contact ABC?
When you reach out to ABC about your cockroach problem, we will schedule a free inspection or provide you with a complimentary pest control estimate over the phone. If an inspection makes the most sense, we will get you on the schedule as quickly as possible. During this in-person meeting, you can expect one of our highly trained pest specialists to:
- Ask yourself questions about where you’ve seen roach activity
- Examine your home for breeding and nesting grounds, as well as locate any entry points these pests may have used
- Identify the species of the cockroach on your property
- Allow you to ask any questions regarding your pest problem or our treatment plans
After we finish up the inspection, we will create a customized treatment plan which we will share with you, designed to remedy your specific problem. Once we receive your approval of these next steps, we will schedule your first service call.
Can’t I get rid of cockroaches myself?
While there are products you can buy from the store and apply yourself, many of our customers find that dealing with a roach problem can become a nearly-impossible, time-consuming task. Why? To begin with, some species of cockroach lay up to 10,000 eggs in a single year. In addition, these pests can survive off nearly any organic matter, so removing their food source to eliminate their populations won’t usually help.
Because of the potentially harmful impact, Houston cockroaches can have on your health and the damage they can do to your property, enlisting the help of a reliable cockroach control professional is often the best route to take if you suspect you have an issue.
How often will you treat my property?
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. When creating a custom treatment plan for you, we will consider the extent of the infestation, the species of cockroaches on your property, and any factors that make your home vulnerable to a roach infestation.
The most effective way to prevent future infestations is to take advantage of our ongoing monitoring program. ABC customers enrolled in ongoing monitoring benefit from regular treatments, during which our technicians apply preventative solutions and check to see any sign of new pest activity.
What impact do your products have on my family and the environment?
As a family-run business, ABC’s top priority is your family. One of our core company values is treating your home as our own. As an extension of that philosophy, we would never use a product on your home that we wouldn’t use on our own. All of the products we use are specially formulated for residential use, and our technicians are extensively trained to use them. Additionally, ABC pest control specialists try to use chemical treatments in the lowest concentration possible while maximizing effective pest control.
What if I still see roaches after a treatment?
Despite what you may think, it’s actually a positive sign to see roaches after your treatment—at least in the short-term. This is because your treatments have made cockroach resting grounds inhospitable and these pests are searching for a new place to live. What the cockroaches don’t realize is they will actually be bringing the product back with them to their new nesting areas, which will eventually lead to the elimination of the entire population.
If you find that pest activity has not decreased 7 to 10 days after your initial appointment, reach out to us and we would be happy to send a specialist back to your home. Any visits after 7 days and within 30 days of the initial service will occur at no additional cost to you.
Get Started
We offer a full range of pest control services.
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Mosquitoes can make spending time in your home and yard miserable. With our approach to mosquito control, you can feel comfortable again.
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Tick & Flea Control
Fleas can make you and your family members uncomfortably itchy and ticks can transmit disease. We can treat these parasitic pests.
Wasp & Bee Removal
Stinging insects on your property can lead to painful bites or stings. We can remove, relocate or treat the hive based on your preferences.
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What Our Customers Are Saying
Taylor Litchenberg
8/13/2024
“Had ABC landscaping come out and re-do my backyard and install French drains… my backyard was total mess and whenever it would rain turned into a lake! Eric @ ABC sent his crew out and they did a great job! Marco was the team lead and went over and above by coming back and planting some plants and clearing out some extra junk! Would happily recommend to anyone! Thank you Eric and Marco!”
Stan Petty
8/23/2024
“Juan’s team incl Rio did a great job. Arrived exactly on time, did all the tasks promptly, efficiently , neatly and cleaned up like they were not even here. Mr Rio asked me to walk the yard with him to show him any area I was not pleased with so he could take care of it. That’s rare for yard crews . It doesn’t happen by other companies. He appeared to be dedicated to get it right to please me. That’s impressive. Raleigh Jenkins must train his employees in customer conduct cause everyone I speak with is polite and volunteers to do what ever needs to be done to satisfy me.i called today a few minutes before their closing time and spoke to Andrea for help in setting up My account. She volunteered to stay on the line until I got the account set up even though it meant she had to stay late about 10 minutes. She was not upset and not in a rush to take care of my issue. Most young people today can’t wait to fly out the door at quitting time. It was refreshing to speak with one that took time to help me and do So in a patient manner. Thank you Juan, Rio, Andrea and Mr Jenkins .”
Understanding Different Types of Ants and How to Control Them
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