You can choose between DIY treatments and professional services to eliminate cockroaches in your home. In this article, we will go over both options and the costs associated with each method of extermination. How much does a roach exterminator cost?
Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in your home looking for food and shelter. Roaches can be seen scurrying up walls or across kitchen countertops, despite their preference for hiding in dark and damp corners of your home. They can also cause damage to furniture and packaging, as well as spread allergens and asthmatic trigger reactions.
This article will cover the costs of DIY and professional roach extermination and how to keep your home safe from future cockroach infestations. Remember that a pest control company may be your best line of defence.
Roach Infestation Symptoms
Roaches are constantly on the lookout for food, water, and shelter. Their flat bodies allow them to squeeze through even the smallest openings, such as dryer vents, door jambs, and cracked windows. Roaches can quickly find their way into your home and to countertop crumbs, overflowing trash cans, and cluttered rooms.
Cockroaches are easier to spot than fleas or bed bugs because they are about 1.5 inches long. However, other ways exist to detect an infestation before seeing one of these nasty pests. If you suspect you have a cockroach infestation, look for the following signs:
- poop that looks like coffee grounds or pepper
- An oily, musty, and semi-sweet odour caused by cockroach pheromones.
- pill- or purse-shaped egg capsules in tan, black, or brown
- Cockroach skins that have moulted on the floor
- food packaging damage
Roach Types
If you turn on a light in a dark kitchen or bathroom and see a cockroach scurrying into its hiding place, it could signify a larger pest problem. Where there is one cockroach, there are usually many more. First, you’ll need to identify the type of roach you’re dealing with. Atap exterminators are Chicagoland pest control who provide their services throughout the town.
Here are some of the most common cockroaches and their distinguishing characteristics:
- The American cockroach is about one inch long and has a reddish-brown body with a yellow band across its back. This cockroach is one of the largest and most common cockroaches.
- German cockroach—The German cockroach has a pale brown body with dark stripes on its head. Because of its rapid reproduction, this cockroach is one of the most difficult to treat.
- Smoky brown cockroach—The smoky brown cockroach is small and dark brown. Unlike many roach species, the smoky brown roach’s wings allow it to fly medium distances.
Average Roach Exterminator Cost
The average cost of a single cockroach treatment is around $150. If you have a severe cockroach infestation that requires additional time and resources, treatment can cost up to $6,000.
You can schedule a pest control company to spray for cockroaches on a monthly or bimonthly basis, as with many other pest treatments. Most treatments cost around $75 if you sign up for an annual treatment plan.
Roach Extermination Pricing Factors
The cost of cockroach extermination is determined by several factors, including the square footage treated, the type of treatment used, and the severity of your infestation.
Your Home’s Square Footage
The size of your home has an impact on the extermination process. For example, the more money you can expect to spend on treatment, the more square footage an exterminator treats. View the details below for a rough estimate of cockroach extermination costs based on the square footage of your home.
- 1,000 square feet: $100-$150
- $150-$250 per 1,000 square feet
- 2,000 square feet: $250-$350
- 2,500 square feet: $350-$450
- 3,000 square feet: $450-$550
- $550-$650 for 3,500 square feet
A simple treatment plan is required to eliminate a few roaches. However, if your home is infested with cockroaches, a more extensive treatment plan will be required, costing you a little more money. The costs listed below are based on the level of roach infestation in your home.
DIY Roach Removal vs Hiring an Exterminator
Cockroaches are a common household pest that can occasionally be controlled with DIY treatment options; however, hiring a professional to do the job also has its advantages.
DIY Roach Removal
Cockroach bait is one of the most effective do-it-yourself treatments. These bait stations or liquid gel baits, which cost between $10 and $20, kill roaches and prevent them from returning. Another popular do-it-yourself treatment is cockroach spray, which kills the bug on contact. Cockroach sprays usually cost between $5 and $10. While effective on contact, the spray is not a preventative solution like gel bait.
While DIY cockroach treatment may be appropriate for a few roaches, you may have difficulty eliminating a large infestation because many products cannot eliminate bugs in their nests.
Using an Exterminator
In many cases, hiring a roach exterminator is necessary to control an infestation fully. Here are some steps that professionals take to help eliminate pests from your home:
- Inspect your entire home for roaches.
- Create an actionable treatment plan based on your specific issue.
- Handle chemicals and pesticides with caution.
- Keep you updated throughout the process.
- Return to your home as needed for follow-up visits.
How to Avoid Future Roach Infestations
Here are a few methods for preventing cockroach infestations:
- Keep your home clean, especially the kitchen floor and countertops.
- Clean your appliances, including your refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher.
- Restrict food consumption to a single home area to eliminate multiple cockroach food sources.
- Food should be stored in airtight containers.
- Seal all entry points, including your front door and window sills.
- During cockroach treatment, many professional pest exterminators spray for other bugs such as termites, fleas, ants, and crickets.
Atap exterminators are well-known cockroach exterminators in Chicago. Read more about how much does a cockroach exterminator near me cost. For more information, call 773-701-7705.