roaches coming out of drains

[d***@hotmail.com]

In Central Texas, I have a roach problem in my drains. Have lived here
for fifteen years and never saw this before. The city did some sewer
work about fifty yards away, and that might have something to do with
it.

OK, so suggestions for getting rid of them? I've been squirting bleach
down the problem drains (which seem to be the ones without traps,
understandably) every day or so, and maybe that helps a little. But
slinging a more heavy-duty pesticide down the drain seems a little
extreme.

[Lar]

In article <***@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
***@hotmail.com says...
:) In Central Texas, I have a roach problem in my drains. Have lived here
:) for fifteen years and never saw this before. The city did some sewer
:) work about fifty yards away, and that might have something to do with
:) it.
:)
:) OK, so suggestions for getting rid of them? I've been squirting bleach
:) down the problem drains (which seem to be the ones without traps,
:) understandably) every day or so, and maybe that helps a little. But
:) slinging a more heavy-duty pesticide down the drain seems a little
:) extreme.
:)
:)
If there is a straight shot to the sewers without a trap I would think
your only hope would to cover them when they aren't in use. It may be
possible the roaches are actually coming from the walls and once in the
sinks and tubs give the appearance of coming from the drains. What
size/type roaches are you dealing with. If the home has a crawl space,
is there a moisture problem you aren't aware of. Is there a rotting
wood pile or a hollowed tree near the home that could be holding the
population?

[d***@hotmail.com]

Post by Lar
If there is a straight shot to the sewers without a trap I would think
your only hope would to cover them when they aren't in use. It may be
possible the roaches are actually coming from the walls and once in the
sinks and tubs give the appearance of coming from the drains. What
size/type roaches are you dealing with. If the home has a crawl space,
is there a moisture problem you aren't aware of. Is there a rotting
wood pile or a hollowed tree near the home that could be holding the
population?
--
Lar
to email....get rid of the BUGS

Thanks. No, clearly coming out of the drain. Good sized brown ones --
larger than one inch. The house is on a slab, the walls are dry and
well above ground-level. I'm not aware that there is any sort of a trap
in between, say, the shower, tub, and the main line to the sewer. If
there was, it'd have to be in the slab.

Funny thing is, we've never had this problem.

[QUIRT EVANS]

maybe they ae coming in the vent pipe on the roof. try a screen on
it???

[d***@hotmail.com]

Can't hurt. Will do. But it isn't as if the rooftop is crawling with
'em.

This is not a major infestation, as we see one every day or so that had
to come out of the drain, but it is still peculiar.

[Lar]

In article <***@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
***@hotmail.com says...
:) Can't hurt. Will do. But it isn't as if the rooftop is crawling with
:) 'em.
:)
:) This is not a major infestation, as we see one every day or so that had
:) to come out of the drain, but it is still peculiar.
:)
:)
How old a home is it..thought all plumbing had traps. Normally when I
come across roaches in sinks/tubs they actually have come out where the
faucet head/handles/shower head has come through the wall, the flange
may have a small gap allowing entry or there is a gap in need of
caulking where the sink meets the wall.

[d***@hotmail.com]

40 year old home. You're probably right that my shower and bath drains
do have traps, but the traps would be in the slab if they are there. I
just can't see them like I can under the sinks. The main problem is
actually in a shower stall with very well sealed fixtures. In fact, the
shower pan and faucets were replaced two years ago, so the caulking is
good. Never see the roaches on the floor of that bathroom. Just in the
shower pan. So I have a hard time believing that they're coming in from
somewhere else, and making a dash to that shower pan (especially since
there is a glass shower door in the way!)

Now, are big roaches really stopped by plumbing traps? Can they swim
past one? Holy cow!

[Lar]

In article <***@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
***@hotmail.com says...
:) 40 year old home. You're probably right that my shower and bath drains
:) do have traps, but the traps would be in the slab if they are there. I
:) just can't see them like I can under the sinks. The main problem is
:) actually in a shower stall with very well sealed fixtures. In fact, the
:) shower pan and faucets were replaced two years ago, so the caulking is
:) good. Never see the roaches on the floor of that bathroom. Just in the
:) shower pan. So I have a hard time believing that they're coming in from
:) somewhere else, and making a dash to that shower pan (especially since
:) there is a glass shower door in the way!)
:)
:) Now, are big roaches really stopped by plumbing traps? Can they swim
:) past one? Holy cow!
:)
:)
The roaches won't swim under water. Inspect well the caulking and grout.
Any opening as thick as a fingernail will allow entry. Another point of
entry may be if there is a light fixture above the shower allowing them
to enter from above the ceiling.

[d***@hotmail.com]

Aha. I spoke too soon. In fact, the bezel plate on the shower head pipe
is not only uncaulked, but was pulled away from the wall by about 1/8
inch. Behind it, of course, there's a big 'ol hole in the tile through
which the pipe goes. Gotta get the caulk out.

I guess I'm looking at a roach in the shower floor running around next
to a drain, thinking it must be coming from the drain, without looking
up above where it probably climbed down from.

It occurs to me that the broken shower pan of a year or two ago
probably left some moisture down there. Although the shower is on an
interior wall, I guess those buggers could be running around under the
slab and getting into the wall there anyway.

Many thanks, Lar.

[Grandpa Koca]

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Aha. I spoke too soon. In fact, the bezel plate on the shower head pipe
is not only uncaulked, but was pulled away from the wall by about 1/8
inch. Behind it, of course, there's a big 'ol hole in the tile through
which the pipe goes. Gotta get the caulk out.
I guess I'm looking at a roach in the shower floor running around next
to a drain, thinking it must be coming from the drain, without looking
up above where it probably climbed down from.
It occurs to me that the broken shower pan of a year or two ago
probably left some moisture down there. Although the shower is on an
interior wall, I guess those buggers could be running around under the
slab and getting into the wall there anyway.
Many thanks, Lar.

One more thing to think about is if the shower or tub is unused for a
long period, that the water in the trap will evaporate enough to allow
the roaches in from the sewer. RV antifreeze made for their plumbing can
alleviate that issue. DAMHIKT.