What Should I Do About Cockroaches in My Toilet Bowl?

“I found cockroaches in my toilet bowl. Are they crawling up through the toilet?”

If you found cockroaches in your toilet bowl, they may have an entry point in your bathroom. However, modern toilets are designed with water traps that block pests. 

Instead, you may find cockroaches are entering via:

• Unsealed toilet: If there are gaps or cracks where your toilet meets the floor, cockroaches might be squeezing through.
• Bath, sink and shower drains: Cockroaches can crawl through drains, especially if they are dry from a lack of use or left uncovered. Oriental cockroaches in particular love cold, damp drains.
• Leaking pipes and fixtures: Issues with your plumbing may be creating entry points for cockroaches to get indoors.
• Crawl space: Rather than in the drains or toilet bowl, cockroaches may be nesting in the crawl space under the bathroom and using subfloor access to come up.
• Blocked pipes: Any buildup of organic matter can attract roaches looking for food. This includes blocked pipes and drains.

Bathrooms are generally moist and warm, especially if there are leaks or damp from poor ventilation. This makes them an ideal roach breeding ground. The same is true for sewers, especially when outdoor conditions drive pests inside. American and Oriental cockroaches are known for this, as they love wet, warm spaces.

If you keep finding cockroaches in your toilet bowl, it may be a sign of a larger plumbing issue. Contact JP Pest Services for cockroach control, and a professional can investigate the problem.