Cockroaches need three things to establish a colony: food, water, and warmth. Prospect Heights's housing stock gives them exactly that. Historic brick two- and three-flat buildings make up much of the older city housing stock, alongside postwar suburban tract homes. Combined with Prospect Heights's climate — a climate shaped by proximity to Lake Michigan, with colder, snowier conditions than much of downstate Illinois — indoor cockroach pressure rarely lets up on its own.
We start with an inspection to identify the species and the source — sanitation issue, moisture problem, or entry point. Treatment centers on gel bait placed in cracks, voids, and under appliances, not broadcast spraying, since German cockroaches in particular have developed resistance to many surface sprays. A follow-up visit confirms the bait is working and the population is dropping.