If you are a St. Louis homeowner who has struggled with a recurring pest problem, the last thing you may realize is that the source is underground. Some parts of the city’s sewer system date back more than a century, and the dilapidated infrastructure has become a hotbed and a transportation route for critters looking for a free ride.
Broken pipes, tree root intrusions, and decayed drainage lines create an ideal environment for pests to breed underground before they enter the basement, crawl spaces, and living spaces. While you may consider going with a DIY approach, the truth is, you need help from a reliable Collinsville pest control company that can help you (along with a plumber who can work with them).
Pests Most Commonly Living in Old Sewer Lines
The crumbling sewer system of St. Louis is the perfect home for a few of these slum-dwellers:
- Rats and mice – These rodents also scurry seamlessly through sewer pipes, sliding through cracks the size of a quarter to enter homes through toilets, floor drains, and foundation gaps.
- Cockroaches – German and American cockroaches thrive in the dark, damp environment of old sewers, where they travel through pipe networks to invade many properties.
- Drain flies – The minor bugs reproduce in organic matter in old channels and rise through drains in kitchens and washrooms.
- Silverfish – They are drawn to moist, decaying matter and will use faulty drain lines to get into basements.
- Centipedes and millipedes – These moisture-seeking arthropods track cracks in sewer lines into foundation walls and lower levels.
How Cracked and Collapsing Pipes Create Direct Pathways Into Homes
Pests are invited in when St. Louis’ clay and cast-iron sewer pipes crack from soil subsidence and swelling, as well as from tree roots entering the pipes. And these breaks and gaps allow the soil (and whatever lives in it) to have direct access to the inside of your home and to your plumbing. They can easily sense air currents from indoor areas and make their way into these areas by chewing through compromised sections of the pipes.
Pockets of standing near collapsed pipes turn into breeding grounds for insects, which then travel the pipe highway straight to your drains. This service disruption creates a bigger problem come St. Louis’ spring rains; soggy soil will drive the pests high and dry into your walls and foundation, through these same compromised lines.
Homeowner Habits That Accidentally Worsen Sewer Pest Issues
Well-intentioned maintenance routines exacerbate the problem. These include:
- Pouring grease down drains – it builds up, clogs the pipes, creates cracks from pressure, and provides food sources that attract cockroaches and flies.
- Using chemical drain cleaners repeatedly – These harsh chemicals eat through older pipes much more quickly, posing new entry points while providing no actual pest solution.
- Ignoring slow drains – It may seem like an annoyance, but it often indicates minor clogs where urban sprawl is roosting or compromised pipes serving as gateways.
- Flushing inappropriate items – Paper towels, wipes, and other muck can lead to blockages that cause old pipes to fracture from the inside out.
When Sewer Activity Requires Professional Pest + Plumbing Support
If you notice roaches coming out at night from your drains, hear scratching sounds in the walls near plumbing, or have tried traditional rodent control methods to no avail, the issue starts with your sewer lines. Companies such as Pointe Pest Control know how to treat pests and address entry points into your home. Their technicians can determine whether broken sewer lines are causing your pest issues and work with plumbing professionals if you need pipe repair or replacement.
According to research from the St. Louis Department of Health, properties that have had a sewer line repaired have documented recurring pest visits 3.5 times more often than properties with an intact sewer system, underscoring the importance of this approach for lasting results.
