Why Are Roaches in My Bathtub by the Drain?

I’ve found cockroaches in my tub. Why are they in my bathroom? Are they actually coming up through the pipes?

Roaches are drawn to bathtub drains for three reasons: moisture, protection, and food sources like organic hair and soap scum.

Many people wonder whether roaches come through drains. While it's a myth that they swim up through city sewers into homes, it's not impossible—a broken pipe could let them in, though this is rare. More often, roaches navigate the dry sections of pipes or crawl through the walls surrounding your plumbing. Running the water occasionally helps, since a wet trap blocks their path and hampers their progress.

So how do they actually get inside? Roaches are the ultimate hitchhikers and opportunists, typically entering through gaps and cracks in the foundation or around windows and doors. Once inside, they simply follow the scent of water straight to the bathroom.

If you're wondering specifically, "How do roaches get into the tub?" they usually emerge from the sink or shower overflow, or climb over the rim to reach leftover bathwater. Damp environments like leaky faucets, sweat-covered pipes, or pools of standing water act like a desert oasis for cockroach colonies. 

If roaches keep bothering you, contact Gregory Pest Solutions for professional exclusion and cockroach control.