Behind the fridge is the first place we look, every time. Warm, dark, undisturbed and next to water — it is the best address in the kitchen.
That the harbourage is right there. Appliance motor housings and the voids behind them are warm, dark, undisturbed and close to water, which is exactly what cockroaches need.
Seeing them there means an established population, not a one-off — and the ones you see are a fraction of the total.
| Appliance | Why it attracts them |
|---|---|
| Fridge | Warm motor housing at the back, running constantly. The classic |
| Freezer | The same, and often in a utility or cellar |
| Cooker and hob | Warmth, plus grease behind and beneath |
| Washing machine | Warmth and moisture together |
| Dishwasher | The same, plus food residue |
| Boiler | Constant warmth |
| Tumble dryer | Warmth, and often in a cool utility where the contrast helps |
It is the motor housing rather than the appliance itself. The warm compartment at the back of a fridge is close to ideal, and it is a place nobody ever looks.
If you are going to check one thing in a kitchen, pull the fridge out and look at the back of it. That is where the answer is more often than anywhere else.
See our full cockroach control service, published prices and honest identification advice.
View Cockroach Control Pinner →If you bought a second-hand fridge or freezer in the months before this started, that is very likely the answer — and worth telling us.
They live in the warm motor housing at the back rather than in the cold interior.
Rarely, though droppings and debris in a motor housing are not ideal.
Very rarely, and it is not the reason to deal with them.
Something buzzing rather than scuttling? Wasp nests are £90 fixed in Pinner, guaranteed for 30 days.
The motor housing at the back is warm, dark, undisturbed and close to water. It is the first place we look, every time.
It means an established population. They are nocturnal and hide by day, so the ones you see are a fraction of the total.
Switch the appliance off at the socket, pull it out carefully, use a torch, look without poking into the motor housing, and photograph what you find.
No. It does not reach the motor housing, can repel them deeper into voids, and spraying into an appliance is an electrical risk.
Most likely a second-hand appliance, cardboard packaging, or luggage. If you bought a second-hand fridge before this started, that is very likely the answer.
Almost never. It needs cleaning behind and treating around, and replacing it does not remove the population from the rest of the kitchen.
They live in the warm motor housing at the back rather than in the cold interior.
Pull the appliances out where safe, clean the floor behind them but not the harbourage, clear adjacent cupboards, and fix any leak.
Pull the fridge out and photograph what you find. Do not spray it.
Prefer to talk? Call 0203 151 6640 or WhatsApp us.
