Air conditioners are turned off in the fall and when you turn them off, you dry up the water supply for many pests. Once this supply of water dries up, these pests will forage inside. If there is no water for them around the air conditioning units, you do not have to worry about these pests moving inside come the fall. Roaches do not like to be in areas where air is moving. They will crawl in when turned off.
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Pine straw and wood chips around the foundation are common. Such mulch provides year round nest sites. Whatever material you use will be breaking down and this breakdown creates heat and food. Roaches love this nest site and will live comfortably even when outside temperatures are freezing. If you have such sites, try to keep them dry.