How To Get Roaches Out of a TV

I recently introduced a TV and gaming console to the basement of our new home as I finally wanted to catch up on some gaming during my free time.

However, I wasn’t received well by roaches which had been hiding them without my knowledge, as they soon invaded television, dampening the second coming to one of my favorite past times.

I had to develop a whole new game plan for my TV while taking steps to get rid of the roaches in the basement. Upon doing some thorough research, I came up with a bunch of methods that helped me eliminate the cockroaches causing havoc in my TV.

Once I made sure that they were out, it was just a matter of ensuring that roaches remained away from the basement and household.

Let’s learn how to confirm that roaches are living in a TV, what attracts them to TV sets, what damage they can cause to electronics, and how to get roaches out of a TV.

How To Identify a Roach Infestation in a TV

It’s essential to confirm that roaches have started calling a TV their home before getting rid of them.

This requires the careful inspection of the television, including its openings, ports, and other areas that roaches can use as entry and exit points for roach droppings, skeletal material, egg casings or oothecae, and carcasses.

The power supply port is a high-traffic area in TVs infested by cockroaches. Check this area carefully for any signs of roaches to confirm their presence inside the TV. Keeping a close eye on the television from a distance can also help observe roaches coming in and out.

What Attracts Roaches to TVs?

Roaches thrive in warm and moist environments. Since TVs warm up while operating, roaches find them attractive hiding and nesting places. They are also attracted to nooks and corners, finding comfort in tight spaces encapsulating them.

They have developed this natural liking to protect themselves from larger predators.

TVs and electronics are often left undisturbed, offering peaceful shelter for roaches. Additionally, the dark interiors of TVs are highly desired by roaches for shelter and nesting.

Roaches like to stay close to food sources when choosing refuge, and TVs are usually kept in lounging areas frequented by food, making TVs perfect roach homes.

How Roaches Damage TVs and Electronics

Cockroaches making themselves comfortable inside a TV can cause all kinds of damage, especially to the circuitry. The dirt and grease that roaches drag into television sets and roach carcasses can block the air vents, causing devices to overheat.

Roach droppings on circuit boards can cause them to burn out. Roaches also damage electronics by laying eggs on the circuitry, resulting in them short-circuiting.

Ways To Get Roaches Out of a TV

Various methods can be used to remove roaches from a TV. However, liquids and sprays should be avoided since they harm the device. It’s also essential to ensure that the television is disconnected from power when trying to eliminate cockroaches living in it.

Blow Roaches Away

Use a pressurized air canister with a narrow spray tip to rapidly blow air into the television through its openings. This frightens the roaches living inside it, scattering outside in search of better hiding places.

Ensure the TV is placed outside since escaping roaches will otherwise hide in furniture and other electronics.

Diatomaceous Earth (De)

This natural substance is a safe pest control method. Sprinkle some DE near the openings roaches use to enter and exit the TV. Diatomaceous Earth penetrates roach’s exoskeletons, drawing water and fat out of them, leading to their death in two to three weeks.

DE is a great way to control various pests since it can be safely used around children and pets.

Cold Treatment

Roaches need warmth for survival since exposure to freezing temperatures kills them. Wrap the device using plastic bags, trapping the roaches inside, before putting it in the freezer for a few days.

An alternative is to place the TV in a cold and dry spot outside, forcing roaches to abandon their home.

Dust Traps

Cockroaches can’t hide in a TV forever despite offering a safe and comfortable refuge since they need to venture outside to feed themselves at some point. Dust traps can catch and kill unsuspecting roaches from the television.

Carefully place a few dust traps near areas that roaches use to enter and exit the TV, such as ports and vents. Any cockroach that crawls over the dust trap will be poisoned, causing death. The other roaches who feast on the poisoned roach carcass will also die.

Roach Bait Gel

This method is similar to dust traps to eliminate roaches inside a television. However, the technique is more effective since the gel’s smell draws the roaches out.

The cockroaches will die upon feasting on the toxic gel. Remember that some cockroaches might run into the TV and die inside, requiring manual cleaning later.

Boric Acid

This substance is one of the best bug-repellants, including cockroaches. Sprinkle small amounts of boric acid around the openings of the TV. Any roaches coming to direct contact with boric acid will die of poisoning.

Manual Removal

This method can manually remove live roaches or dead ones from a TV. Read the user manual and carefully disassemble the main components of the television, taking notes on how to reassemble the pieces.

Use gloves and paper towels to remove any live or dead roaches inside the device, avoiding direct contact with them.

Get Professional Help

If none of the methods mentioned here works or someone lacks the know-how or confidence to employ them, the best option is to seek the help of a professional pest exterminator to remove the roaches living inside their TV.

Although it might seem like an expensive way to remove roaches from a TV, handing over the job to experts ensures the proper elimination of the cockroaches and avoids damaging the device.

Summary

Cockroaches living inside a television or any other electronic device can cause severe damage to its circuitry and put households at risk of fires.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get roaches out of a TV before seeking the help of a pest exterminator, including pressurized air, freezing temperatures, diatomaceous earth, manual removal, and various substance toxic to cockroaches.

I used several of these methods to put an end to the roach community living inside my TV.