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Also known as: Condominium, Apartment, Strata unit, High-rise unit
German cockroaches thrive in warm kitchens and bathrooms and spread through plumbing chases, electrical conduits, and shared walls. Cardboard boxes and deliveries can introduce them, and unit-only spraying often just pushes them next door—coordination with building management is key.
View pest details →Pharaoh ants favour heated buildings and nest in tiny wall voids near pipes and warm appliances. Disturbing a nest can cause it to bud into multiple colonies, so coordinated baiting and sealing are usually needed in multi-unit buildings.
View pest details →House mice often enter at the loading dock, garage, or ground-level gaps, then move up through risers, ceiling plenums, and shaft spaces. Warm fan-coil cabinets and kitchen voids can become nesting and travel points—even on higher floors.
View pest details →Silverfish are common in bathrooms and new(er) concrete buildings where humidity stays high. They feed on starches in paper and glue, so drying the unit (fix leaks, dehumidify) is often more effective than spraying.
View pest details →High-rise buildings don’t behave like standalone homes. In winter, many towers act like chimneys: warm indoor air rises and creates a pressure difference that pulls air in at lower levels and pushes it out higher up. That airflow can also pull odours from waste areas into shared shafts—helping pests locate food and shelter.
Common vertical pathways: - Plumbing stacks (drains and water-supply risers) - Electrical risers and conduit banks - HVAC shafts and ceiling plenums - Elevator/stair cores - Garbage chutes
Why pests show up on higher floors: Once inside, pests can travel inside wall and floor voids that are warm, hidden, and continuous from floor to floor. Fan-coil/HVAC cabinets are common “stations” because they offer warmth, access panels, and sometimes condensation water.
What matters most: - Intact fire-stopping and sealed penetrations between floors - Controlled access at loading docks/garages (doors that close and seal) - Building-wide monitoring and rapid response when a new issue is reported
Many Canadian condos use curtain wall or window wall systems. Where each concrete floor meets the exterior glazing is a complex joint (slab edge + spandrel area) that must manage smoke, fire, air, and water.
Why this matters for pests: - Seasonal expansion/contraction and building movement can degrade exterior sealant - Gaps can let in occasional invaders (cluster flies, boxelder bugs) and support hidden travel within wall voids - Drafts and water intrusion often show up first at windows and balcony doors
What residents can watch for: - Worn weatherstripping on balcony doors and sliders - Damaged or missing window screens - Persistent drafts, water staining, or condensation at frames
What to request from building management: - Facade sealant maintenance on a schedule (not only after leaks) - Investigation of recurring drafts/water intrusion around specific stacks or elevations - Verification that slab-edge fire/smoke seals remain intact where accessible
In multi-unit buildings, the garbage system is often the strongest source of food odours. Chutes and waste rooms concentrate crumbs, liquids, and smells—and if chute doors don’t seal well, odours leak into corridors where pests forage.
Why this matters: - Roaches and ants follow food odours and moisture - Rodents are attracted to compactor rooms, loading docks, and recycling areas - A small spill in a chute room can become a long-term food source inside wall voids
High-impact habits: - Tie bags tightly and avoid leaving garbage in hallways overnight - Keep the chute door area clean on your floor - Break down and recycle cardboard quickly (don’t store it)
Building-level fixes: - Regular chute washing and compactor-room cleaning - Door gaskets that seal properly on chute doors and waste-room doors - Dry, uncluttered waste rooms with sealed penetrations
Unit-level sealing is about turning your suite into a harder-to-access island, even when the building has pest pressure.
High-value sealing points: - Under-sink plumbing penetrations (kitchen and bathroom) - Behind the stove/fridge where pipes or wiring enter cabinets - Outlet and switch plates on shared walls (foam gaskets) - Gaps at baseboards where walls meet floors, especially near plumbing walls - Around fan-coil/HVAC cabinets and access panels - Entry door frame, threshold, and door sweep
Moisture matters (especially in newer concrete buildings): Humidity in bathrooms, wall voids, and closets can support silverfish and other moisture-loving pests. Fix leaks quickly, run exhaust fans, and consider dehumidification if your unit stays humid.
Hitchhikers (furniture and moving): Some pests (like bed bugs) don’t rely on cracks at all—they arrive on furniture, luggage, and moving boxes, especially during busy move periods (for example July 1 in Quebec). Inspect second-hand items carefully before bringing them indoors.
Important safety note: Don’t block sprinkler heads, dryer vents, or required fire/smoke seals. In mechanical or riser areas, use building-approved, fire-rated materials and follow condo/landlord rules.
