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Locate Where They Are Coming From
Before attempting to get rid of ants, the first step is to find out how they are getting in your house. They may be using cracks in the wall as an entry point. Also, look for anything that could be attracting them. Ant attractants can include food remnants that were never properly cleaned. Once you find out what is drawing them and where they are coming in, it will be easier to get rid of them. However, if you cannot find either of these things, you can still move on to the next step.
Locate Where They Are Coming From
Before attempting to get rid of ants, the first step is to find out how they are getting in your house. They may be using cracks in the wall as an entry point. Also, look for anything that could be attracting them. Ant attractants can include food remnants that were never properly cleaned. Once you find out what is drawing them and where they are coming in, it will be easier to get rid of them. However, if you cannot find either of these things, you can still move on to the next step.
Begin to Use Repellent
Next, you will need an ant repellent. You can either create your own or buy a chemical repellent. If you choose to make your own, mix either peppermint oil or lavender oil with some water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture on any points of entry you have found or where you think they might be coming in. If you bought a chemical repellent from the store, you can follow these same steps. However, be careful of how much you spray because the store-bought chemicals tend to have a strong scent.
Seal Any Points of Entry
If you found any cracks that ants can enter, now would be a good time to seal those. Using caulk, go over the gap to prevent any more pests from getting in. Be sure to check your windows for cracks as well. Windows are a common place to find cracked caulk.
Prevention is Key
The best way to solve a pest issue is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Even if you currently do not have an ant problem, it is still essential to ensure you do not have any entry points that they can find their way into. Remember, ants can fit in even the smallest of cracks or holes. The number one tip is to avoid leaving food in your sink or on the counter. This attracts ants, and it will lead to a much bigger problem.
When to Call for Professional Ant Control
If you have tried all of these steps and still cannot control your ant problem, it is time to give us a call.
Once you’ve discovered ants are invading your home, you want them gone as soon as possible. Unfortunately, no method of ant control can provide an exact timetable. Several factors determine how long it takes to eradicate an ant colony. However, hiring an extermination professional is the best way to get rid of pests quickly and efficiently.
Why is Ant Control Difficult?
For every single ant you see inside the house, there are hundreds more outside waiting to get in. Depending on the type of ant, the total number could be in the thousands. Ants are social insects that reside in groups. While you may think you don’t care about ants, understanding their social structure is key to getting rid of them.
Four main points make it almost impossible to exterminate ants with DIY methods.
- Ants live in colonies made up of separate nests. You can eliminate one nest, but that doesn’t solve the whole problem.
- The queen of the colony can live up to 15 years. If the queen isn’t exterminated, the colony will repopulate and may infest your home again.
- Colonies are sometimes difficult to locate. Ants can tunnel up to three feet or more straight down into the ground. Once underground, they dig a series of chambers and tunnels that spread out for several feet in every direction.
- Ants often build their colonies in inaccessible places, like under the foundation of your home.
At-home ant treatments may eliminate the visible problem, but they’re not strong enough to exterminate an entire population. The ants that survive simply retreat to safety and start rebuilding the colony.
How Do Professionals Fully Exterminate an Ant Colony?
It is possible to eliminate the whole colony and all the nests, but it takes knowledge, experience, training, and the right equipment. After the initial treatment from a professional exterminator, you will see improvement in your pest problem. However, it can take several weeks or several months and several appointments to completely remedy the situation.
We don’t stop until the problem is solved. Our process includes the following steps:
- Full inspection of the entire property and surroundings by a professional technician
- Locate nests and entry points into the house
- Identify the species of ant to determine which insect treatment is best
- Confer with the property owner to discuss concerns about pets or children before using potentially toxic treatments
- Apply the safest, most effective treatment
- Return to inspect and reapply treatments as needed until the colony is exterminated
Our exterminators may also recommend a maintenance plan that includes prevention tips that will discourage re-population of the original or new ant colonies.
Professional Ant Control is the Answer
Don’t waste time with sprays and bait traps if you suspect an ant infestation on your property. It may be hard to imagine something so small causing a big problem, but ants can cause serious damage to the wooden structures inside your home, especially Carpenter ants. Call us!
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