Being able to prevent carpenter ant infestations can help you save a lot of money in both control and repair costs. In this article, we’re going to go over some of the things that you can do to protect your home from carpenter ant infestations.
Deny Them Shelter
Carpenter ants will primarily start an infestation because they’ve found suitable wood for their colony. Particularly, they are looking for wood that is high in moisture content, because it is softer. However, once they start a colony in this softer wood, they will spread out to wood that is unaffected by humidity.
So the first thing to do when trying to protect your home against carpenter ant infestations is to make sure that the humidity levels are not too high in the home, particularly in your basement. You also have the issue of leaky pipes. If a pipe is leaking somewhere inside the walls, that is a main draw for all manner of pests, including rats, mice and termites.
Deny Them Food
The second reason these ants will start an infestation is because they have easy access to plentiful food sources. Carpenter ants mainly eat sugars and protein, which are constantly present in the kitchen. So to avoid drawing them in, you should make sure to keep all your food in sealed containers, and this includes your pet food. You also want to make sure that you keep your kitchen and home crumb and spill free, and that you do not leave leftovers out in the open for too long. Not only will these prevention methods protect you from carpenter ants, but they will be effective against all pests.
What to Do in Case of an Infestation
If you start to notice large ants crawling around your kitchen and home, you might have a carpenter ant infestation. In this situation, your best bet is to call over a pest control pro to perform an inspection and make sure that everything is alright. If an infestation is detected during this inspection, then the pro will talk you through your treatment options, their costs, their drawbacks and benefits so that you can make the best decision. If you would like to know more about how you can prevent carpenter ant infestations, or you have an infestation that has to be removed, contact us today.