If you’ve ever seen a carpenter ant constructing its nest, you know that these creatures are amazingly skilled at using their powerful jaws to tunnel through wood.
Unfortunately, that same skill can be turned against your home, as carpenter ants will happily chew through the framing of your house to create their nests.
Carpenter ants are one of the most common types of ants that pest control companies are called to deal with. Getting rid of these pests involves a multi-pronged approach that involves both killing the existing ants and taking steps to prevent new ones from moving in.
Wood that has taken in a lot of moisture, like that found around leaks, is especially attractive to carpenter ants. Often, pest control experts look for and repair these moisture issues to help keep carpenter ants away.
Things You Need to Be Aware Of Before Any Carpenter Ant Pest Control Treatment
By nature, carpenter ants are attracted to wood that has been damaged by moisture. This means that any areas of your home that have leaks or other moisture problems are at risk for an infestation.
Homes and other foundations that have a lot of wood-to-soil contact are also at risk, as this provides an easy route for the ants to travel from their nests in the soil to the wood of your home.
While it’s important to address the pest issue once and for all, it’s also crucial that you are aware of these simple things you need to do to help keep carpenter ants from returning.
Check for Any Signs of Moisture Damage
Carpenter ants love to feast on the wood that has been damaged by moisture, so the first step in preventing an infestation is to check your home for any signs of water damage.
It doesn’t matter if the damage is old or new, as carpenter ants will happily chew through both. Look for any water stains on ceilings or walls, as well as any areas where wood is beginning to rot.
These are all potential problem areas that should be addressed before you begin your pest control treatment.
Aside from checking the ceilings, walls, and floors of your home, be sure to also take a look at the trim around doors and windows, as this is another favorite spot for carpenter ants.
If you find any damage, it’s important to have it repaired as soon as possible to help prevent an infestation.
Remove Any Wood-to-Soil Contact
Another thing that you need to do to help prevent carpenter ants is to remove any wood-to-soil contact around your home. Because carpenter ants nest on the soil, the wet wood provides an easy way for them to travel from their nests to your home.
To help prevent this, be sure to trim any trees or shrubs that are touching your house. This could be anything from tree limbs to overgrown bushes.
You should also make sure that there is a gravel or concrete barrier between the soil and your home’s foundation. This will help to keep carpenter ants from being able to tunnel their way into your home.
When Found, Repair Moisture Problems and Leaks
Sometimes, it’s difficult to spot where carpenter ants are coming into your home. If this is the case, it’s important to have a professional come and inspect your home for any potential problem areas.
From there, they will be able to develop a treatment plan that will help to get rid of the carpenter ants and prevent them from returning.
However, if the moisture issue is something that you’re able to identify, it’s important to have it repaired as soon as possible.
There’s nothing more frustrating than going through the trouble of getting rid of carpenter ants, only to have them come back a few months later because of a leak that you were unaware of.
Even if you use chemicals or other insecticides to kill carpenter ants, if the moisture issue isn’t resolved, they will simply come back. So, be sure to have any leaks or moisture problems repaired before you begin your pest control for carpenter ants treatments.
How Do Pest Control Companies Treat Carpenter Ants
If you’ve ever wondered how does pest control get rid of carpenter ants, the answer is a multi-faceted approach.
While there are a number of different methods that can be used to kill carpenter ants, the most effective way to get rid of them is to use a combination of methods. This will help to ensure that they are killed and that they don’t come back.
Some of the most common treatment options may include but are not limited to:
Baits
This is a common treatment option for carpenter ants and other pests. Baits are designed to attract the ants so that they will take them back to their nests. Most of the time, the baits also contain poisonous chemicals that will kill the ants.
Once they’ve taken back the bait to their nests, these ants will begin to feed it to the rest of the colony. This will help to kill them off and prevent them from returning.
Boric Acid
In conjunction with baits, many pest control companies will also use boric acid. This is a common treatment for carpenter ants because it’s very effective at killing them.
Similar to how other insects, carpenter ants also breathe through their skin. Their exoskeleton contains a number of pores that they use to breathe.
When boric acid is applied to their skin, it will block these pores and prevent them from being able to breathe. This will eventually kill them.
Most pest control companies place boric acid strategically around the house so that the carpenter ants will come in contact with it and eventually die.
Pesticide Spray
For a more targeted approach, many pest control companies will also use a pesticide spray. This is usually done in combination with other methods, such as baits and boric acid.
Depending on the product used, these pesticide sprays contain a number of different chemicals that are designed to kill carpenter ants. Some of the most common include pyrethrin and permethrin.
Often, pest control services and exterminators will locate the colony, spray the nest and then come back a few days later to make sure that the carpenter ants are gone.
Heat Treatment
During the old days, you’ll often hear people saying that they used to pour boiling water down the nest to get rid of carpenter ants. While this may have worked, it’s not the most effective method and can often be dangerous.
Nowadays, pest control companies will use heat treatment instead. This involves using a machine to generate heat and then directing it toward the nest. The high temperatures will kill the carpenter ants and any eggs that they may have.
This is a common treatment option for a number of different pests, including carpenter ants, bed bugs, and termites.
Final Thoughts
While any experienced exterminator can help address the carpenter ants chewing wood in your home, it’s always best to take a proactive approach to prevent them from coming inside in the first place.
First and foremost, keep them away by addressing any moisture issues in and around your home. Also, take into account overgrown tree branches and bushes that may provide them with a bridge into your home.
Lastly, make sure to regularly inspect the foundation of your home for any cracks or gaps that may need to be sealed. By taking these simple preventative measures, you can go a long way in keeping carpenter ants out of your home.
