5 Tips to Keep Ants Out of Your Home
Ants are unwanted house guests. If you’ve ever opened a bag of chips to find a cluster of ants waiting for you, then you understand the frustration of finding these pests in your house. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with ants. Here are five tips you can use to make your home ant-free once again.
- Realize This Is a Seasonal Problem
Ants are often driven inside by inclement weather. When it gets hot and there is a shortage of water outside, ants may seek shelter in your cooler home. That’s why you often find ants indoors during the summer.
However, ants can also find their way into your house during periods of heavy rain. Once you know that ants are a seasonal problem, you can combat them by increasing your pest control measures during the summer and during rainy season.
- Remove Potential Attractants
Ants are drawn to sources of food and water. If you want to discourage them, you can start by taking these two things away. Make sure to store all open food in airtight containers. If that’s not possible, you can put it in the fridge instead. Remember that certain types of ants are attracted to certain foods. Sugar ants will eat most types of food, but they are most drawn to sweet things like pastries and candy. Meanwhile grease ants are attracted to protein and fats.
- Set Out Ant Bait
Ant bait is an effective way to control an ant problem, since it helps you to eradicate ants at their source: the ant colony. Ant bait is filled with a liquid or solid substance that attracts ants, which is mixed with a pesticide.
The pesticide is slow acting, which will give worker ants time to ingest it and bring it back to their colony where other ants will eat it. In time, all the ants who ate the ant bait will die. However, you will need the correct type of bait to kill the ants infesting your home. PermaTreat Pest & Termite Control can perform an initial inspection to identify the type of ant you’re dealing with. We will then set the appropriate treatment.
- Keep Your Yard Under Control
Ants gain entry into your home from the outside. If you have a persistent ant problem, then your yard might be the culprit. Overgrown yards offer plenty of space for ants to hide, and tall plants can act as ladders that allow ants to get into your home.
You don’t need to get rid of all the plants in your yard, but you should keep the plants surrounding your house trimmed. Don’t let any of the plants touch the side of your home. This will make it more difficult for ants to get inside.
- Repair Any Damage to Your Home
Ants are very small, and they can sneak into tight spaces. If you have cracks beneath your door or windows, those are opportunities for ants to get inside. Use caulk to repair any cracks or gaps in the walls of your house. Fix potential points of entry to help you keep the ants outside where they belong.
By following these simple tips, you can effectively solve your ant problem. You don’t need to live with ants in your home any longer. A pest management professional can augment the work you’re doing to keep ants out by providing the pest control services you need. Don’t hesitate. Call today to schedule your free inspection.