Keeping ants out of your home is challenging once they find a way in. To eliminate ants in your house, you will likely need to hire carpenter ant removal services in Waterloo; however, know that most services can handle any type of ants, whether carpenter or sugar ants.
Keeping Ants Out of Your Waterloo Home
Being reactive to an ant infestation is always a problem because colonies grow rapidly and spread throughout the property. Proactive action is the best way to protect your home and reduce the risks of ever experiencing a severe infestation. Experts recommend four maintenance habits that can significantly reduce an ant’s interest in establishing a colony in your house.
1. Identify the Ant Type
While you might think an ant is an ant, each species of ant has specific strengths and defenses. Not all pesticides will work on all types of ants; for instance, store-bought pesticides might work well on regular house ants, like pavement or thief ants, but they won’t usually work on fire ants.
You can find methods for identifying the different ant species, but it is easier to hire an expert who knows the characteristics of all the major species. Also, pest control specialists likely have access to all the sprays and tools they need to resolve your problem, meaning you will not need to spend extra money on chemicals or spraying devices.
2. Keep a Clean Home
The best way to keep ants out of your house is by limiting all potential food and water sources. Most pests and wildlife only find a way inside a home because they are hungry or want shelter. Ants are capable builders, so the primary reason they come inside is for nourishment.
You can limit access to food by keeping pet food dishes off the floor and clean when not in use. Also, remove trash from inside the house daily. You should also vacuum or sweep the dining areas of the house after every meal and wash the dirty dishes. Finally, make sure to seal food in airtight containers to restrict access. The harder you make it for pests to access food, the less likely you will face infestations.
3. Fix Water Damaged Wood
Carpenter ants can create significant problems in your house. They often start on the outside of your property, chewing tunnels into porch posts and other exposed structures. The more time they have to chew tunnels through the woodwork, the more likely they will end up inside the house. A favourite nest material for carpenter ants is water-damaged wood.
If your house has water-damaged wood, you need to fix it. The wood is enticing and will encourage ants and other pests, like termites, to burrow.
4. Seal Potential Entry Points
Ants are tiny creatures and they can fit into some of the smallest openings in your house. You need to seal all cracks and crevices to ensure the insects cannot enter your property. Use silicone-based caulking. If you do not have confidence in your patching abilities, contact a pest control professional for assistance.
Hiring a Professional Ant Removal Service
Do you know how to find the queen ant in an expansive colony? No. Finding and removing the queen is one of the most effective ways to eliminate an ant colony in your house. The colony will continue to thrive if you cannot find the queen.
If you notice ants in your kitchen or anywhere in your home, you probably have a problem. Contact Truly Nolen Canada to schedule a property assessment and determine the extent of your insect problem. The company will send a team to inspect your home and identify problems and solutions.