While we have to make peace with the fact that we will experience certain types of creepy crawlies in our homes from time to time, when we have ants enter our home, this should set alarm bells ringing. But why do ants make appearances in your home, and what can you do about them?
Food Sources
Ants are constantly foraging for food and water; this is what helps them sustain their colony. We’ve got to be very strict with our food storage, and before you call an ant exterminator to sort this problem out, you need to get the basics nailed down. Even small crumbs or spillages can attract ants inside. You need to make sure you store food containers and clean up spills right away, as well as wipe down surfaces to remove grease and sticky residues- you should rinse recyclables before you dispose of them to remove any remnants of food too.
Moisture Sources
Certain species, such as pharaoh ants, are attracted to moisture, for example, condensation or leaks. Ensuring that you fix any leaks in the pipes, faucets, or around the windows and doors, as well as use a dehumidifier in damp areas such as basements while also ensuring your home has proper ventilation can reduce moisture.
Nesting Sites
Ants can easily set up camp in your property if they find suitable nesting materials. This can include insulation as well as rotting wood. If you’ve got rotting wood around the exterior or the interior of your home, replace this as soon as possible while also conducting due diligence to seal any cracks and crevices that can allow ants to enter. Additionally, if you’ve got any exterior shrubbery or tree branches, make sure they are trimmed back.
Nearby Colonies
If any yards or homes in your neighbourhood have ant infestations, colonies can spread to your property because ants are in search of new places to nest. The best thing you can do is to ensure the exterior of your home is properly sealed, but you also have to communicate with the neighbours about ant issues.
Long-Term Prevention Tactics
If you want to effectively eliminate an infestation, the first thing you should do is identify the type of ant. For example, carpenter ants are large and black and will nest in wood, which can cause structural damage, but sugar ants are tiny light brown ones attracted to sweets and grease. When you understand what you’re dealing with, you can use the right type of long-term prevention, which includes the following:
- Fixing moisture issues
- Storing food properly
- Sealing entry points such as around windows, doors, wiring, and pipes
- Addressing structural issues such as replacing rotting wood and fixing other damage that could provide a place for them to nest
Ensuring you can keep pests away from your home, such as ants, involves a combination of tactics. There can be many reasons why ants are in our home, but with the right practices, you can be sure that you are keeping ants away from your home and upping the ante!
