When Carpenter Ants Removal burrow through wood, they create tunnels inside the material and weaken it. Over time, this can cause significant damage to the structure of your home. Fortunately, it is possible to stop this type of damage by regularly performing a few simple tasks around your house. If you’re not able to do the work yourself, hiring a professional pest control company is an option that can save you money and keep your family safe.

You can reduce the risk of carpenter ants entering your home by keeping wood materials dry. To do this, you can seal any areas where water may penetrate, such as leaking pipes or loose siding. You can also use borate-treated wood for construction projects, as it is less likely to attract carpenter ants than untreated wood. Lastly, it is important to maintain good drainage in your yard and garden by removing standing water.

Getting rid of carpenter ants involves detecting and treating the ant nests. It’s possible to do this yourself with liquid ant bait traps, which are usually available at your local home improvement store. These traps have sweet food on them that the ants will be attracted to, but they contain low-toxicity boric acid that kills the ants. These traps are also suitable for children and pets, unlike traditional insecticide sprays.

If you notice a lot of swarmers in the spring, it’s likely that a mature carpenter ant colony exists on or near your property. Swarmers emerge from 2-year-old+ colonies and are a sign of an active infestation. It’s important to tackle this infestation right away, as it can be much more damaging than termite infestations. If left untreated, carpenter ant infestations can cause significant structural damage to wall studs and ceiling and floor joists.

The most effective way to prevent carpenter ants from gaining access to your home is to fix any areas where moisture can enter. Inspect your house regularly for leaks, cracks, and other problems that would allow moisture to seep into your home. Make sure to check the areas where gutters and downspouts are located, as well as old logs and tree stumps that could serve as carpenter ant breeding grounds.

To avoid attracting these insects, you can also use nontoxic repellents. Diatomaceous earth is an ant deterrent that you can sprinkle around the outside of your home, as it disrupts the ants’ scent trails. You can also try using a granular form of boric acid, such as Boric Acid Powder, which has a lower toxicity than pesticides and is safe for kids and pets to touch.

You can also use foaming products to reach hard-to-reach ant tunnels, such as Fuse Foam, which expands inside the ant tunnel and effectively kills the insects. This is particularly useful when dealing with carpenter ants that have established themselves in your walls or door frames. In addition, you can apply desiccants to ant entry points like baseboards and cabinet corners. These substances cling to ant bodies, serrating the exoskeleton and dehydrating them until they die.