Having an ant infestation in your home is never pleasant. Ants are a plain nuisance. They can contaminate the food in your pantry and destroy property. Once you have spotted one ant in your home, it is likely that there are many more. Ants live in colonies of thousands and can adapt and invade your home quickly. With spring time approaching, it is important to be prepared for these pests. Spring time is when they send out their foraging ants from the colony to find new food sources. If they find easy access to your home and food, they will likely start to bring their colony inside. This can be the start of a large scale ant invasion!
Ants can make their way into your home through the smallest of cracks on the exterior of your home. Once they have made their way inside, they begin to forage for food and water. If they find these items, they will make trails to and from the food source and send out more foraging ants. If the food source continues to be plentiful, they may start to build a colony in your home. Their colony will be out of sight, maybe in your walls, attic or basement. The only time you will spot these ants is when they are foraging for food. Carpenter ants will also invade your home looking for food. However, they can cause a considerable amount of damage to your home. They can build their colonies into wood sources in your home. Carpenter ants will dig out tunnels in the wooden structures of your home, damaging them and weakening your home.
A major way to prevent ants from getting into your home is to make sure it is sealed up. Start with a perimeter check of the outside of your home. Seal up any cracks or gaps you may find around venting, windows, doors, pipes, wiring or in your foundation. Make sure all food is sealed up, airtight to discourage foraging ants. The same goes for water sources. Be sure all leaks are dealt with promptly. Also, try to reduce moisture in your home.
The best way to keep pests out of your home, year round, is to set up a pest control plan for your home. Any DIY pest control products can be harmful to you and your family. They are not very reliable to completely eliminate the pest infestation and they can become dangerous, if not handled properly. Hiring a professional pest exterminator to look over your home and help you set up a plan to keep pests out is your best bet in keeping your home pest free.