Spencer Pest Services will be operating under the Rocket Pest Control brand going forward. You're still in the right place to schedule pest control services!

Homeowners Guide To Carpenter Ants

Most of the time when we hear the word carpenter, we will automatically think of the people that have the ability to help make our homes better. Then, when we think of ants, we will think of those tiny nuisance pests that invade our homes and kitchens seeking out food and interrupting our picnics. So, when we combine these two words together, our logical conclusion would be that they must be tiny and harmless pests that can repair our homes, right? Not a chance; this could not be farther from the truth. Carpenter ants are a menacing wood-destroying pest that you do not want inhabiting your home at any time.

Carpenter ants can break through the skin when they bite, but they are usually docile and will only attempt to bite if they are disturbed in their nesting areas. However, their bite is not our biggest problem. They live in colonies outdoors usually, but when they go inside homes to forage for food and water, they will be drawn to damaged or damp wood. There they will begin to burrow into the wood, creating tunnels and galleries to nest inside, thus creating satellite colonies. Carpenter ants do not eat through the wood like termites but rather act like mini excavators, moving the wood out so they can nest. They will push sawdust, feces, and insect debris out of the tiny entry holes. The hollowing out of wood can cause the structure of your home to weaken, your floors to buckle, your walls to warp, and your ceilings to sag. If left untreated, a carpenter ant infestation can cause a lot of costly damage to your home, furniture, and personal belongings.

If you spot a carpenter ant or two inside your home, chances are that there are many more hiding inside the wood of your home wreaking havoc. They can live there sight unseen for months or even years at a time. The best way to avoid a carpenter ant infestation is through prevention. If you are a homeowner here are some prevention ideas:

  • Move wood piles at least 20’ away from your home and elevate them
  • Keep firewood outdoors until it is needed
  • Keep branches and bushes trimmed back away from your home
  • Unclog gutters regularly
  • Eliminate unnecessary water sources
  • Repair damaged or rotten wood right away
  • Fix or replace leaky pipes that cause moisture
  • Fill in cracks and crevices in your foundation and exterior walls

If you already have an infestation of carpenter ants in your home, you will benefit by enlisting the help of a professional pest control company in your area. Better yet, contact them before you experience an infestation to set into place guaranteed prevention. This will save you a lot of time and money on damages that can be caused by carpenter ants.

Spencer Pest Services can help by getting rid of difficult carpenter ant infestations. We are experienced in tracking down carpenter ant activity and putting a stop to it in your home. We have everything it takes to get rid of the current carpenter ants and to successfully prevent any new infestations from happening. Give us a call today to learn more about our residential pest control plans

 
Prev
Next