How Houston Homeowners Can Protect Their Homes From Carpenter Ants
Termites are not the only pests that plague Houston homes in the spring. As a homeowner, you should be on the lookout for ways to prevent ants, mosquitoes, stinging insects, termites, and other pests.
Carpenter ants can be a huge problem especially since they are attracted to the moist humid climate that Houston provides on a regular basis. They will be on the prowl, looking to burrow into any wood they can find in order to build nests and create tunnels to obtain food. Unlike termites that eat wood, carpenter ants are simply mini excavators that leave their sawdust behind.
Homes in Houston are at risk for a variety of ants because worker ants are always fanning out to forage for food. Couple their need for food with numerous areas in your home that allow them to make entry, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Ants are proficient at getting indoors through tiny cracks and crevices in foundations and exterior walls. They can also gain access under doors, through damaged screens, gaps around utility entrances, and holes in outlets. In the case of carpenter ants, they can dig their way in through wood and then hollow out the wood in your floors, ceilings, walls, and support beams. And, not surprisingly, their burrowing can weaken the support system inside your home.
Keeping ants out of a home is nearly impossible on your own, especially since different varieties of ants require a specific type of treatment. Carpenter ants, in particular, need professional control to stop them from causing damage to your home. In some cases, the wrong treatment can make the problem worse. Once the carpenter ants have been eliminated it will be important to get professional help to prevent them from coming back in the future.
Take extra steps to protect your home from carpenter ants:
Fix leaky pipes and fixtures right away.
Replace water-damaged wood.
Lower the moisture in and around your home.
Free your yard of piles of debris, dead trees, and vegetation.
Cut back trees, bushes, or landscaping that touch your house.
Use trash bins that have locking lids.
Clean up food and drink spills immediately.
Store food in the refrigerator or in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids.
The best step you can take to protect your home from carpenter ants is to call on the professionals at Modern Pest Control in the Houston area. One of our licensed pest control technicians can visit your property and perform a thorough inspection to identify the problem and what is attracting carpenter ants to your home. We will then create an action plan for an ant-free home. Give us a call today at Modern Pest Control to find out more!