The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation In Your Houston Home
There’s nothing like seeing a trail of ants running through your kitchen to get you jumpstarted in your ant control efforts. These small pests are no joke, and there are some basics about ants that you should be familiar with as a local homeowner.
Ants are tiny nuisance pests that infest in large numbers and spread their populations very quickly. There are over 12,000 species of ants in the world, and that’s only counting the ones that experts have identified.
Because of their small size, ants are capable of fitting into the smallest cracks and crevices around your home. Eager to access sources of food, water, and shelter, ants can be pretty determined about gaining entry into your house.
Ants live both outdoors and indoors. They like to nest and hide their eggs in moisture-rich areas like kitchens and bathrooms because, generally, ants like damp areas that are soft and spongey. You will commonly find them around areas with water damage, including attics, bathrooms, exterior walls, plumbing, and pipes.
Ants tend to congregate around floor drains, in piles of firewood, under mounds of dirt or yard debris, and in and around utility and electrical boxes. You may also discover them behind wallpaper, around walls and floorboards, under or behind appliances, under the siding of the building, in cracks and crevices of cabinets, and all other kinds of places.
Here in Houston, we have exposure to a variety of different ant species, some of the most common ones being carpenter ants, fire ants, and pharaoh ants. Here are some facts to keep in mind about each of these species.
Carpenter Ants – These ants destroy wet, decaying wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood. They only use it to construct their nests. They are a reddish-black color and measure up to ½ an inch in length.
Fire Ants – These ants are known for giving off a painful sting when they feel threatened. Their sting burns like your skin is on fire, hence their name. They are copper/ reddish-brown in color and measure up to 3/16 of an inch in length.
Pharaoh Ants – These ants are known for chewing holes in silk and nylon fabrics. They are yellow/light brown in color and are almost transparent looking. They measure around 1/16 of an inch.
Whatever kind of ant species you’re dealing with, it’s important to secure the proper protection against infestation. Here at Modern Pest Control, we dedicate ourselves to bringing you quality pest control in Houston. Read on to learn more about ant infestation and what you can do to deal with it effectively.
Clear Signs You Have An Ant Infestation In Your Home
Household ant infestation is an absolute nightmare that no homeowner wants to deal with. Detecting the problem in its earliest stages can help you mitigate the scope of the infestation. So, how can Houston homeowners determine whether or not they have an ant problem? Here are some clear signs you have an ant infestation in your home:
Ant mounds dispersed throughout your yard
Detecting ants crawling along the foundation walls and behind cabinets
Finding active ants on any left-out food, and food prep areas
Seeing colonies of ants in the pavement, rotted wood, and under rocks
The presence of nests and visible trails leading to and from the house
We encourage you to secure professional pest protection if you detect any of these signs and think you may have an ant problem around your Houston home. The only guaranteed way to rid your property of ants is to call in your local pest experts. Call Modern Pest Control today to address all of your ant control and prevention needs. We’re eager to help you.
The Many Problems An Ant Infestation Can Create
As we’ve mentioned, ants are tiny pests. While ants may be small, the issues they can cause around your property certainly aren’t. When ants infest your home, the entire structure and everyone inside of it can be compromised.
Depending on the species, the construction of your property is put at risk, as is your health and safety. It’s good to understand the particular threats of local species. Still, to give you a general idea, we’ve gathered examples of some of the many problems an ant infestation can create around your Houston home.
Ants travel in unsanitary areas like garbage and decaying matter, spreading germs and diseases around the home. This leaves you and your loved ones vulnerable to diseases like E. coli infection, salmonellosis, and shigella.
Depending on the species, they can also bite and inject their venom into your body, leading to inflamed skin, cramps, headaches, and other adverse health effects. Ant bites can lead to a variety of adverse health effects.
These pests threaten the construction of your property as well, infesting building materials like wood and foam insulation. Ants chew on electrical cables too, which puts you at risk for a house fire.
Discovering ants around your Houston property is something no homeowner should face. An excellent way to stay on top of your ant control efforts is to be proactive in your prevention efforts. Here are some more helpful tips for minimizing your exposure to an ant infestation and keeping ant populations off your Houston property:
Eliminate all access points, sealing all cracks and crevices around the outside of the home.
Eliminate standing water and any sources of excess moisture.
Keep branches, trees, and bushes well-trimmed and directed away from the house.
Maintain a high level of cleanliness and practice proper sanitation.
Repair leaky pipes and faulty faucets, reducing sources of dampness and moisture problems.
Store food properly and clean up messes promptly.
Take your trash out regularly, and ensure it is kept outside in a lidded bin.
Use a dehumidifier in damper areas of the house like basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
While being proactive in your prevention efforts is always a good idea, it’s not always easy to deal with things on your own. To effectively protect your Houston property from the dangers of ant infestation, the best way to go is to contact the pest professionals. Modern Pest Control is proud to provide reliable ant control and prevention services that promise you the year-round protection you deserve.
Why Do-It-Yourself Ant Control Often Fails
When it comes to household ant control and prevention, many homeowners take it upon themselves to deal with the situation. While it can be tempting to try and handle the problem on your own, and there are many D.I.Y. ant control methods on the market, they’re not as effective as you’d think.
Trying to handle the problem by yourself is ineffective in the long run, which is why we encourage you to stay away from D.I.Y. ant control treatments. Do-it-yourself ant control often fails because It doesn’t address the entire problem. It only gives you short-lived results.
D.I.Y. efforts fail to address all entry points, as many cannot be seen or accessed easily. Also, ant populations spread so quickly that the minute you think you’ve gotten rid of the problem, another mound pops up in the yard, and you’re back to square one. There are likely new colonies forming around your space, meaning ant populations will only emerge in larger numbers down the line.
With D.I.Y. solutions, you’ll end up spending a lot more money in the long run through trial, error, and repeat treatments. The smartest thing to do is avoid the entire headache and leave your ant control needs to the professionals. At the end of the day, only a professional pest control company can bring you the lasting results you want.
If you think there may be an ant problem in your home, the most effective way to tackle the issue is to reach out to your local pest professionals. Call Modern Pest Control to discuss your ant control needs today.
Contact The Professionals For Total Ant Control For Your Home
For guaranteed protection from ants and many other household pests, your best bet is to contact the pest professionals. Modern Pest Control is proud to offer customized treatment plans that effectively target the root of your ant infestation and then exterminate the problem from the inside out.
Our professional ant treatments give you long-term results that you can depend on, without a doubt. Our complete ant control and prevention services are customized to solve your specific problems. Our ant control process includes the following:
Comprehensive Interior & Exterior Inspection
We start with a thorough walk-through and inspection of your home's interior and exterior.
We will determine areas where ants are active, as well as any conducive conditions and potential entry points.
We develop a customized treatment strategy based on our findings to tackle your infestation from the inside out.
Customized Ant Solutions & Treatments
We customize a strategy to treat your home so that we eliminate all ant activity and conducive conditions.
We perform targeted treatments and modifications to eliminate all ant colonies, nests, and harborage areas.
All of our tried-and-true treatments are fairly priced and developed to cater to your particular ant situation.
Continued Protection & Follow Up
We offer quarterly pest control services to ensure your home is protected from ant infestations all year.
Our service guarantee means 100% satisfaction and lasting results. If pests return between service visits, we’ll return to treat your home at no extra cost.
If you’re seeking reliable ant control and prevention services from the professionals, look no further than the team at Modern Pest Control. Here are some additional reasons why Modern Pest Control is Houston’s top choice for customized ant control and prevention solutions:
Modern Pest Control has provided complete ant control and prevention solutions to properties throughout the greater Houston, TX area since 1952.
Since the beginning, our independently owned and operated company has remained committed to efficient and effective ant solutions that give our valued customers the protection they deserve.
In addition to household ant control, we provide commercial ant control solutions to all facilities and businesses throughout the greater Houston area.
We’ve worked with all kinds of commercial properties, including multi-unit housing, restaurants, hotels and commercial lodging, food processing facilities, office building and management properties, healthcare facilities, retail stores, daycares, schools, and supermarkets.
All of our pest management professionals undergo rigorous training because bringing you the absolute best pest control is our number one goal.
The team of pest experts at Modern Pest Control uses advanced pest control methods and dependable I.P.M. (Integrated Pest Management) strategies to bring you the latest and greatest in Texas pest control.
Professionals train our staff from Food Industry Sanitation Auditors (F.I.S.A.) and the American Institute of Baking (A.I.B.), giving us a high level of expertise for pest issues in food handling facilities.
Our team works alongside organizations such as B.O.M.A. (Building Owners and Managers Association), the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
We have over 70 years of industry experience, and as a Quality Pro Service provider, we bring a high level of professionalism and expertise to every job we do.
The Texas Department of Agriculture licenses us, and all of our pest management professionals have the training to provide you with the very best.
Our philosophy is to deliver prompt, personalized pest control using the latest pest control strategies and methods.
From start to finish, we’re here to deliver ant-free results you can depend on, working hard to bring you an unparalleled level of customer satisfaction.
Whatever the nature of your ant problem, we’re here to help. Whether you need us to eliminate an existing infestation or you just want to be preventative to avoid future infestation, we’ve got your back. Contact the team at Modern Pest Control today to discuss your ant control and prevention needs, and we’ll set up your initial inspection as soon as possible. We look forward to your call.