Georgia homes are occasionally plagued by large carpenter ants, sugar-attracted odorous house species, and persistent pharaoh species. While these species can be a hassle to deal with, it is possible to regain control of your home.
Here are some steps for winning your battle against ants in your home.
1) See If You Can Tell Where They Are Coming From
A single ant is no cause for concern - it could have come inside from anywhere. However, a line or group of ant workers is a problem. Now the nest knows how to get inside your home. When you locate a line of ants there are a couple of things you should do.
- Where they are going - you may find a spill or food you need to clean up
- Where they are coming from
- If you can pinpoint vents, windows, floors or doors where ant hordes are getting in, you can take steps to stop them permanently
Now that you have identified the entry point for these ants, you can now begin figuring out how to keep them from getting in.
2) Seal Any Gaps or Cracks
Studies have shown that spraying ants with chemicals isn't very effective at keeping them outdoors. A better option is to find where the ant problem started and seal the gap or crack. If the problem is something simple like replacing weather-stripping on a door or window - or patching a simple crack - then you may want to consider a DIY project. Sometimes ants can be entering from a much larger entry point, which may require some professional help. If ant workers continue to find other ways inside, you may need to take additional steps.
3) Protect Entry Points around Your Home
Consider putting barriers around common entry points in your home (like windows, doors, and your foundation). A chemical barrier or layer of diatomaceous earth can often deter ant nests and force them to seek an easier house to enter. It's often not enough to block one entry point: You need to discourage these pests from looking for other ways to sneak in.
4) Call for an Inspection
Sometimes it looks like ants are climbing out of vents, cracks in the floor, or out of the walls themselves. In other serious cases, biting or wood-chewing ant species are doing damage to your home and need to be taken out as a whole. In these cases, it's smart to call Breda Pest Management for a professional inspection. We'll help seal your home, discourage ants from returning, and offer guarantees for our work if the pest problem pops up again!
If you happen to need ant extermination services, don't hesitate to give us a call today!
