Ant infestations can be hard to control, especially if you don't know they're there. Carpenter ants may be hiding in your walls without you knowing, and they could have been there for years. You need to know how to get rid of black carpenter ants when they've taken up residence in your home. A Salt Lake City Pest Control company like Pest Pro Pest Control can help you take back your home.
In this handy guide, you'll learn how to properly identify carpenter ants, why they're such a big problem, five tips for keeping them away from your home, and the best way to get rid of them for good.
Properly Identifying Carpenter Ants
To identify carpenter ants in Salt Lake City, all you have to do is call up your mental image of a standard ant. They're about ½ to ⅝ inches long and either red, black, or a combination of the two. They look just like any other ant. However, it's important to get a professional to come to your home to determine what kind of ants you have because these destructive ants look so much like their cousins.
Once a pest control technician from Pest Pro Pest Control has identified your ants, we can tell you how to get rid of carpenter ants in the house.
Why Are Carpenter Ants Such A Problem?
Carpenter ants in your Salt Lake City house can cause significant structural damage before you're even aware you have them. Often, the first sign you'll see is when reproducers swarm in spring and summer – and that doesn't happen until the colony is well-established. However, you may see small holes in your walls with debris below them, made up of sawdust, insulation, and insect parts.
Carpenter ants don't eat wood; they just live in it. They chew elaborate tunnel systems throughout your wall studs, floor and ceiling joists, subflooring, and even hardwood floors. Over time, they can seriously damage the structural integrity of your home.
Five Tips For Keeping Carpenter Ants Away
There are several steps you can take to avoid carpenter ant damage to your Salt Lake City home, including:
- Repair or replace any wet or damaged wood in your home. Carpenter ants attack these areas first, typically in crawl spaces, under roofs, in door or window frames, and in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Cut your trees back, so their branches aren't touching your house. Carpenter ants can attack sick or dying trees before they move into your home. Cutting back the branches eliminates a convenient highway for them to access your roof. Do the same with any woody shrubs or bushes near your house. Also, store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home on racks that keep it at least five inches off the ground.
- Get rid of any standing water sources on your property. Carpenter ants need a source of water to survive. Fix leaky faucets and irrigation or sprinkler systems. Repair leaky pipes or fixtures inside your home. Consider using dehumidifiers in your basement, crawlspace, and attic to remove moisture from the air, making your home less hospitable to carpenter ants.
- Caulk any cracks or crevices you may find in your foundation. Don't give carpenter ants easy access into your home. Also, caulk around windows, doors, and window air conditioners so carpenter ants can't sneak in through those avenues.
- Partner with Pest Pro Pest Control to exclude carpenter ants from your home.
At Pest Pro Pest Control, we use a variety of treatment methods depending on what we find when we inspect your house.
The Best Way To Combat Carpenter Ants
You don't have to know how to get rid of carpenter ants – our highly-trained pest control technicians do. We have a solid five-star rating on Google, hundreds of reviews, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and a long list of satisfied customers. We're looking forward to adding your name to that list. Contact us today for your no-obligation consultation and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Salt Lake City.