Carpenter ants may be a nuisance, but they don’t pose much of a threat to your home. They tend to nest in the ground and only travel into the house when looking for food or water.
Although carpenter ants are not known to sting, their bites can be painful if you accidentally step on them or touch them with your hands while working around your home.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to wooden structures and should be eliminated quickly. |
| Signs of a carpenter ant infestation include seeing large dark-colored ants, piles of sawdust-like material, or hearing rustling sounds inside walls. |
| Methods for getting rid of carpenter ants include using baits, insecticides, and natural remedies like boric acid. |
| Prevent carpenter ant infestations by keeping wooden structures dry and well-maintained, trimming trees and bushes away from the home, sealing any entry points, and reducing moisture. |
| Carpenter ant infestations can weaken the structural integrity of a building and lead to costly repairs if left untreated. |
Find And Seal Entry Points
Now that you have identified the entry points of the ants, it is time to seal them. You should remove access to moisture and food sources as well.
If your home has a crawlspace or basement, then this is where most carpenter ant nests are located. To prevent future infestations, you should also make sure that there are no other openings like cracks in foundation walls and windowsills inside your home.
If you find any openings where ants can enter, use caulking to fill them up with silicone caulk or spray foam insulation around pipes or electrical wires running along the outside of your house’s foundation wall (never use petroleum-based products).
Leave no gaps larger than 1/8th inch wide when repairing holes in floors and walls; this will help prevent carpenter ants from entering through these small spaces while also reducing moisture levels inside your home which may attract them
When carpenter ants invade your home’s walls, it can be a frustrating and challenging problem to solve. But don’t worry, our comprehensive guide on how to get rid of ants in the walls will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to take control of the situation.
Remove Access To Moisture And Food Sources
This is a popular method of removing Carpenter Ants from the walls of homes. The ants will usually come to the house in search of food and water.
If you can remove the ants’ access to these things, they will leave the home alone. To do this, you will need to seal up all possible entrances into your house that lead to sources of moisture and food for the carpenter ants. You should also make sure that no trash containers have any damp materials in them.
Steps Description Clean counters Wipe down counters after each use to remove crumbs and spills. Store food properly Keep food in airtight containers, and don’t leave food out overnight. Fix leaks Fix leaky pipes or faucets, and dry out any moisture promptly. Clean dishes Wash dishes immediately after use and don’t leave them in the sink overnight. Use a trash can with a lid Make sure the trash can has a tight-fitting lid to keep ants out.
Sweeping The Ants Out
If you’ve ever seen ants in your walls, it may be hard to imagine that they can cause much damage. They’re just tiny little creatures scurrying around, right?
But if you’ve had a problem with carpenter ants in the past, you know how destructive they can be—and how costly it is to remove them from your home.
The truth is that these little guys can do significant damage to your structure and property as they tunnel through woodwork and eat away at the structural integrity of your home.
While there are many different treatments available for getting rid of carpenter ants, we’ll focus on two different solutions here: spraying the exterior of your house with insecticide (a good prevention method) and using bait traps inside your house itself (a good way to deal with an existing infestation).
Ants are one of the most common household pests, and they can be quite a nuisance. Fortunately, there are many effective ways to get rid of ants in the house quickly using natural and chemical methods. Find out what works best for you with our helpful guide
Trapping With Mounds Of Boric Acid
Boric acid is a pesticide that works by dehydrating the ants and killing them. You can purchase boric acid at your local hardware store for about $5 per pound.
Read the directions on the package before you begin to make sure it’s safe to use around children and pets.
To create your own traps, mix 1/2 cup of boric acid powder with enough honey or peanut butter (or some other sticky substance) to form a paste that will stay together when rolled into balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar until completely coated, then place them where you’ve seen signs of carpenter ant activity.
The bait should attract many carpenter ants over several days or weeks—and once they’re all in one spot, they’ll stay there until all of them have been killed by dehydration!
Apply Boric Acid Gel
Apply a liquid boric acid solution.
Boric acid is used to control ants because it’s poisonous to them, but not to humans or pets. You can buy it at your local hardware store in the insecticide section.
You can also make your own mixture by mixing borax with sugar and water until they dissolve together. The resulting liquid should be clear, not cloudy or white.
Once you have your solution, apply it directly onto the ant trails with a paintbrush or cotton swab.
A little bit goes a long way; once you’ve applied enough so that there’s no more yellow on the trail (meaning all of the ants are dead), stop applying more of this solution. If you continue putting down new doses of poison, you will kill off all other insects and pests around your house as well as any wildlife outside!
Apply A Liquid Boric Acid Solution
The first step to getting rid of carpenter ants is to stop them from coming into your home. There are a few ways you can go about this, but one of the most effective methods is installing traps around your house.
To make a trap, mix 4 tablespoons of peanut butter with 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl and place it on top of another piece of wax paper.
Make sure that there is enough excess paper so that it won’t get stuck in between either layer when folded over itself like an envelope flap (the size depends on how large or small you want it).
Roll up the edges slightly so they are easier for ants to climb onto later on – this makes them feel safer about approaching because they don’t have any other choice!
Once these traps have been set out for several weeks at different points throughout your home (i would recommend placing two or three), check them every other day until
Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to your home’s structure, but you don’t need to resort to harsh chemicals to eliminate them. Our guide on how to get rid of carpenter ants naturally offers eco-friendly and effective solutions to keep your home ant-free
Cover The Infestation With Plastic Wrap And Tape
If you want to get rid of carpenter ants in your walls, there are a few ways that you can do it. You could hire an exterminator and have them spray down your walls with chemicals, but that’s expensive and the chemicals used may be harmful to children or pets.
One way is by covering the infestation with plastic wrap and tape. This works because most carpenter ants cannot chew through plastic, so this will keep them away from your woodwork until they die off naturally.
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Cover infested area | Place plastic wrap over an area that is infested with ants, leaving some wrinkled areas for ants to crawl into. |
| Secure plastic wrap | Secure plastic wrap in place with tape, ensuring that there are no gaps or openings. |
| Wait for ants to collect | Allow several hours for the ants to collect on the plastic wrap. |
| Remove plastic wrap | Once the ants have collected on the plastic wrap, carefully remove it and discard it immediately. |
| Clean the area | Clean the area thoroughly, removing any remaining ants or debris. |
Use Dish Soap Mixed With Water
Now that you’ve found the entry points, it’s time to seal them up. If you don’t seal them up, there will be more ants coming in and this process will repeat itself over and over again.
You should also remove access to moisture and food sources as well as sweeping out any carpenter ants that are currently inside your home or structure.
You can use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment or shop vac but do not use chemicals or poisons inside of these machines because they will spread through your entire home if you do.
Instead, we recommend using boric acid which is an organic substance that can be purchased at any hardware store at an affordable price (about $5 per pound) that works well on most pests including ants!
If you want more information on how to get rid of carpenter ants check out our article on How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants In Your Home Or Outside Of It which covers everything from prevention tips to treatment options so make sure you give it a read!
Rats can cause serious damage to your car’s electrical system and other components, leading to expensive repairs. But with our comprehensive guide on protecting your car from rat damage, you can take proactive steps to keep these pesky rodents at bay
Use Liquid Ant Baits
If the ants are coming into your home via window sills, door frames and other openings, you can use a liquid ant bait to poison them. This will kill most of the colony very quickly.
The best time to put out liquid ant baits is after dark when the ants come out to forage for food. You should place these baits along window sills, baseboards and around doors wherever you see them entering your home.
If you have multiple colonies in different areas of your home then you may need more than one bait station per colony.
This method works well because it targets all types of carpenter ants including: Argentine, big headed carpenter and black carpenter ants
Employ Natural Solutions
If you’re looking for a natural solution to get rid of carpenter ants in your walls, there are a few things you can do. The first thing you should do is find out where they’re coming from and seal off those entry points.
You can also remove their access to moisture and food sources, sweep them out with a broom and keep areas clean so they don’t want to come back, or trap them by placing plates or bowls filled with boric acid powder at the base of their nests.
Are you looking for a more natural way to eliminate ants in your home? Our guide on how to get rid of ants naturally provides a range of home remedies and eco-friendly solutions to keep your home ant-free without harsh chemicals
Cut Down On Surrounding Vegetation
To help prevent carpenter ants from entering your home, you should trim back any vegetation that’s close to the foundation. This includes trees, shrubs and plants.
Examine your home’s exterior for cracks or openings in the wall. Use caulk to seal around windows and doors, and fill any gaps between wooden parts of your house with caulking compound to stop these ants from getting inside.
If there are holes in walls or ceilings where pipes or wiring enter the structure, use steel wool to plug them up as well since carpenter ants like these areas as entry points into a building too!
Conclusion
All of these methods are excellent ways to get rid of carpenter ants in your home. Remember that only you can determine which method is best for you, and it may take some time before you find the right one. Good luck!
Further Reading
This Old House: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – This article offers a step-by-step guide for getting rid of carpenter ants and offers tips for preventing future infestations.
Country Living: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Before They Do Serious Damage – This article provides detailed instructions for locating and eliminating carpenter ant colonies, with a focus on non-toxic methods.
wikiHow: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – This comprehensive guide offers a range of options for getting rid of carpenter ants, from DIY solutions to professional extermination services.
FAQs
What are carpenter ants?
Carpenter ants are large ants that build their nests in dead or damp wood, such as trees, stumps, and old logs. They do not actually eat the wood, but they can cause significant damage to wooden structures by burrowing tunnels and nesting inside.
How do I know if I have a carpenter ant infestation?
Signs of a carpenter ant infestation include finding large, dark-colored ants in your home or seeing piles of frass (sawdust-like material) near wooden structures. You may also hear rustling or scraping sounds coming from inside the walls.
Are carpenter ants dangerous?
While carpenter ants do not pose a direct threat to humans, they can cause significant damage to structures if left untreated. Over time, an infestation can weaken the structural integrity of a building and lead to costly repairs.
How do I get rid of carpenter ants?
There are various methods for getting rid of carpenter ants, including using baits, insecticides, and DIY remedies like diatomaceous earth or boric acid. The most effective solution depends on the severity of the infestation and the location of the nest.
How can I prevent a carpenter ant infestation?
To prevent carpenter ants from infesting your home, you should keep wooden structures dry and well-maintained, trim trees and bushes away from the house, and seal any cracks or gaps that could serve as entry points. You should also take steps to reduce moisture in and around the home, as this can attract carpenter ants.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
