You wouldn’t even think twice about getting professional pest control services if you discovered termites in your basement or rodents in your attic. This is because we know these critters can be very damaging to our homes. Large or dangerous pests seem to get our attention immediately while we barely give a second thought to an ant. But are we giving ants, especially carpenter ants, the credit they deserve as a damaging pest? Most likely not, and this can be a big mistake. Carpenter ants can cause similar damage to your home as termites can. To avoid damage and costly repair, carpenter ants must be removed from your home completely.
Carpenter ants generally make their homes outside in damp wood – like fallen trees, rotted sheds, and wood piles. As they establish their colony and grow, they branch off and form satellite colonies. This is when they most often find your deck, window frames, eaves, attic or basement as their next suitable home.
Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They eat dead insects and organic material and use your wood as their home, tunneling away, creating their elaborate and expansive colonies. As they do this, they damage the integrity of your structures as they hollow out your wood.
If you clear your property of areas that form suitable homes for carpenter ants you have a better chance of preventing them from settling in. Clean up yard debris, clear fallen trees, demolish old structures on your property, and keep woodpiles far away from the home, elevated and dry.
You also want to try to keep all your wood dry by clearing gutters, sealing cracks, using weather stripping, running dehumidifiers in basements and attics and fixing any leaky pipes. Carpenter ants prefer moist wood, so they may bypass your home if they can’t find a great place to nest.
Even with the best DIY care and tips, you can’t always prevent pests from invading your home. The experts at Viking Pest Control have the knowledge and advanced equipment to protect your home from carpenter ants. The first step is to do an inspection of your property and then have a protective barrier treatment area done around your home. You will get management reports that show you what was done and what steps you can take on your own to further protect your home.
Carpenter Ants are covered under each of Viking's Home Protection Plans. Should you have a pest emergency between your seasonal visits, you can call for service and know the professionals at Viking Pest Control will be there to help you, and at no additional cost.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about our Carpenter Ant and Home Protection services, or get a fast, free quote online today!