Ants are a nuisance throughout America, but the hot Texas climate encourages these troublesome insects to breed rapidly and invade homes all year long. Here at Hart Pest Control, we’re regularly called out to eliminate a variety of ants that include carpenter ants, fire ants, odorous house ants, acrobat ants, pyramid ants and pharaoh ants. These are just a few steps that you can take to keep ants from invading your space.
1. Secure Your Home
It’s difficult to keep ants out of your home because these insects are really good at squeezing through the smallest of spaces, but there are a few simple things that you can do to make it just a little more difficult for them to get inside. Check for any cracks, crevices or openings around the windows and doors, along the foundation and around any areas where pipes are connected to your home. Even the smallest entrance points should be thoroughly sealed with silicone caulk or another good sealant of your choice. It’s also a smart move to trim any bushes or tree limbs that may be touching your home because ants use these as roadways that deliver them straight to your home.
2. Remove Temptations
Ants send out a few scouts on a search for food sources, and you may be invaded by lines of hundreds or thousands of ants if those scouts scurry back to the anthill to report that they’ve found a feast. Keeping in mind that even a single crumb can bring all of the ants on the run, it’s important to keep all of your food locked up tight. That box of open cereal or crackers will definitely draw in ants, so all food should be carefully sealed in containers. You’ll also want to keep the outside of food containers wiped down and free of spills, and there should be a tight lid on all trashcans. Be sure to wipe down counters, sweep and mop floors regularly and pick up your pet’s food dish after each meal.
3. Don’t Provide Drinking Water
Ants are just as attracted to a good source of water as they are to food, so you’ll definitely want to keep all areas of your home dry. Check for leaky pipes under sinks and any leaky areas around toilets and bathtubs. Fix faucets that suffer from a chronic drip, and you may want to use a dehumidifier in the basement and any other moist areas of your home.
Quality Pest Control Available
Unfortunately, ants often make their way into homes even when all of the above steps have been carefully followed. If you are experiencing any type of ant problem or any other pest-control issue, then you may feel free to contact us here at Hart Pest Control. Give us a call at 281-407-8336, and our professional, well-trained technicians will come right out to identify the problem and provide you with an individualized treatment plan that leaves your home free of pests.