How to Prevent Carpenter Ants

Abell Pest Control Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants get their name from the way they chew wood to build their nests. Signs of a carpenter ant infestation include seeing the ants themselves in your home and the presence of sawdust like shavings and/or fragments of insulation along baseboards, windows or on wood surfaces.

Carpenter ants are destructive, and the damage they cause can be expensive to repair. The best way to treat them is to remove what attracted them to your property in the first place.

  • Carpenter rarely will nest in wood unless is has been exposed to moisture and softened.
  • Always replace wood that has been softened by moisture. Just covering it up with metal, caulk or new shingles is what carpenter ants are looking for. This is especially the case when replacing your roof. Always replace damaged wood prior to installing your new roof.
  • Carpenter ants can enter your home by traveling along tree branches and shrubs. Trim branches and shrubs away from your home.
  • Use a dehumidifier in areas prone to dampness like crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
  • Make sure that there are no cracks or openings around the bottom of doors or windows. Seal openings with a silicone-based caulk.
  • Keep firewood and building materials stored away from your home. Carpenter ants like to build nests in stacks of wood.

If you notice carpenter ants, contact Abell Pest Control to discuss a proper course of ant extermination or control, including a plan for how to get rid of carpenter ants.


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