How to Stop Carpenter Ant Damage and What to Look Out For
When it comes to pests that can damage your home, termites get most of the attention. Carpenter ants, on the other hand, are just as dangerous, though they do it in a different way. These big ants don’t eat wood; instead, they dig through it to make nests, which could cause expensive damage to buildings. To keep your home safe, you need to know how to spot carpenter ant damage and act quickly to stop it.
Signs of Damage from Carpenter Ants
Sawdust-Like Frass: Frass, which looks like sawdust, is one of the best ways to tell when carpenter ants are active. As they dig through wood, carpenter ants push this frass out of their mud tubes. Finding piles of frass near wooden buildings or openings is a good sign that they are infested.
Noises You can hear: Sometimes, you may hear light tapping or rustling sounds coming from infected wood. Carpenter ants make these noises when they dig tunnels in wood.
Visible Ants: If you see big black ants in or near your home, especially near wood, that’s a clear sign that carpenter ants are active. Unlike termites, you can usually see carpenter ants as they look for food.
Hollow-Sounding Wood: Because carpenter ants make galleries and tubes inside wood, tapping on wood that has them may make a hollow sound.
Damaged Wood: Look for signs of damage in wooden buildings. Carpenter ants can make wood much weaker, which can cause it to sag or damage structure elements.
How to Keep Carpenter Ants From Doing Damage
Professional Inspection: It’s important to get professional help if you think carpenter ants are at work or see any signs of damage. Professionals in pest control can do a full check to confirm the size and location of the infestation.
Treatment: Once it is proven that there are ants in the house, pros will use treatment plans to get rid of the ants and their nests. Baits, insecticides, or dusts that are put directly on the affected areas may be used as therapy.
Fixing the Structure: Once the carpenter ants are gone, it’s important to fix any damage they did to the structure. To fix your home’s structure, this could mean replacing or reinforcing wood that is destroyed.
Preventive Steps: To stop carpenter ant damage and outbreaks from happening again, think about taking the following steps:
Controlling Moisture: Carpenter ants like wet places. Take care of any leaks or water damage right away, and make sure damp places have enough air flow.
Wood Maintenance: Keep wooden buildings in good shape and seal any openings to keep people out. Fix or replace any wood that is rotting or has been damaged by water.
Landscaping: Cut back trees and plants that grow close to your house to get rid of places where ants could hide.
Food Storage: Both inside and outside, keep food in sealed containers to keep pests away.
Seal Entry Points: To keep ants out, seal any cracks, gaps, or holes on the outside of your home. You can use glue or a weatherproof sealant.
Regular Monitoring: It’s important to keep an eye out for carpenter ants even after treatment and fixes have been completed successfully. By doing regular checks, you can find any new infestations quickly and stop them from doing more damage.
Finally, carpenter ants may not eat wood like termites do, but they can still be very dangerous to your home’s structure because they dig through it. It is important to know how to spot carpenter ant damage and move quickly to stop it. This includes hiring professional pest control and taking precautions to keep them from coming back. If you pay attention and take action, you can keep your home in good shape for many years to come.
At Ant Control Lindsay, we offer long-term solutions that can guarantee the eradication of pest presence throughout the property through crack and crevice application in areas of high activity.