Carpenter ants are notoriously difficult to get rid of. This is primarily because effective removal requires eliminating as many colonies as possible, which may be inside or outside the home. Carpenter ant nests come in two forms: satellite and parent, and in the case of the parent colony, the nest is most likely outside. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent and get rid of carpenter ants in your home:

  • Store firewood away from your home and remove dead branches and limbs from around your foundation
  • Trim dead limbs and remove stumps to eliminate potential nesting sites
  • Seal plumbing and roof leaks and check attics and crawl spaces for excess moisture
  • Direct water from rain gutters away from your home
  • Inside your home, ensure that any leaks or plumbing issues are repaired promptly
  • Have any damaged wood repaired immediately
It can pay to enlist help from our Terminix technicians, who have the knowledge and experience necessary to eliminate carpenter ants. If these pests are an issue in your home, contact Terminix® to set up a control plan today. 

black carpenter ant

Signs of carpenter ants in house

Here are some key indicators that you may be dealing with a carpenter ant infestation: 
  1. Rustling or scratching sounds in walls and woodwork - Carpenter ants make their nests inside the woodwork of your home. When they’re burrowing out the wood, it can create a rustling or scratching sound. 
  2. Ant trails or paths - Carpenter ants forage for food to bring back to their nest, leaving behind a trail or path that leads back to their colony. 
  3. Finding piles of wood shavings or sawdust - Since carpenter ants live in the woodwork of your home, they can leave behind wood shavings or sawdust when building their nest. This damage is commonly found in areas like window sills and baseboards. 
  4. Ant droppings - Ants leave behind droppings that are a mix of wood particles and fecal matter. 
  5. Finding wings from swarmer ants - Flying ants shed their wings, and you can often find their discarded wings near windows or baseboards. 
  6. Spotting a black ant - Spotting a large black ant in your home is one sign that you are dealing with a carpenter ant infestation.  

What are the best ways to control carpenter ants?

Finding the nest is the first step to treating a carpenter ant infestation. Their nests can usually be found in areas with moisture-damaged wood. Prime nesting locations include wall voids, behind dishwashers, near sinks and tubs, or around any other areas with high levels of moisture. The ants often access their nests via baseboards, electrical outlets, door casings, or cracks in the walls. If the ants are just foraging in your home and their nest is outside, you will often find colonies in tree stumps, dead or dying trees, and other wood with moisture damage. 

Once you find their nest, there are several ways you can eliminate them:
  1. Baits - While this is an effective method, it can take much longer to eliminate the colony than other carpenter ant treatments. It can take several different placements and bait types for the ants to bring it back to their nest. 
  2. Natural Solutions - Some essential oils can repel carpenter ants, but they will not get rid of them. They will likely just cause the ants to relocate to other areas of your home. 
  3. Insecticides - These are the most common methods of carpenter ant removal; however, they should be left to the professionals. Working with insecticides and desiccants requires safe handling and proper training. It can also be difficult for homeowners to reach the cracks and crevices needed to eliminate the entire colony.

carpenter ant

How do you get rid of carpenter ants permanently?

The most effective way to get rid of carpenter ants is to have a Terminix technician perform a carpenter ant treatment. Our technicians are experienced in finding carpenter ant nests and know how to eliminate them. With a regularly scheduled maintenance plan, our technicians can catch and treat ant infestations before they become a major problem. Contact us today!

 
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