When ants go marching one-by-one, they get a catchy song written about them. However, when carpenter ants go marching through the wooden structures of your Frisco home, you won't feel the urge to write any ballads about them. If you knew the damage that carpenter ants can do to the wood in your house, you’d pay more attention when you see those trails of them walking around your property.
Identifying An Infestation
While carpenter ants may not be as detrimental to your home like termites, they can still cause significant damage, over time. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood. As their name entails, these pests utilize the wood during their nest-building process. As they tunnel through the wood in a home, they cause permanent damage. However, if you can recognize the problem early, you’ll be able to save your home (and wallet) from costly repairs. Carpenter ants are typically black or red in color and are only about 5/8” long. If you see the worker ants around your house or property, that’s a pretty certain sign of an infestation because most carpenter ant workers will stay inside wood. Also, if you see holes in the surface of wood, know that carpenter ants could be tunneling, nest-building, and kicking debris out of those holes. If you start to notice this debris piling up around the holes, then you’ve got an active infestation on your hands. If carpenter ants don’t eat wood, what do they eat? They may search your food stores for any openings before they work on any other primary food source. If they find crumbs or improperly stored food consistently, you’ll notice them in your pantry and kitchen. These food supplies will also allow them to work more efficiently and cause more damage.
Possible Prevention
Similar to termites, carpenter ants thrive in wooden structures that are already moistened or softened by wood rot. If you’ve got a problem with leaking pipes or faucets, this can create ideal conditions for a carpenter ant colony. If you’re consistent about checking pipes and faucets for leaks, as well as making sure that outdoor AC units are not leaking fluid near your house, you may be able to deter carpenter ant activity.
You should also pay attention to moisture buildup after rain. If the areas near the outside of your home’s wooden foundation get very saturated, the moisture will seep into the wood. This allows for great nesting conditions and will attract an infestation quickly. This is especially dangerous because you won’t notice the outdoor damage as quickly as you would inside. By the time the carpenter ants have tunneled their way to the wood inside the house that you might notice, significant damage will be done.
Protection You Can Count On
While you may be able to maintain the moisture buildup in your home, there’s no guarantee that you won’t incur an infestation. The wood might already be softened enough from previous owner negligence or natural wear and tear. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of ways to deter carpenter ant activity with home remedies. However, professional pest control services can provide the protection you need to safeguard the investment you’ve made in your home. If you want to prevent an infestation or notice signs of an existing one, don’t try to handle it on your own. Contact the pros at All-Safe Pest & Termite Control at the first sign of carpenter ants for expert services offered at affordable prices. Join thousands of Frisco citizens by entrusting All-Safe with your home’s longevity and your personal piece of mind. There’s no substitute for professional care.