HOW TO KEEP ANTS AWAY PHILADELPHIA, PA
Posted by Admin
Ants are everywhere. This species is so numerous and so well-adapted for survival that it is virtually impossible to travel anywhere on the planet without encountering at least a few species.
With ants making their homes in some of the world's harshest climates, it should come as no surprise that ants thrive in a place with a relatively mild climate like Philadelphia. Even the coldest Philly winter or the hottest summer isn't enough to keep these pests down.
Perhaps this is why so many home and business owners are plagued by ant infestations every year. Conducive conditions make it easy for ant colonies to reproduce, and it similarly is easy for ants to find enough food.
That is especially true when ants make their way into human habitations. Kitchens and pantries promise a veritable smorgasbord for ants. However, ants do not restrict their unwanted activities to the kitchen. Some species, like the carpenter ant, also are incredibly destructive. They may be hard at work, destroying cellulose-containing items throughout the home while their compatriots raid the kitchen.
It is no wonder that people who find ants inside their homes are so anxious for professional ant control. The more you understand about ant infestations as well as why and how they occur, the better you will be able to protect yourself and make a full recovery from an ongoing ant problem.
HOW TO KEEP ANTS FROM COMING IN THE HOUSE
This frequently is the number-one question that customers ask exterminators. They really do not like the idea of sharing their living space with small, six-legged invaders, and they are curious about how the ants got inside in the first place.
Ants need only a very small opening to gain access to the inside of manmade structures. Even a tiny crack or hole in the exterior of a building is enough to let them in.
Ants tend to have particularly keen senses of smell, and they have a lot of mouths to feed. This means that worker ants must forage far and wide to find food. It is possible that questing ants smell the food in your house, which leads them to seek a way inside. Or, perhaps they find an inviting hole or crack and decide to explore it, which leads them to your kitchen.
Either way, it becomes clear that keeping your home's exterior tightly sealed is an absolute must. This means performing regular inspections to look for even the smallest cracks or holes. Sealing these with caulk is always a good idea.
Ants also may enter through doors or windows that are hung crookedly or that have gaps around the frame. Use weather stripping to eliminate these gaps.
Remember, the more secure your home's exterior is, the less likely you are to see ant infestations.
HOW TO GET RID OF ANTS IN THE KITCHEN
Nobody likes to go into their kitchen only to find a line of ants marching across the counter or floor. It's a distasteful sight, and you may even already know that ants contaminate all of the food that they infest. Consequently, any food items that show evidence of ant activity must be tossed in the garbage.
Naturally, people who discover ants in the kitchen want to get rid of them as fast as possible. Several steps may be required to finish the job.
Perhaps the most critical step is identifying the access point that the ants are using. If you can find the hole or crack that the insects are using to enter the building, then you can cover it up or seal it, thereby removing their means of getting into your kitchen.
Unfortunately, that isn't quite enough to eradicate the problem. When ants find a source of food, they lay down a powerful trail of pheromones for their colony mates to follow. It is essential that this pheromone trail be eliminated so that ants that are looking for other access points do not pick up on it and follow it.
It also is critical that all food preparation surfaces be disinfected and that any infested food be destroyed. Take a look at what the ants were eating. Is it a pile of crumbs on a shelf in the pantry? Were they able to get through a small opening in a cardboard box holding food?
It may be necessary to inspect for and wipe away all forgotten spills and crumbs while also switching to more durable food storage like glass and metal containers.
HOW TO GET RID OF ANTS OVERNIGHT
The best way to get rid of ants overnight is to block their ability to enter the building. Simply put, if ants can't find a way to get in, they will start to look elsewhere for a meal.
Of course, it can be really challenging to eliminate all possible holes and cracks in your home's exterior, which means that you could still be vulnerable. In this case, it is wise to use strict food safety practices.
These generally involve putting dirty dishes immediately into the dishwasher instead of letting them sit on the counter or in the sink as well as wiping up spills or crumbs as soon as they occur. Some families decide to restrict food consumption to just the kitchen and dining room to minimize the opportunity for crumbs to accumulate in bedrooms and living rooms.
HOW TO PREVENT ANTS AT HOME
When most people call exterminators, they are calling because they found a line of ants marching across their kitchen. If you're serious about not letting these tiny invaders into your home, then there are steps you can take.
You might consider ensuring that no foliage or limbs are touching the exterior of your home, as these can act like highways for ants and other pests. It similarly makes sense to repair any leaks in plumbing or irrigation systems, as the presence of water is certain to attract thirsty ants.
Take a look at the condition of the wood on your property as well. Is any of the siding damaged or unpainted? Do you have a fence that's rotting? Is a woodpile sitting adjacent to the house?
All of these conditions may invite pests, especially destructive carpenter ants that will destroy any cellulose-containing items indoors and out. Store woodpiles at least 20 feet away from buildings, replace rotting fences and ensure that there is no unfinished paint on the property to prevent these problems.
WHAT CAUSES ANTS IN THE HOUSE?
Ants usually come into houses in search of food or shelter. However, if you properly seal up your house and use recommended food storage techniques, then ants should have little reason to bother you.
WHAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET RID OF ANTS?
Ants can be a persistent species, and members of the colony will keep coming back as long as there is access, food smells, water or a pheromone trail. All of these things must be eliminated, and it also is wise to get rid of the colony.
Most people don't have the know-how and tools that are necessary to accomplish all of these tasks. Accordingly, the fastest way to get rid of ants is by having an exterminator service the property. Their effective methods work with surprising speed and effectiveness.
HOW TO GET RID OF ANTS PERMANENTLY
The best way to ensure that your ant problems are gone for good is to request an inspection by a licensed pest management professional. These technicians can not only block access points and clean up after infestations but also have the means to the destroy the insects' nest. This means that the colony won't be bothering you anymore.
With periodic preventative and maintenance treatments, your exterminator will be able to ensure that ants and other pests will not bother you in the future.
HOW WE TREAT FOR ANTS
Ants are the number one pest control issue and can prove virtually impossible for home and business owners to solve on their own. Ending an ant infestation typically requires proper ant identification, locating and destroying the nest or colony, as well as the use and application of specialized products.
As such, it is not advisable for property owners to attempt to eradicate an ant infestation without assistance from a professional pest control provider.
Schedule a FREE inspection today.
