How to eliminate ants in your house.

Most people think of ants scurrying around their Clearwater home as nothing more than a nuisance and generally “not a big deal.” But an ant infestation can actually be a big deal and cause real problems if left untreated. While ant species like Fire Ants (Solenopsis) and Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) can inflict a painful sting and get into your food supply and contaminate it with bacteria, a colony of Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.) can actually cause structural damage to your house by hollowing out wood for nesting.

While you can spray a chemical ant repellent to get rid of ants in the house, this is unfortunately not a very safe option. Most ant repellents that you will find on the market are considered pesticides and can release toxic fumes that can be dangerous for the people and pets living in the home. Fortunately, there is a better (read: safer) way to get rid of ants in the house.

Before we talk about what the best way to get rid of ants is, though, you need to find the source of the ant infestation in your house.

Finding the Source of the Infestation

To get rid of ants in the house, you must first determine the source of the ant infestation in your house. Because ants prefer damp areas to nest, kitchens, bathrooms, and attics are the areas most likely to be ant hideouts in your house. Finding the nests in those areas may take some detective work, though.

In most cases, there will be an anthill located outside, but close to the home’s outer wall. Though, keep in mind that the nests of Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis) or Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) can be hard(er) to locate as they often look like mounds of dirt.

If you are having difficulties tracking down the source of the ant infestation in your house, consult with an experienced pest control services provider.

Heat Treatment to Get Rid of Ants in the House

The conventional approach to treating a pest infestation has been through the use of chemicals. But the use of pesticides is not a sustainable approach to the infestation of ants in your house. Non-chemical treatment or heat treatment is, in fact, the best way to get rid of ants in your house.

Heat treatment can completely eradicate every type of ant and their eggs (as well as other indoor pests) without leaving any toxic chemical residues. This is how heat treatment works: special thermal heat treatment systems are turned on in the targeted room area for 4-6 hours at a lethal temperature range of 120º-130ºF.

If you want to get rid of the infestation safely, economically, and quickly, there is no better way than using special thermal heat treatment systems.

How to Prevent Future Infestations?

Once you have gotten rid of all the ants in the house, you need to keep it that way. Here are a few simple measures that can discourage ants from ever returning to your house.

• Clean up food spills or overflow as soon as possible before it has a chance to set
• Store produce and bread in the fridge and opened dry goods in airtight containers with tight-fitting lids
• Clean out trash cans every few weeks with an ammonia solution
• Keep an eye on indoor potted plants
• Fix leaking pipes and maintain proper drainage
• Trim back foliage, shrubs, and low-hanging tree branches away from the house
• Seal all cracks and crevices around the house with a silicone-based caulk

Contact McDonald Pest Control to Learn How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home

Do you require pest control services such as termite control or bed bug services in Clearwater? Schedule an appointment with McDonald Pest Control. Our specialists have extensive experience in locating ants on your property and treating them with heat treatment.

Call us today at 727-734-0963 to schedule a no-cost consultation for specialized ant treatment in Clearwater.