If ants get into your home, they can spread bacteria, eat your food, and even damage wood and insulation. They often come inside for nourishment, water, and shelter. They also follow each other, so finding one usually means there’s a full infestation. The following ant control techniques will help you deal with an infestation and prevent future ones. 

What to Do After Finding Ants in Your Home

1. Set Traps

Ants are attracted to anything that smells like food, so pest control professionals use this to their advantage when removing them. They set bait traps that include sweet, toxic liquids that the insects consume and carry back to their colonies, removing other ants and larvae as well. 

These traps are generally safe for families. However, they should be placed carefully to avoid contact with pets or children, so it’s a job that’s best left to the professionals. 

2. Seal Entry Points

Once you remove the ants that are already in your home, it’s time to prevent them from reentering. Ants can sneak in through tiny openings, so carefully check the exterior of your home for any gaps and seal them with caulk. Openings are often found around doors and windows or next to water or gas lines that enter your home. 

3. Clean Your Home

Since ants often enter homes looking for food and water, removing these items from areas they can access may make your space less appealing. Clean up after meals, keep food in airtight containers, and throw trash in covered bins to remove food messes. To limit standing water around your home, clean spills and have plumbing leaks fixed right away if you notice water damage or mold around fixtures. 

If you’re looking for professional ant control assistance, contact Rochester Pest Pro. This family-owned and -operated pest control company has served families throughout Rochester, Fairport, Webster, and Honeoye Falls, NY, for more than 20 years. They'll give additional tips on keeping ants out of your living spaces. Visit the website for a full list of services. To request an ant control appointment, call (585) 486-4815.