Stopping Residential Ant Infestations In Virginia

If you see one ant in your home, beware: more are sure to follow. Ants are a social insect, which means they live and work together for the good of their colony, so when a single ant enters your home and finds the sticky remains of your toddler’s spilled juice, it goes back and communicates to its colony that there’s new food source - thus leading to a home infestation.

Being one of the most common house pests, ants have proven that they are a nuisance time and time again. Seeing them crawling on your floor or congregating around a food source is not only disgusting, but also embarrassing if you happen to have company over. No one wants to explain that they are overrun by an ant infestation and, as the ants in your home become aware of ample food sources, they become more of a problem. Once these pests have invaded your pantry, they have turned from a nuisance into a danger. Ants are constantly traveling back and forth between indoors and outdoors, and along the way they can pick up several germs that can cause diseases in humans.

Carpenter ants are a type of ant that can cause structural damage to your home without your knowledge; because they cause most of your problems out of sight, damages can often go on for years without being noticed, leading to costly repair bills for homeowners.

Common points of entry for all types of ants are foundation gaps, cracks or seams in walls, windows, doors, and even utility lines. Windows and doors that are poorly sealed create a perfect place for ants to hide or enter your home through. Moisture and food are big attractions for most species of ants, and are often found around dishwashers, bathrooms, and laundry areas - especially if there are any small leaks in your piping. Food left on the floor or counters will entice ants, and if you keep providing a food source, they will enter your home with increasing numbers.

The best way to prevent ants from entering your home is simply keeping your house clean and free from crumbs. By regularly removing food and drink items from your counters and floors, you are greatly reducing the chance that a foraging ant will find food to bring back to its colony. Another good tip is to store your food properly, and always seal food in airtight containers so ants can't get into them.

Unfortunately, having a completely clean home can often be hard to manage, especially if you have a job and children. Some ant infestations have already progressed to the point that having a clean home won’t discourage the ants from continuing to live there. If they have found their way into your kitchen or pantry, it’s time to call in the professionals from All Pest Control.

At All Pest Control, we specialize in creating customized treatment plans for your specific needs. We know that different species of ants need different treatments, so contact us today about an inspection and find out what we can do to eliminate your pest problems. For all of your pest control needs, go All Pest!