Sometimes it can be hard to tell when there is a change of season here in Texas. Summer feels like summer. Fall and winter feel like slightly cooler summer. And spring feels like early summer. Unlike in more northern states, some parts of Texas do not have a reprieve from the heat. And with no reprieve from the heat, there is no reprieve from carpenter ants either. Just like our seemingly endless summer, carpenter ants here in Texas are year-round. For this reason, carpenter ant prevention has never been more important. So here are some ways you can keep your home free of carpenter ants this summer.
Carpenter Ant Prevention Steps
Carpenter ants are attracted to properties for a number of reasons. Here are some steps you can take as a homeowner to reduce these attractants and discourage carpenter ants from invading your property and getting into your home.
- Reduce moisture and water build up in and around your property, especially around its structural wood.
- Trim tree branches, shrubs, and other plants away from the exterior of your home. This will increase direct sunlight around your home’s exterior which will aid in keeping it dry and unattractive to carpenter ants.
- Seal cracks or gaps around your home's exterior that carpenter ants could be using to get inside.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
When dealing with carpenter ants, it can be easy to fall into the trap of trusting store-bought prevention. But these products contain dangerous chemicals which, although they are able to kill some carpenter ants, can also pose a threat to your health if used improperly. In addition, because carpenter ants hardly ever set up their main colony within the walls of your home, eliminating every carpenter ant from your property can prove extremely difficult.
Where Carpenter Ant Damage Commonly Occurs
Carpenter ants are more likely to infest wet or water-damaged wood in your home than anywhere else. Keeping this in mind, check around your home for areas of high humidity and around your home's exterior for any place where water may be building up. Look for piles of sawdust. If you find these piles underneath tiny holes, chances are they were made by carpenter ants.
Why Call A Professional ASAP If You See Damage
If you are finding carpenter ants around your home, or the signs they leave behind, it’s time to call the professionals. Here at Adams Exterminating, we have methods and treatments that fully eliminate carpenter ants in and around your home. On top of that, we offer year-round prevention so that no matter what season it is, carpenter ants will have no other option than to stay away. Our highly trained team is ready to help at your request. All you have to do is contact us today!