Take These Steps Now to Prevent Carpenter Ant Damage This Spring

Ready or not—it’s carpenter ant season again!

Carpenter ants are destructive pests that cause major damage to New York homes this time of year. They build their nests in wood and wooden structures, making it harder for you to get rid of them than other types of ants.

Here are a few tips to keep your home protected from carpenter ant damage this spring.

Thoroughly Inspect the Exterior of Your Home

The first step to preventing carpenter ants is to make sure they don’t invade your home. Look around the exterior of your house for cracks or holes in the foundation, rotten wood on the house’s exterior, gaps around vent pipes and tree trunks that aren’t well supported by stakes or braces.

Seal Entry Points

After inspecting the exterior of your home, seal up cracks and holes around doors, windows, utility pipes and other entry points using caulk or silicone.

Reduce Moisture

Carpenter ants need moisture to survive. Therefore, the best way to prevent them is by keeping your home dry. If you find leaks or cracks in the walls and floors of your house, fix them immediately, as moisture could get inside! Also keep an eye on the roof for any signs of water damage or leaks; if there are any problems, repair them as soon as possible to prevent moist environments where carpenter ants could live and breed.

Also remember that carpentry work often involves sawdust, and sawdust is perfect food for carpenter ants! So, if anyone in your household does woodworking projects (like making furniture), keep in mind that sawdust that isn’t cleaned up can attract these insects.

Repair Rotted Wood

If you have any rotted wood on your house’s exterior, repair it immediately. Carpenter ants will be attracted to any signs of decay and may make a nest in the wood. If this happens, they can cause damage to the rest of your home’s structure as well.

• Repair any rotted wood by removing it completely and replacing with new pieces or boards that are secured into place with nails or screws.
• Keep an eye out for other signs of decay: cracks in paint, loose roof tiles/shingles (you should also check these regularly), holes in siding–anything that looks like it might let moisture into the house

Seal Gaps

You should also check for gaps around vent pipes that may have been created after old roof shingles were removed during a repair job. Vent pipes are usually made of metal and when they come loose, carpenter ants will find the opening and make their way inside your home. To prevent this, cover any open ends with aluminum foil or caulk, then cover the entire pipe with mesh screen (you can find it at hardware stores).

Call Knockout Pest Control

If you see carpenter ants in or around your house, call Knockout Pest Control immediately. We may be able to help you get rid of your carpenter ant infestation before these pests cause excessive damage to your property.

To get in touch with our team of New York pest control technicians, call (800) 244-PEST.