Christiansburg's Step-By-Step Guide To Ant Control

We have lots of ants in Christiansburg. Have you noticed? So, what do you do about all those ants? How do you keep them from climbing around in your trash and then climbing around in your kitchen cabinets? How do you keep them from climbing around on dead animals outside and then climbing on the fruit in your fruit bowl? How do you stop them from drinking from stagnant, bacteria-filled pools of water in your yard and then climbing on the cutting board on your kitchen counter? We have some step-by-step tips to help you get control of ants. It begins outside.

Step 1: Moisture Control

Many ants are drawn to moisture. If you have damp ground near your home, it could be why you have ants inside your home. There are a few ways you can correct moisture issues. Here are our top suggestions.

• Clean gutters and fix gutters, splash blocks, and downspouts. The health of your gutter system is extremely important for the health of your home. It also prevents moisture and dampness that attract ants and many other pests.

• Trim bushes and shrubs to provide better airflow in your landscaping. This allows the wind to dry topsoil after watering.

• Trim tree canopy to let the sunlight into areas that tend to stay shaded most of the time. The sun will dry up the moisture on the surface of the ground.

• Fix leaky plumbing.

• Loosen compacted soil.

• Create a gradation that allows rainwater to flow away from your home rather than create stagnant pools.

Step 2: Remove Food

There are many things that ants consider to be food. Some are obvious, such as pet food or livestock food. Removing these sources is an obvious start. But you must understand the selection of food options that could be attracting ants to your home.

Depending on the species, ants may eat:

• Fruit, berries, and vegetables.

• Birdseed that falls to the ground or is inside feeders.

• Food items found in your trash. Most ants aren't picky.

• Honeydew created by aphids, scales, and other insects.

• Dead animals.

• Dead insects.

• Dead ants.

Step 3: Seal Entry Points

Ants get in because they can. If you keep having ants get into your home, you'll need to do a detailed inspection of your exterior and seal any entry points you find.  

Here are some examples:

• Gaps in weatherstripping around exterior doors.

• Holes in door and window frames.

• Gaps around door and window frames.

• Gaps around pipes and wire conduit.

• Gaps under doors.

• Cracks in foundation walls.

• Cracks around bricks.

• Damaged window or door screens.

Step 4: Seal Access Points

When ants get into your walls, the next step is to get into your kitchen or some other location in your home that will provide a food source. You can resist them by applying a seal to cracks in your kitchen cabinetry and around your windows and doors. Check the plumbing under your sink as well. Moisture points are common locations for ants to go in and out of a home. They run right along the top (or bottom) of a pipe.

Step 5: Sanitation

Good sanitation is key to controlling ants and other pests. This is an indoor and outdoor tip. On the outside, sanitation will remove food sources and smells that attract ants, but it plays a more significant role inside. Do you know that ant scouts come into your home searching for food, and they go back outside without incidence when they don't find anything? This can happen several times before you suddenly find thousands of ants in your kitchen. When you keep your kitchen clean, you reduce your chances of having ants come into your home in large numbers. You also reduce your chances of ants creating a nest inside the wall voids of your home. It is a win-win.

Professional Ant Control

You can have a significant impact on whether or not you'll have an ant infestation by taking the steps listed above. But for the best control of ants, control products will need to be administered. If you need assistance removing ant colonies, addressing an ant infestation, or establishing an ongoing pest control program to reduce ants and other pests, reach out to All Pest Control & Solutions. We service Christiansburg with industry-leading pest control. We can help you get control (and keep control) of ants.