The Do's And Don'ts Of Ant Control: An Extensive Guide For Dallas Homeowners

When you start to see little black ants crawling around inside your home by the thousands, you're going to have to do something about them. But what about when you see one ant every once in a while? What do you do about that? It is easy to ignore it and let that ant go about its business. Most ants are less than ¼ of an inch long. They're easy to ignore. But it might not be a good idea. That one little ant is giving you a warning. Join us as we discuss the do's and don'ts of ant control. We'll cover all the important facts you need for ant control in Dallas. If you have an ant problem that requires immediate service, reach out. Your All-Safe Pest & Termite team is here to help.

Don't Ignore Early Signs Of Ant Activity

Do you know how an ant infestation begins? It is likely to start with one tiny little ant that finds food in your home. What happens is that one ant brings a piece of the food back to its nest. As it travels, it lays down an invisible trail of pheromones. Other worker ants smell the pheromones and follow the trail to the food. As they make their way back to the nest, guess what they do? They add to the trail. As the scent of the trail grows, so does the number of ants following it, and the invisible trail turns into a very visible trail. You'll see the ants. You'll also see them as they swarm in the area of the food. Ant swarms are often the reason Dallas residents reach out to local pest control for assistance. But there are far more important reasons to address ant infestations than simply because they are a disturbing nuisance. Let's take a look at a few of the risk factors associated with ant problems.

Don't Underestimate The Risks Of An Ant Infestation

Ants are definitely a nuisance. But they do more than annoy you. Ants have behavior patterns and abilities that can present problems when they get into your home. Here are a few of the ways ants may give you trouble.

• Most ants get into your trash. When they do, they can pick up harmful germs and microscopic worms. They spread these to surfaces, dishes, stored foods, and more.
• Some ants find their way into electronics, and they can cause them to short out and malfunction.
• Some ants chew on wire coating and sometimes cause lights to go out. If you're experiencing a blackout in your kitchen, ants might be to blame.
• Some ants sting. The ants most known for doing this are fire ants. When you start to see these ants in or around your home, it is definitely time to contact a licensed professional for fire ant control. For some individuals, fire ant stings are a health concern.
• Some ants damage wood. They're called carpenter ants. While they're not going to damage your home overnight, they can do a surprising amount of damage over time. It is best to catch them early and stop them in their tracks.

So, what should you do when you see one ant crawling around inside your home? We hope you consider that early warning sign and take steps to bolster your protections before a small problem turns into a big one. You can do this on your own or by contacting a professional for assistance. Let's look at what your professional ant control can do for you.  

Do Call The Professionals At The First Sign Of Ants

There are many ways to deal with ants, and many products are available to address ant problems. Why is contacting a licensed professional the best way to get rid of ants? Some reasons are obvious. Others may not be. If you're dealing with ants in your home or yard, consider these points.

• A professional is trained to address ant infestations. That means we'll select appropriate products to arrest ant activity and apply the product according to strategies that are known to work.
• A professional has field experience. We routinely deal with ant infestations and know some of the clever ways ants outsmart DIY pest control treatments.
• A professional is educated in common ant species. Ants have different food and habitat preferences that can impact the control strategy. Some ants create nests deep in the ground and are resistant to mound treatments. We identify your ants and make evaluations that will lead to effective control. 
• When DIY ant control fails, you may not realize it at first, which allows ants to continue to present a hidden threat to your health or property.
• DIY ant control is often incomplete. If you apply a partial solution, ants will continue to get inside and present problems.
• Sometimes DIY ant control can make the problem worse. Some ant colonies have multiple queens and are prone to a process called budding, which turns one colony into two or many more when the primary nest is threatened. 
• A professional will use monitoring devices and inspection techniques to ensure none of the targeted ant colonies remain.
• Ants are potentially harmful. You'll want to make sure they're completely controlled.
• Ant control is hard work. It is nice to just sit back and let someone else do the work.
• A professional will give you insights about your ant problem and inform you of conducive conditions, potential routes, entry points, and more. If you're looking for a long-lasting and sustainable solution, it is best to get a professional ant treatment.

Are you in the Dallas area? If so, you're in our area. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termites and request a service visit from one of our friendly and knowledgeable technicians. We'll help you find a control solution that works best for you.

If you want to go after those ants yourself but don't want to have the regrettable consequences that come with misapplying pest control products, we recommend using natural prevention to not only remove ants from your home but keep them out permanently. Let's take a look at how this works.  

Don't Forget These Ant Prevention Tips

You always want to have an arsenal of prevention tips in mind, whether you are looking to get rid of ants or you don't want ants in the first place. All-natural prevention works to control ants and prevent ant problems. Try these steps. They're as easy as one-two-three.

1. Reduce Food Options

When ants find food in your home, it can inspire them to enter your home in large numbers. If ants enter in large numbers, some ants can create an indoor nest. Reducing food options can make ants go away and prevent your problems from worsening. Try using the following tips to minimize food available to ants:

• Clean up food debris on floors.
• Wipe down shelves and cabinets.
• Clean spills and wash down counters frequently.
• Keep food covered when sitting out on your counters or island.
• Wipe down honey jars, jelly jars, and other containers that get messy.
• Consider putting certain pantry foods in sealed containers.
• Clean your interior trash receptacle and keep it covered.
• Remove your trash routinely to reduce smells that attract ants.

Ongoing and sustained control of food sources is your best tool for ant control and prevention. 

2. Address Moisture Sources

Ants need water to drink. They can even collect water droplets and carry them on their backs. If you have a moisture problem in your home, it can instigate an ant problem.

• Check your faucets for leaks and make repairs to remove tiny droplets that ants can collect.
• Inspect your plumbing and look for any slow drips or condensation.
• Check your basement for areas of condensation or moisture issues.

A dry home is no place for an ant – unless the ants are living in your home and finding water to drink outdoors. 

3. Ant-Proof Your Home

As you drive ants out of your home, you'll want to block the holes they used to invade your home in the first place. You can do this with home repair and pest-proofing materials, such as a caulking gun or cans of expanding foam.

• Repair door sweeps.
• Replace leaky weatherstripping.
• Use a caulking gun to seal around your window and door framing.
• Make patches to any damaged screens or send them out for screen replacement.
• Fill in gaps around your plumbing.
• Fill in rotted wood holes or gaps in your siding and foundation.

No entry point is too small for a tiny ant. Apply these exclusions indoors and outdoors for extra protection.

Once you're done indoors, apply the same techniques around your home. Consider potential food sources and address them. Reduce moisture and puddles. Remove hiding places for ants, such as underneath leaves, inside brush piles, or under objects stored near your home.

You can have a big impact on ants by applying natural pest maintenance. For added protection, you can get started with a residential pest control plan. If you're in Dallas, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn about Safe Select Pest Control and Protection Plus Pest & Termite Control. These are great programs for all-purpose pest management. And remember that we're always available to provide targeted ant pest control services. Contact us when you need us.