Sometimes, it can feel like an impossible task to manage an ant infestation. However, if you live in an area that’s prone to ants or you’re trying to make sure you don’t have a second infestation, there are actually a number of tips and tricks you can utilize for handling ants a little more easily. Consider these methods of managing ants in the house more easily.
- Put Food in Airtight Containers
A good step to take is to make sure all your food is in airtight containers. Ants are typically looking for food and water, and if they find food, even if it’s put away properly, they’ll likely be able to find it. If you have serious ant problems, you may even want to purchase additional containers for all your food products, which can help thwart their attempts to find your food.
- Empty Your Trash Frequently
Trash cans, especially ones that function as repositories for food waste, are a great place for ants to find food and water. That’s one reason it’s so important to empty your trash as soon as it fills up. You may also want to wash your trash cans fairly regularly if possible. Emptying your trash directly to the garbage can go a long way in thwarting ants.
- Fix Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Because ants are often looking for water as much as they’re looking for food, leaky pipes and faucets can be an important part of avoiding ants in the future. Even very small leaks, such as leaks that only release a few drops every so often, can draw ants in from the outside. Fixing these leaky pipes can lower your water bill, help you avoid ants, and keep away other bugs and pests.
- Seal Cracks and Holes in Walls
It’s common for ants to come inside the home because of cracks or holes in the wall. These cracks and holes don’t even have to be big enough for you to be able to see them. Ants are great at being able to find whatever entry points they can. You may need to call in a pest control expert to find the cracks in your walls, point them out, and seal them properly.
- Consider Crushed Stone or Rock Over Mulch or Pine Straw
If you have mulch or pine straw in your yard as decoration, you may want to consider changing it for crushed stone or rock instead. Although mulch and pine straw can be simple ways of handling exterior home décor, they’re also great places for ants to create their homes. Crushed stone or rock will make it much more difficult for these ants to create a colony near your home, which will reduce the likelihood of an ant infestation.
- Repair Cracked Pavement and Foundations
One of the biggest reasons ants can come into your home is because you have cracks in your pavement or foundation. This isn’t exactly a simple fix; it requires you to talk to a foundation repair expert who can help you fix these cracks for good. However, it is simple in that if they’re the ant entry point, fixing them will get rid of your ant problem near-effortlessly. Especially if you’ve never requested an inspection before, it may be a good idea to make sure your foundation is crack-free before implementing these other fixes.
Conclusion
These are all tips and tricks that will likely not stop a serious ant problem, but they can help you prevent ants from getting inside. Repairing the entry points is your best bet when it comes to making sure you don’t have serious ant infestations in the future. It’s always best to consult a foundation repair expert if you have bug entry points that you may need to fix for good
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