Ants are one of the most common pests that can invade your home. While they may seem like a nuisance, these tiny creatures can cause serious damage to both your property and your health if left unchecked. But why do ants decide to make their homes in our houses? What causes ant infestations in homes, and how can they be prevented?

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the surprising causes of ant infestations in homes and provide you with tips on how to keep them away for good.

1. Food Sources

One of the main causes of ant infestations in homes is food sources. Ants are drawn to sugar, proteins, and other sweet or savory items. They tend to enter through small cracks or crevices in the home, such as door frames, windowsills, and even outlets and light switches. Once they have found a way inside, they will begin to search for food sources – usually in kitchens and pantries.

Common foods that attract ants are grease, crumbs, pet food, fruits and vegetables left out on the countertop, sticky spills, or residues on surfaces that have been left unclean for too long. Unsealed containers are also a huge culprit in providing easy access to these food sources for ants.

2. Moisture

Ants gravitate towards areas with high humidity levels as this environment provides them with essential hydration for survival.

This includes wet basements, bathrooms, or laundry rooms where there may be water damage from plumbing leaks or poor ventilation which create a damp atmosphere that attracts ants from outside into the home.

Additionally, leaking pipes or faucets indoors can provide enough water for an entire colony of ants if not addressed quickly by a professional plumber.

3. Cracks and Crevices

Cracks and crevices are yet another entry point for ants looking to invade your home and find food sources inside. These tiny cracks may be present around windowsills and doorframes due to settling over time or weathering effects from outdoor elements like wind and rain.

Caulking these spots can help prevent ants’ entry into your home as well as help save energy costs in the process due to improved insulation capabilities around windowsills and door frames!

4. Exterior Landscaping

One needs to consider what is happening on the exterior of their home when trying to prevent ant infestation within the interior walls of their house.

Do you have shrubs growing up against your foundation? Plants that could potentially bridge a gap between your house’s foundation wall/soil line allowing pests like ants direct access into your living space?

If so it would be best practice to start trimming back any vegetation growth near foundation walls and consider adding an artificial barrier between plants and soil like mulch/gravel which can help keep crawling insects away from entering your home!

Furthermore, it is important to look out for any standing water near foundation walls as this can potentially attract ant colonies looking for hydration!

5. Pest Cues

One of the most common reasons why ants may be invading your home is due to pest cues they have identified in or around the home. These cues can range from other insect activity, such as termites, to areas where food sources may be available.

Ants are drawn to sweet and greasy substances, which means that food crumbs on counters and floors, spilled drinks, pet food left uneaten, and open trash cans can all attract them. Additionally, some ants have even been known to detect smells associated with electrical wiring inside walls or appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and microwaves.

6. Health of the Home

Another possible cause for an ant infestation is related to the overall health of the home. If a building has structural damage or lacks proper sealants around windowsills and doors, then it can create entry points for ants and other pests.

Moisture buildup from plumbing issues or roof leaks can also attract these bugs since they rely on water sources to survive. Furthermore, certain types of ants cannot survive cold weather unless they are living in a warm environment like a house – so if those types of ants are present, it could point towards a larger problem with insulation or ventilation in the structure itself.

7. Poor Sanitation Practices

Poor sanitation practices can also lead to ant infestations in homes as well. Even if all structural issues have been addressed and sealed off properly, there still may be other methods of access into the dwelling if appropriate cleanliness standards are not being met regularly.

For instance, if dishes remain unwashed overnight or garbage bins are kept outside without being emptied regularly – this can provide plenty of opportunities for different species of ants to enter the premises looking for sustenance or shelter from harsh weather conditions.

8. Pet Food

Finally, pet food is another area that should not be overlooked when trying to diagnose why ants may be invading your home. Pets can sometimes leave bits of food behind after eating which will easily attract bugs like ants who rely on sugar-based proteins for their nutrition needs.

Furthermore, pets themselves may end up bringing pests in from outside through fur or clothing if they’ve been out exploring near ant nests or colonies during walks or playing outdoors at parks nearby your property line!

Therefore, regular grooming habits along with ensuring all pet food containers are closed tightly when not in use should help prevent widespread invasions from occurring too often inside your home!

What to Do About Ants

If you’ve identified any of the above as potential causes of ant invasions in your home, it may be time to take action. Here are some tips to help you prevent and get rid of ants:

1. Remove food sources. 

When dealing with ant infestations in homes, the first step should always be to remove any potential food sources that could be attracting them. This includes anything from crumbs on the floor or counters, to pet food and spilled liquids.

Any item that has been left out for an extended period of time should be immediately disposed of or put away in an airtight container. Additionally, any areas where food is stored such as cupboards and pantries should always be properly cleaned and vacuumed to make sure there are no remaining crumbs or particles that could attract ants.

2. Seal any cracks or crevices in your home. 

The next step should be to seal any cracks or crevices around windows, doors, baseboards, and other areas where ants could potentially enter your home.

It is important to use a caulk or sealant specifically designed for this purpose as it will help prevent future infestations from occurring as well. Also, all windows and doors should be kept closed when not in use in order to further reduce the risk of ant entry into your home.

3. Keep the exterior of your home free of weeds and other vegetation that could be attractive to ants. 

In addition to sealing off entry points, it is also important to keep the exterior of your home free of weeds and other vegetation that could attract ants. Trim back trees and shrubs near your home’s foundation so that they do not provide a pathway for ants looking to get inside. Moreover, regularly clean up fallen leaves and debris which can create favorable conditions for ants if left unchecked.

4. Clean up spills immediately, and discard food waste properly. 

You want to make sure you clean up spills immediately and dispose of food waste properly in order to avoid attracting more ants into your home. Make sure all surfaces are wiped down thoroughly after meals so there is no trace of food left behind that could attract these pests.

It’s also a good idea to take out the trash regularly so there isn’t an accumulation of old food sitting around which can draw more ants into your home environment.

Even though ants may seem like harmless creatures, they can quickly become an infestation that is hard to get rid of if not taken care of properly. Taking the necessary steps to prevent ant invasions in your home will help keep them out and protect your family from potential health risks associated with pests inside residential living spaces.

5. Vacuuming regularly is an effective way to deal with ant infestations in homes.

It is best to vacuum up any visible ants and then dispose of the contents away from the home. If possible, try to take the vacuum bag outside and discard it so that any remaining ants are not able to return inside your house. Further, vacuuming can help remove food debris that may be attracting the ants, making them less likely to come back in search of food.

6. After feeding their pets, many people forget to take away their pet food quickly enough which can make it easy for ants to find a meal in the home.

To avoid this problem, it is important to take away the pet food immediately after they have finished eating and then store it somewhere safe where ants cannot get access to it. Besides, wiping down counters or other surfaces where pet food has been consumed will help prevent any remnants from continuing to attract more pests into the home.

7. Paying attention to any signs of an ant infestation is key in taking action quickly before they are able to spread further throughout your house.

Some tell-tale signs of an ant infestation include seeing multiple swarms of ants or trails around the baseboards in your house as they search for food and water sources inside your home.

If you notice these signs of an infestation, taking quick action by removing potential sources of food and water will help reduce their presence in your home and prevent them from multiplying further.

8. In cases where chemical pesticides are necessary due to a severe infestation, it is important to use them properly in order to avoid causing further harm.

Chemical pesticides can be dangerous if not used correctly and can even cause more problems than they solve if applied incorrectly. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly when applying any type of pesticide for ant control as some may require additional precautions in order to be used safely.

Also, if using any type of pesticide indoors, always make sure to open windows and doors for proper ventilation so that the fumes do not become concentrated in the home environment.

Conclusion

Although ants can be a nuisance in your home, there are several steps that you can take to prevent and address any ant infestations. By taking the necessary precautions such as sealing off entry points, keeping vegetation around the house trimmed, cleaning up spills quickly, and vacuuming regularly, you can help minimize their presence in your home.

In cases where an infestation has become severe, proper use of chemical pesticides is recommended. By following these steps, you can ensure that your home remains ant-free.

Are You Ready to Tackle Your Ant Infestation? Flex Pest Control is here to help!

When it comes to tackling an ant infestation, Flex Pest Control has the experience and expertise necessary to get your home back to its pest-free state. Our team of professionals will conduct a thorough inspection of your property in order to determine the best course of action for treating the infestation.

In addition to our Arkansas pest control services, we also offer ongoing maintenance plans to help keep ant populations from returning in the future. Contact us today for more information and let us help you get back to enjoying a pest-free home!