How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants from Your Home

Finding carpenter ants in your home can be worrying. These insects don’t eat wood, but they dig through it to build their nests. Over time, this can damage your property’s structure.

Let’s talk about how to get rid of carpenter ants for good and prevent them from coming back.

What Are Carpenter Ants?

These are known as one of the largest ant species in North America. They’re usually black or reddish-black and can be up to half an inch long.

Carpenter ants, unlike termites,  don’t actually feed on wood. They just tunnel through it to create space for their nests. They make what’s called “galleries” inside the wood.

These ants usually have a main nest outside your home. But they also create smaller satellite nests inside your walls, attic, or basement. Worker ants travel between these nests looking for food and water. If you’re dealing with any type of ant infestation, our comprehensive ant control services can help eliminate the problem quickly.

During spring and summer, you might see winged ants flying around. These are swarmers, and they mean there’s a mature colony nearby.

Signs You Have Carpenter Ants

Catching carpenter ants early can save you from expensive repairs. Here’s what to look for:

• Piles of Sawdust: Carpenter ants leave behind something called frass. It looks like fine sawdust mixed with insect parts. You’ll usually find it near baseboards, window sills, or door frames.
• Hollow-Sounding Wood: If you tap on wooden beams or door frames and they sound hollow, that’s a red flag. The wood might also feel soft when you press on it.
• Rustling Noises: Listen carefully at night near your walls. You might notice soft rustling or crackling sounds. That’s the ants tunneling through the wood.
• Ant Trails: If you see large black ants marching in lines, especially near your kitchen or bathroom, you probably have carpenter ants. They’re most active at night.

Why Carpenter Ants Come Into Your Home

Carpenter ants love moisture. Here’s what attracts them:

• Water Leaks: Leaks from pipes, roofs, or poor drainage create damp wood. That’s exactly what carpenter ants are looking for.
• Poor Ventilation: Crawl spaces, attics, and basements with bad ventilation stay damp. This makes them perfect spots for ant nests.
• Firewood and Dead Trees: Firewood stacked against your house gives ants easy access. Dead trees and rotting stumps near your foundation are also big attractants.
• Overhanging Branches: Tree branches touching your roof or walls work like highways for ants to get inside.
• Food Sources: Food crumbs, spills, and open trash cans bring ants indoors looking for meals.
• Cracks and Gaps: Cracks in your foundation, gaps around windows, or holes where pipes enter your home are all entry points.

How to Prevent Carpenter Ants

Prevention is always easier than handling an infestation later. Here’s what you can do:

Fix Moisture Problems

• Repair any leaking pipes right away
• Use dehumidifiers in damp basements and crawl spaces
• Make sure your bathroom and kitchen have good ventilation
• Fix any roof leaks as soon as you notice them
• CMHC recommends maintaining proper home ventilation to prevent moisture-related pest issues.

Seal Up Entry Points

• Use caulk to seal cracks and gaps in your foundation
• Replace torn window screens and add door sweeps to exterior doors
• Check where utility lines enter your home and seal those openings too

Remove Food Sources

• Store all food in sealed containers
• Clean up spills and crumbs immediately
• Take out your garbage daily
• Wipe down counters and sinks regularly

Manage Your Yard

• Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your house and stack it off the ground
• Remove dead trees, old stumps, and rotting wood from your property
• Trim tree branches so they don’t touch your house
• Keep mulch away from your foundation

Do Regular Inspections

• Check your home every few months
• Look in your attic, basement, and crawl spaces for signs of moisture or ant activity
• Replace any damaged or rotting wood right away

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Using DIY Ways

For small infestations, you can try these methods:

• Bait Stations: Use slow-acting baits with sugar. Worker ants carry the poison back to the colony, which eventually kills the queen. Be patient, this method takes a few weeks to work, but it’s very effective.
• Boric Acid: This powder damages the ants’ outer shell. You can apply it in wall voids and attics. Keep it away from kids and pets. Always follow the directions on the package.
• Diatomaceous Earth: This natural powder works like boric acid. It’s safer for homes with children and pets. Apply it in cracks, crevices, and other places where ants travel.
• Natural Repellents: Essential oils like orange oil and clove oil can help keep ants away. But they won’t kill an established colony. These work best as prevention, not treatment.
• Non-Repellent Sprays: These create invisible barriers. Ants walk through them without knowing and spread the treatment to other ants.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes you need expert help to get rid of carpenter ants. Call a pest control company when:

1. The colony is large with multiple nests throughout your home.
2. You can’t find where the main nest is located.
3. You already see structural damage to your wood.
4. Your DIY attempts haven’t worked after several weeks.
5. The ants keep coming back every year.

At SafeHome Pest Services, we use comprehensive solutions to eliminate carpenter ants. Our technicians inspect hard-to-reach areas using specialized tools.

We identify moisture problems that attract ants. Then we create a treatment plan that targets both the main nest and satellite nests.

Our treatments may include foam applications, strategic bait placement, and dust treatments in wall voids. We focus on eco-friendly methods that are safe for your family and pets.

We also offer warranties and follow-up visits to make sure the ants don’t come back.

Keeping Carpenter Ants Away for Good

Getting rid of carpenter ants isn’t just a one-time job. You need to stay vigilant.

Keep monitoring for ant activity even after treatment. Maintain dry conditions throughout your home.

Seal any new cracks or gaps as soon as you see them. Don’t let firewood or yard debris pile up near your house.

Remember that carpenter ants go dormant in winter. Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re gone. They’ll come back when it gets warm again.

Year-round prevention is the key to keeping these destructive pests away from your home’s support beams and wooden structures.

Get Professional Help Today

Protecting your home from carpenter ants needs the right approach. Knowing how to get rid of carpenter ants can save your time, money, and stress, restoring your peace of mind. Don’t wait until you see sawdust piles or hear noises in your walls.

At SafeHome Pest Services, we serve Toronto and the GTA with safe, effective pest control solutions. Our licensed technicians use eco-friendly treatments that protect both your home and your family.

We offer same-day emergency service and affordable pricing. Whether you’re dealing with an active infestation or want to prevent one, we’re here to help.

Call us at 416-548-8060 or visit safehomepestservices.ca to schedule your inspection today. Let’s keep your home safe and ant-free.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – Frequently Asked Questions

How to know whether I have termites or carpenter ants?

You can identify them by their behaviour and appearance. Termites eat wood for nutrition, but carpenter ants build nesting galleries in the wooden structure, leaving behind sawdust-like frass, indicating carpenter ant damage. In addition, termite swarmers have wings of equal size, but carpenter ants have larger front wings. 

What is the source of attraction for carpenter ants in my home?

Moisture, water-damaged wood, damp basements and leaking pipes are common attractants for carpenter ants to your home. Moreover, they also seek food sources like proteins, sugar, pet food and crumbs in your kitchen.  Stored firewood, dead trees, overhanging branches and cracks in the foundations also invite carpenter ants to your home. 

How long does it take to get rid of carpenter ants?

It depends on the level of infestation and the size of your property. Baiting methods usually take 2-4 weeks to remove the colony, while professional pest control treatments may show results within 7-14 days and complete elimination up to 4-6 weeks through targeted solutions and follow-up visits. 

When are carpenter ants most active during the year?

They are usually more active during spring and summer months, as it’s the best time for carpenter ants to expand their colonies. However, they hibernate inside their nests during winter. Understanding seasonal behavior and calling SafeHome Pest Services can help homeowners eliminate these pests effectively, ensuring year-round protection.