We recently heard a busy homeowner was “surprised” by a major carpenter ant infestation.
The ants had built a massive nest in the second-storey subfloor. They were tunnelling through wood timbers, weakening the structural integrity of the home.
How’d the ants get there?
It all started outdoors with a faulty downspout elbow. Leaking water rotted the adjacent wood trim. Carpenter ants are attracted to water-damage wood. They climbed up the downspout and tunneled into the home.
Their nest grew in size over several years. It wasn’t discovered until a handyman was hired to repair and paint the home’s exterior. He pulled off a rotted board and ants rained down on him.
Damage caused by the ants was extensive and costly. The problem could have been found sooner if the homeowner had:
- Acted when her children told her about seeing an ant on occasion in their second-storey bedrooms.
- Regularly inspected the outside of her home. She may have noticed the downspout leak before birds were flying in and out of a hole in the rotted trim to eat the ants.
How to be carpenter-ant aware
Carpenter ants cause more damage to wooden structures in Canada than any other pest.
To catch ant problems early, the experts at Pest HQ, Ontario’s leading source for DIY pest control supplies, advise the following:
1. Know the signs of carpenter ant activity. These include sawdust, strange holes and actual ants. Be especially observant at night – carpenter ants are nocturnal.
2. Pay attention when your children say they’ve seen ants. Ask where and when they saw them.
3. Learn how to get rid of carpenter ants.
4. Use professional-grade products – the best in Canada – to kill the ants.
5. Take steps to prevent ants from entering your home.
6. Know when to call a professional for help.
Questions? Contact the ant experts at Pest HQ!
Read more:
How to identify carpenter ants
