Ant Prevention Tips

Most homeowners have dealt with the frustration of an ant infestation at one point or another. Ants are the number one nuisance pest throughout the nation, and some species are more than just a nuisance when destructive ants are involved. To avoid dealing with the cost and frustration of an ant infestation, it’s important to implement the best ant prevention tips in your home or business.

At Springer Professional Home Services, we are committed to keeping ants out of Iowa homes. We’ve provided our top tips and tricks to keep ants away. 

Why Do Ants Keep Coming Back to My Home?

You’ve killed them once; you’ve killed them twice. Why do these ants keep coming back to your home? Ants can be tricky to completely eliminate from your home, and here are a few reasons why.

1. Your home still provides basic necessities.

Just like with any other pest, ants need food, water, and shelter. If your house provides a food source, the ants will continue to invade. For this reason, one of the most effective ways to eliminate ants from your home is to remove their reason for being there. While exterminating ants in the home will reduce their numbers, other colony members will likely return to keep the provisions coming. To keep ants from coming back, keep food out of their reach.

2. The colony is still alive.

Ants live in colonies with a vast number of members. For this reason, it’s common to kill a dozen or more ants in your home only to return and find that a dozen or more have taken their place. To be effective, extermination must consist of more than simply killing ants as they are found.

3. Treatment varies by species.

Different types of ants require different types of treatment. For example, run-of-the-mill ants like the tiny black ones you see crawling across picnic blankets are typically only in search of sugar and other sources of food. Their presence, though a nuisance, isn’t necessarily a sign of anything more serious. 

Conversely, carpenter ants, which seek out decaying wood, require a much more dedicated extraction. Because of this, it’s helpful to know what type of ant you’re dealing with. An ant control professional can help you identify the ant species and develop the most effective extermination plan for that type.

3 Ant Prevention Tips

Ant problems inside a building can drive any property owner insane. Not only are they difficult to get rid of, but it also takes a long time to completely eliminate a population! The following ant prevention tips are proven to keep ants away from your property:

1. Limit their sources of water:
   • Fix leaky pipes, and routinely check under sinks for areas of moisture.
   • Use a dehumidifier in damp basements or crawl spaces.
   • Ensure downspouts and gutters are functioning properly.
2. Limit ant food sources:
   • Keep the kitchen clean and free of crumbs.
   • Wipe down counters and sweep floors regularly.
   • Store any food in sealed containers, and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator.
   • Use a lid on trash cans and dispose of garbage regularly.
3. Remove their entry points:
   • Routinely check the perimeter of your home for entry points and seal them.
   • Double-check that your windows and doors don’t have cracks, or install screens to help keep pests out.

Can You Keep Ants Away Naturally?

Preventing ants can be a difficult process. These tiny pests can make their way indoors through the tiniest of cracks. DIY or all-natural problem prevention is a gamble, but can sometimes lessen the risk of getting an ant problem. Planting mint around the perimeter of your home, using a vinegar and water spray solution, or spreading diatomaceous earth, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or black pepper around your home may help keep ants away. Even if these ant problem prevention tips work short-term, they will not be a long-term solution to an existing ant infestation.

Need Help Preventing Ants in Your Iowa Home?

Knowing how to keep ants away on your own can seem like an upward battle, which is why it often requires the expertise of a professional ant control company. 

If you’re fighting a losing battle against the ants in your home, contact the experts at Springer Professional Home Services. Our team of pest control professionals will help you eliminate your ant problem and prevent a future one from developing. 

Getting rid of a colony takes time and patience, and the technicians at Springer Professional Home Services know how to control current problems and how to keep ants away for good. Set up your free inspection today!