an in infestation on a kitchen cup With over 700 species in the United States, ants are common home invaders across the country, and Philadelphia is no exception. Along with bed bugs, ants are considered to be one of the most difficult pests to control. Once they get into your home, they are extremely hard to eliminate.

We all want to avoid ants in our homes. The reasons why depends largely on the species. Carpenter ants are dreaded for the threat they pose to the structure of our buildings. They chew up homes from the inside out. Fire ants are feared for the painful bites and stings they inflict. Also common in Philadelphia are odorous house ants and Argentine ants, both of which give off distasteful smells when crushed. But even little black ants and pavement ants (which are seemingly innocuous) carry with them the risk of contamination. Whether ants threaten the structural integrity of your home or the comfort of your skin, they all have the potential to contaminate your food with E. coli, salmonellosis, staphylococcus, or a handful of other diseases. Ants should not be allowed free reign in your home.

Take Offense

We’ve all heard the best defense is a good offense, and nowhere does that ring more true than in pest control. The easiest and most inexpensive way to avoid an ant infestation is to never have one in the first place. Ants enter our homes looking to meet three basic needs: food, water, and shelter. To discourage ants from making your house their home, limit their access to food and water with the following strategies.

Store sweet staples like sugar, syrup, and honey in plastic containers with closing lids. Wipe the exterior of the bottles after use to ensure there is no residue on the outside.
Clean up crumbs and spills as they happen.
Place a bay leaf inside canisters of dry goods like flour to deter ants.
Rinse empty containers before throwing them away or recycling.
Pick up leftover pet food and wash their food bowls regularly.
Make sure shampoo and soap bottles have tightly shut lids and have not spilled from their containers.
Dispose of trash regularly.
Check sinks, toilets, and tubs for leaks or drips.
Watch for water build-up in the sink, and leaky faucets.
Use a dehumidifier in basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
Make sure to regularly dispose of trash.

Solid Defense

To solidify your defense against ants, limit available nesting sites and entry points to your home. Try the following to pest-proof your home’s exterior.

Inspect your home’s exterior and seal any cracks with silicone caulk, paying special attention to areas where utility pipes enter the building.
Repair holes in window and door screens.
Replace weather-stripping and install door sweeps.
Fix loose mortar around the basement foundation and windows.
Make sure downspouts and gutters are functioning properly so that water flows away from the foundation.
Do not store firewood or building materials too close to your home.
Keep tree branches trimmed away from your house.

Starting Line Up

You may find that even when you’ve done everything you can to deter ants from your Philidelphia home, an infestation still arises. That’s when it’s time to call in the professionals. Here at Pestmaster^®Services we know that taking on ants can be an uphill battle and infestations will continue to grow if not properly treated. We use cutting-edge technology and deliver a science-based product for a sustainable solution. In other words, we deliver environmentally friendly and guaranteed results. Enjoy full pest control without any risk. Call today for a free quote!