5 Common Ant Entrance Points Into the Home
Most people are aware that ants come into the home to seek out food and water, but how they get in can be a bit of a mystery. Successful extermination in part depends upon closing up any entrance points.
1. Thresholds and Seals
One of the more common entry points for ants is the small gaps around windows and doors. They can squeeze beneath a door if there is any gap between the threshold strip and the door or even the threshold and the floor beneath. Weatherstripping and seals around windows and doors can also wear over time, resulting in small gaps. If air can blow through, then ants can easily crawl through.
2. Utility Penetrations
A house generally has quite a few lines that run into it from the outside. There are plumbing pipes, electrical lines, cable lines, and water lines, for example. The entrance points for these lines should be well sealed and caulked so there are no gaps that can allow pests in, but occasionally the caulking or seals become damaged or simply wear out. Checking these periodically and repairing the seal as necessary can help keep pests out.
3. Foundation Cracks
In most cases, small cracks in a foundation aren't anything to be concerned about in terms of the stability of your home. They can be a concern when it comes to ants, though. Ants can easily squeeze through these small cracks and they will when they are searching for food, water, or shelter. Keep an eye on the foundation and have cracks sealed, even if they don't pose a hazard to the foundation itself.
4. Houseplants
Many people set their houseplants outside during nice weather. Unfortunately, ants will sometimes get into the soil. Then, these ants are brought into the house when you bring your houseplant back indoors. You can minimize this by leaving houseplants in the house. If you must place them outdoors, set them on a table and place each table leg in a small bowl of water. The water creates a moat that keeps ants away from the plants.
5. Subflooring
For homes with a crawlspace beneath, ants will sometimes come in through the subflooring. First, the ants invade the crawlspace and then enter the home to find food. A dry, clean crawlspace minimizes this risk, but you may also need to have it regularly treated for pests like ants if you want to make sure they won't find their way in.
Contact an ant control company if you find ants inside your home.
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