The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Meridian Home

Have you had the experience of seeing ants crawling over the pet food in your pet's bowl? Have you been sitting at your office desk when you felt something moving on your arm, and it was an ant? Have you gone into the garage to get a tool when you noticed a line of ants marching across the floor? 

If you have had similar experiences with ants in your Meridian home, you need the Meridian pest control team from Sawtooth Pest Control. Our professionals have almost twenty years of experience in the pest control industry, and we know how to eliminate ants in your house. 

How To Identify An Ant Infestation In Your Home

Although it is easy to overlook ants, the following are signs of ants in Meridian homes: 

• Pathways: Ants release a pheromone as they travel to and from a food source, and this chemical serves as a roadmap for other ants searching for food. Soon, there is a line of ants traveling the path. 
• Dirt: Mounds of soil in the yard may indicate the presence of ants. 
• Nests: Piles of soil on the sidewalk or next to the home's foundation indicate the presence of ants. 
• Ants: Many ants in the house imply a nest is nearby. 

When you see these signs of ants in your Meridian home, ant control in your house is needed.

The Trouble With Ants Crawling Around Your Home

Common ants in Idaho include black ants, house ants, pavement ants, red ants, and carpenter ants. Each species of ants presents its own set of problems for Meridian homeowners. Carpenter ants are the most destructive. Unlike termites, these ants don't eat wood; instead, they damage wood structures in your home by boring holes in wood to create nests. Over time, tunnels created by carpenter ants can cause warped door and window frames, sagging or collapsing floors, and more. 

Pavement ants build nests in concrete cracks, and while they don't pose a health risk, they contaminate food by shedding bacteria from their bodies as they walk over food. Odorous house ants are similar to pavement ants because they are a nuisance more than a health risk; however, this ant does release a rotten coconut smell when crushed. Some red ants sting and cause significant physical pain. 

Why Do-It-Yourself Ant Control Usually Fails

Everyone wants to save money, so our first inclination is to purchase a do-it-yourself (DIY) product to solve an ant infestation problem. These pest control ant treatments initially appear successful because when you spray a line of ants, they die; however, the feeling of success is short-lived. 

The problem with DIY products is that they fail to eliminate the source of the infestation, the ant nests. These colonies are inside walls, in the crawlspace or basement, and other out-of-sight locations. Unless the DIY product destroys the egg-laying queen and her eggs, you will continue to experience an ant invasion. 

Another concern with do-it-yourself ant pest control products is that they often fail to eliminate the pheromone trails, and as a result, they do not stop the influx of new ants into your Meridian home. You may initially save money using a DIY product, but in the long run, you may spend more because the product may fail to stop the infestation.

The Trick To Getting Rid Of An Ant Infestation For Good

To get rid of ants for good in your Meridian home, you need the professionals from Sawtooth Pest Control. The first thing we do is identify the type of ant infesting your home. Knowing the ant species invading your home enables us to develop a custom, targeted treatment plan. For example, eliminating carpenter ants requires a different tactic than pavement ants. Contact us today and schedule a free no-obligation inspection.