How Ants Get Into Phoenix Homes & How To Keep Them Out

Ants and Trash

Before ants get into your Arizona home, they come near to your home. The more ants you have around your home, the more likely you'll have issues with ants inside your home. One thing that can attract ants is exposed trash or the scent of garbage.

• Store bagged trash in covered containers
• Remove trash from your property at least weekly.
• If you fail to get trash out weekly, be sure to disinfect your receptacle to remove odors that can attract the attention of ants. 

Ants and Organic Material

If you have organic material of any kind near your exterior walls, ants are likely to be drawn to it. Yard work is essential for keeping control of ant populations around your home. It's a lot of hard work, but it is worth the effort.

Ants and Honeydew

When aphids and other plant-damaging insects target the plants in your landscaping, they produce a substance called honeydew. This is a sweet and delectable food source for most ant species. It is important to address insect issues in your landscape plants to reduce this attractant.

Ants and Moisture

There are a few ways moisture can play a part in raising the number of ants around your Phoenix home. Excessive moisture can reduce plant health and create conditions that attract aphids. It can cause wood rot which is attractive to carpenter ants. And, generally, high levels of moisture provide a perfect habitat for many ants. Here are a few tips for managing moisture levels.

• Give your plants only the amount of water they need. One way to do this is to put sprinklers on a timer.
• Repair plumbing leaks and leaking hoses.
• Trim your landscape vegetation to allow the air to flow through and keep things dry.
• Clear your gutters of any obstructions.

Ants and Openings

The most obvious reason ants get in is because they can. Once you've addressed conditions that might attract ants to your exterior, it is important to take the time to seal gaps and holes. Here are a few trouble spots to check first.

• Weatherstripping around doors can develop gaps, and these gaps can give easy access to ants.

• Gaps around water mains and wire conduits are common entry points for ants because these openings are low to the ground.

• Cracks in foundations are often used by ants because ants explore the cracks of rocks and other hard materials.

Ants and Food

When ants get into your home and find food, they'll mobilize an army. If you see lots of ants inside your home, you may think that your home has a nest in it, but lots of ants can get into your home through one tiny hole used by a worker ant that found food. If you track where the ants are coming from, you might be able to seal that opening. Then you can simply clean the area where you found the ants and you may solve your problem. For added protection, it is a good idea to have a pest control professional inspect your property, lay down appropriate baits, and perform mound treatments in your yard. Some ant species can establish interior nests when they find food inside your home. These nests can be more difficult to address, and it can cost you more. Proactive ant control is far better than reactive ant control.