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Why Do I Have Ants In My Home?

ant on a tree
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There are many reasons why you can get ants in your home and around your yard. Having ants in the Sacramento Valley is normal. If you have problems with ants at your home there are things you can do to help with the problems.

Here are a few frequently asked questions from homeowners about ants and what causes them.

Do ants mean my home is dirty?

Ants can enter a home for a few reasons, they could be looking for water or food. There isn’t a reason to be embarrassed if you have ants in your home. Problems with ants are common in the Sacramento Area.

The weather has some impact on ants in your home.

Why do I get ants in my kitchen?

When you see ants a few ants in your kitchen they are scout ants. These are the ants looking for food and or water.  Their job is to bring ants back to the food or the water. If there is not a large supply of food in the cabinets or on the counters these scout ants will look for crumbs that have fallen behind the stove, in the drawers or are on the floor.

Just like the ants you see need food they also need water. You may find ants around the sink as the forage for the water.

Pet bowls are commonplace to find ants as well since most pet foods are high in protein.

Another reason to find ants in your kitchen is typically they are in close proximity to the colony. Most kitchens are anchored to an outside wall. The ants can enter into the home from the base of the structure. Many times ant colonies can be found under weed stop or plastic sheeting used under bark or rocks. These materials usually butt up against the base of the home.

If plants are touching the house or the roof this is another avenue for the ants to get into your kitchen.

When there is massive rain you may also see ants enter a home for protection from the elements.

If you want to reduce the risk of ants in your kitchen you can do a few things:

  • Wipe the counters down well
  • Fix leaky faucets
  • Limit leaving dirty dishes in the sink or the dishwasher
  • Seal bags of sweets
  • Sweep the floors to remove food debris and crumbs
  • If you have fruit trees outside your kitchen remove fallen fruit from the ground (this also helps remove the risk of rodents)

What should I do if I wake up in the middle of the night and have ants everywhere?

One of the best things you can do if you wake up in the middle of the night and find ants everywhere is to do nothing. This may sound counterintuitive but if you kill the ants it makes it difficult for your technician to determine where they are coming from.

Leaving the ants where they are, exposes their trails. Whenever you use cleaners this removes the scent and it may make it more difficult to find the colony.

What do I get ants in my bathroom?

You will get ants in your bathroom for some of the same reasons you will get them in the kitchen, The ants you see in a bathroom may be looking for shelter or water. If you find ants in your bathroom it does help to leave them until a service technician arrives and can figure out where they are coming from.

Why do I get ants in my bedroom?

Ants will forage until they find food. You may see a line of ants going from your bedroom and into the bathroom or the kitchen. This is more common than you think.

Does pest control service take care of ants?

A home pest control service can help you with your ant problem. It may take a few services to get your concern under control. Something to remember is the ants were there quite a while before they entered your home. The ant colony may not be easy to locate as some of them are hidden well.

If you do have ants we can help you out with a Free start up service when you sign up for a control plan.

You can call that office at (916) 252-4703 and let the friendly staff know you want the start up special. They can help you out with an appointment. Best of all we can get out to your home same day in most instances.

Call the office and ask for the Free Start up special 916512-6035

Contact us to schedule your complimentary inspection, and we’ll provide you with an estimate for our services.