Tag Archives: ant exterminator passaic county

How Ants Get In and What Attracts Them

ants on a pile of dirty dishes

How Ants Enter Your Home and What Draws Them In

Ants are tiny insects, but they’re also resourceful and resilient ones that frequently cause headaches for New Jersey homeowners.

Life’s simple necessities of food, water, and shelter attract ants to a home. However, overlooked gaps and cracks can provide easy access points as well. Understanding how ants enter a home and what ants are attracted to can help you prevent infestations and call for professional help before the situation worsens.

Common Ant Entry Points

Ants can squeeze through the tiniest of cracks in a home, even ones that you can barely see. It’s common for homes to develop cracks around window frames, doors, and where walls meet the ceilings and floors. Ants have even easier access if you leave windows and doors open to let the fresh air inside.

Floors are common ant entry points since ants often live underground and can easily squeeze through the subflooring. Ants can also access your house through the gaps created to run utility lines and supply you with water, electricity, gas, internet, and cable TV.

It’s possible to accidentally carry ants in from the outdoors, especially if you’re coming in from a hike or live with kids or pets.

Steady and Reliable Food Sources

Like all living beings, ants need food to survive. But ants are especially drawn to sugary foods, such as honey, jelly, and syrup. Any crumbs you leave on your counters are enticing to ants, as are spills that you don’t clean up right away.

Meanwhile, pet food left out in bowls can attract ants. Trash bins that aren’t covered and sealed can also make you more prone to ant infestations.

Ample Moisture, Amplified by Weather

Water is also critical to ants’ survival, especially during hot and dry times of the year. Ants may be drawn to your home if you have leaky pipes or leave stagnant water standing inside or near your home. Ants can also find the moisture they need in damp basements and kitchen sinks filled with dishes soaking in water and covered in food residue.

Additionally, your houseplants may be attracting ants because of the humidity and sweet residues your plants provide.

Warm and Cozy Living Spaces

In the winter, ants frequently look for warm and cozy places to live in New Jersey. Your home can provide this type of safe and comfortable shelter, especially if you have clutter lying around.

After ants enter your home in search of warmth, they may gravitate toward storage boxes, piles of clothing, and collections of toys. Natural materials and debris outside your home, such as firewood, tree stumps, and rock piles, can also attract ants and lure them indoors.

How to Handle an Ant Infestation

When you first notice ants in your house, your first instinct might be to grab a can of commercial ant spray and kill the visible ones. However, DIY treatments typically only address the surface ants and not the hidden colonies that are the real source of the problem. Ant colonies multiply quickly, perhaps leading to a full-blown ant infestation ,while you are only targeting a small fraction of the ants living in your home.

For this reason, it’s best to call Precise Termite & Pest Control at the first signs of ant activity for a free inspection.

We’ll assess the extent of your ant situation, identify the ant species you have, and recommend a targeted solution.

How to Prevent Future Ant Infestations  

To keep your home ant-free and live comfortably with peace of mind, follow these ant prevention tips:

  • Keep all food in airtight containers
  • Promptly clean up spills
  • Ensure trash cans are tightly closed
  • Fix plumbing leaks
  • Seal cracks and gaps around your home
  • Keep the perimeter of your yard free of debris
  • Reduce clutter inside your house
  • Regularly inspect past problem areas for possible ant activity

For more ant extermination advice or to schedule your free ant inspection, please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us online.

The Risks of Ignoring an Ant Infestation

Ant-infested room

Why You Should Never Ignore an Ant Infestation

Seeing just a few ants around your home might seem like a minor nuisance that will go away on its own. However, even a small ant infestation can rapidly escalate and become a widespread issue that can cause illness and strain your budget.

Precise Termite & Pest Control specializes in early detection and long-term prevention to help you proactively manage ants and live comfortably in your home.

Why an Ant Infestation in Your House is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

As trained experts in ant control, we’ve seen firsthand the damage ants can cause when homeowners neglect to address an infestation. Ant issues are complex because these insects multiply quickly once they find a steady food and water source, like your house.

The ants you visually notice are likely only part of the problem and a small fraction of the ants living on your property. It’s common to find considerably larger ant populations living behind walls, under floors, and building satellite nests throughout a home.

Are Ants Dangerous?

Many New Jersey residents wonder, “Is an ant infestation bad?” and exactly how bad is it?

Here’s how ants can put you and your home at risk.

Health Risks from Ants

Ants have the potential to contaminate human and pet food in your house. Ants travel through soil, garbage, and other unsanitary places before making their way onto your countertops and into your pantry.

Some people have allergic reactions to ants, while certain ant species can bite and sting. These injuries can be itchy, painful, and lead to open wounds that can allow harmful bacteria to enter your body.

Property Risks from Ants

Certain types of ants, such as carpenter ants, damage wood as they create nests. This behavior can cause structural damage to your home, such as weakening floors and support beams.

Signs You May Already Have a Problem

The early warning signs of an ant infestation include ant trails in kitchens, bathrooms, and around windows. Other red flags are piles of sawdust-like debris and wooden features that sound hollow.

You will often notice more ant activity in the summer months and after heavy rains. It’s also essential to learn what attracts ants and avoid these common pitfalls to prevent an infestation.

Why Professional Treatment is the Best Solution

You can start the ant control process with DIY sprays and traps to eliminate the visible ants. However, these approaches don’t address the many hidden ants that are actually fueling the infestation in your house.

The professional ant treatment we provide offers accurate ant species identification so we can pursue the best strategy. Once identified, we employ effective methods to eliminate visible ants and hidden nests that you may not even be aware of.

Why NJ Homeowners Choose Precise Pest Control

Precise has over 30 years of local pest control expertise and a fully licensed and insured extermination team to serve you.

Our exterminators are committed to your safety and well-being, with responsive and professional service you can rely on. We customize every ant infestation treatment plan and tailor our services to address your home’s unique needs.

Don’t Wait — Schedule Your Ant Inspection Today

Are ants dangerous? Is an ant infestation bad? The answer to these questions is yes, and the longer you ignore an ant infestation, the worse it will get.

At the first signs of ant activity, it’s best to call Precise to protect your health, property, and peace of mind.

Please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us online to schedule your free ant inspection.

How Moisture Attracts Carpenter Ants & Termites in the Winter

This weather at this time of year is particularly enticing to carpenter ants, so be mindful

Many homeowners become complacent about household pests during the winter months because termites and ants tend to be less active and visible. But when the winter season gradually turns into spring, snow melt, ice dams, and rain all play a role in attracting pests to your home.

This article will discuss how end-of-winter weather brings pests into your home and a few tips for homeowners about how to eliminate excess moisture in the house. With proper termite control and carpenter ant control, you can get your home ready for spring with minimal hassles and cost. Continue reading →

How to Keep Household Pests Away This Spring

The spring season is a time to smell blooming flowers, listen to chirping birds, and finally trade in that parka for a light jacket. But unfortunately, springtime also signals the return of many common household pests.

No one likes to see bugs and rodents wandering around the house, so it’s important to refresh your memory about pest prevention strategies and know who to call if it becomes difficult to manage.

Troublesome Pests That Come Out in Spring

Some pests are more likely to strike your home in the months of March, April, and May. Certain pest species remain dormant during the cold weather months and are reawakened at this time of year in search of food and shelter.

These are some of the troublesome pests that often find their way indoors in the springtime.

  • Carpenter Ants
  • Termites
  • Cockroaches
  • Asian beetles
  • Fleas
  • Mosquitos
  • Bees
  • Wasps
  • Spiders

How to Prevent Springtime Pests

Fortunately, there are a lot of things that you can do right now to prevent pests from entering your home and having to deal with an infestation situation later. The first pests that many people see in the spring are ants, and there are several varieties of them, including sugar ants, carpenter ants, winged ants, and large and small black ants. Bees and wasps are also prevalent around this time of year because of all of the newly planted gardens, plants, and wildflowers in bloom.

Here are some prevention tips to work on this spring for a pest-free home:

  • Take a walk around the exterior of your home to look for cracks in your foundation and seal them up
  • Keep an eye out for bee and wasp nests, and call Precise Pest Control if you see one
  • Keep bushes and trees away from the house
  • Don’t leave opened food packages lying around the house
  • Ensure that trash can lids are secured
  • Never store firewood next to your home
  • Destroy cobwebs you find around the house
  • Repair water leaks to reduce standing moisture

A Problem for Homeowners, Landlords, and Tenants

Pests present problems for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a homeowner, a landlord, or renting an apartment as a tenant. If you’re looking for high-quality pest control Bergen County NJ is home to some great strategies and prevention techniques for household pests.

Precise Pest Control has been keeping Northern New Jersey pest-free for over 25 years, and we’re experts in eliminating all of these springtime pests and many more. Bergen County pest control has never been easier, more affordable, or more convenient!

If You Can’t Send Ants to Space, Then the Best Carpenter Ant Removal NJ Has To Offer Will Have To Do

Carpenter Ant Removal Bergen County

Ants are found almost everywhere on Earth except the continent that bears their name—ANTartica. Now, they can even be found in space, thanks to the scientists at NASA and a group of researchers from Stanford University who joined together to send ants up to the space station last year. The insects were sent as part of an experiment to see if ants could coordinate as well in space as they do on Earth. The ants started out in the corner of a box. After astronauts removed the barriers that kept them in the corner, the ants spread out and covered the environment in less than five minutes, despite not having a leader. This was not the first time ants have been in orbit. In 2003 they were launched on the Space Shuttle and perished with the astronauts on board when the structurally compromised shuttle burst into flames upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Ants in space were also a topic of an episode of The Simpsons in 1994. Continue reading →

Tips For Effective Ant Control New Jersey!

ant control Bergen County

The most effective ant control New Jersey has to offer comprises of a well-thought out plan of attack.  In addition, a common pest problem in the northeastern United States is an infestation of black carpenter ants. In the wilderness, they can be found in hollow timber, old logs and tree stumps. When unable to find a sufficient amount of food in the wilderness, they will migrate to homes. They are not attracted to dry, solid wood. What they seek is soft, moist woods that are rotting as well as insulation board and more. They are a real concern for homes built in very rural areas. Continue reading →

Facts About Ants and Their Habits

Ants are one of the most abundant insects on Earth with several species found in North America alone. However, their life cycle may be confusing for some people. Ant colonies generally consist of a queen and hundreds of workers. As a community, they help break down organic materials in the garden, recycling nutrients back into the ground. They can become a nuisance if they enter the home. Take a look at an ant’s general life cycle to understand how pest control professionals pinpoint their targets. An ant exterminator in New Jersey that is skilled in removing and  securing the access points into your home are keys to success in effective removal of these pests.

Mating And Egg Laying

Because ants are cold-blooded insects, they usually wait until late spring or early summer to mate. Winged ants take flight and mate with females. The females return to the colony to lay their eggs. Although there is usually one queen, she cannot produce enough eggs individually to keep colonies thriving. Many females that are smaller than the queen, but bigger than the workers, keep a constant supply of eggs flowing. Worker ants, the largest population, don’t have long lifespans, making it critical to reproduce consistently.

Continue reading →

Different Types of NJ Ants and the Damage They Cause

We all are familiar with those tiny little hard-working creatures known as ants. Some of us find them fascinating, but others struggle to eliminate their presence from their homes and businesses. Those looking for an ant exterminator in Passaic County, New Jersey will find excellent experienced help available. They can assist you in identifying the particular variety of ant with which you are plagued and can implement appropriate measures for eliminating colonies of different ant-types.

Black Carpenter Ant

The black carpenter ant will love to build its nests in any dead and wet wood forming part of your home. They will not eat the wood as will termites, but will spread out around your house seeking food and making it more their home than yours. Also their nest-building habits may further weaken already weak wooden structures. From their main “primary” next they can spread out to form “satellite” nests where they leave “frass.” Frass is a fancy name for ant feces. This frass trail provides a clue to the finding of the primary nest. If the hollowed-out wood is filled with mud you can bet it is termites. If not, it may be carpenter ants doing the damage. Professional ant exterminators will know what kinds of insecticides to use to put these carpenters’ activities to an end. They can fill in ant-hollows with dry pesticide or drip a liquid form along their foraging trails so as to spread death to the primary colony.

Continue reading →

Protect Your Home from the Upcoming Spring Pests

Spring has finally arrived after one of the worst winters across the nation. Now we all can see some greens, flowers, and beautiful lawns everywhere. In addition, there will be those uninvited pests in our gardens. However, you don’t have to worry much if you follow some simple tricks to keep these uninvited guests away from your garden. Preparing your home and garden area in advance will certainly help you in avoiding these unwanted guests. Talking to a professional ant exterminator in Passaic County will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding pests in your home. Here are some solutions to keep ants and other pests away and protect your home and garden effectively.

With spring in full force, ants and their colonies are expanding their families by reproducing in millions. Many homeowners find it very daunting when they encounter huge ant nests in their garden. Of course, a few ants are not a problem. However, if you see millions of these tiny creatures, you should take some action. Sometimes, you may encounter some anthills on your walkway or inside your garden. These ants can also enter and invade your kitchen in order to find their food. Keeping these pests away is always important.

Continue reading →

Hire An Experienced Ant Removal Company For Your Home Infestation

Ants can be difficult to get rid of without having the proper chemical treatment and tools. Because of this it can be extremely difficult and costly to get rid of an ant infestation without an experienced ant removal company in New Jersey. Ants can infest everywhere from kitchens to front yards and the consequences from having an ant problem can be lasting, not to mention annoying. Before spending money on ineffective ant removal products, consider hiring a professional to ensure that the problem is taken care of quickly and effectively.

About Ants

In order to understand how to get rid of ants, you have to learn how they behave and act under a variety of circumstances. Ants typically have one central colony that can be located in a variety of different areas. The central colony has a queen ant that is responsible for the birthing of all worker ants. The purpose of worker ants is sustaining the nest through food; because of this all the ants seen in an infestation are worker ants. Because it can be hard to find this colony, it’s usually wise to hire a professional ant removal company.

Continue reading →