Ant Infestations: Facts Every Homeowner Should Know

Scientifically reviewed by Daniel Baldwin, BCE, CCFS, CP-FS

You know the drill: one day, you spot an ant or two roaming around your kitchen or bathroom, and the next day it seems like the whole colony has moved in. That’s because ants are social creatures that release pheromones to signal when there is a good food source. In other words, one ant can venture into your home, signal to the others, and the rest will follow soon after.

Dealing with an ant problem in your home? This breakdown covers the essentials of how to deal with ant infestations.

What causes an ant infestation?

Ant infestations in the house are a common pest problem many homeowners have faced at least once. Knowing why they’re entering your home can be a good start to keep infestations at bay.

Here are the top five reasons ant infestations occur in homes:

Leaving out food: Ants send out scouts to find new food and water sources to survive and reproduce rapidly. They’re often looking for easily accessible food sources, making infestations in the kitchen common. Food left on counters, ripening fruit, or unsealed pantry items can act as a beacon to ants on the hunt.
Grease and crumbs: Surfaces covered in grease or food residue can be just as appealing to ants. An old spill on the stovetop, a bit of juice that wasn’t wiped up, or crumbs from chips, cookies, and crackers easily attract ants.
Dirty garbage cans: Garbage bins with food residue, sticky soda bottles, or canned food jars that haven’t been rinsed out are attractive to ants. Since many kitchen items we toss continue to break down in the trash, ants are drawn to that decomposition like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Leaking pipes: Along with food, ant species also need a reliable and constant water source to survive. Your home could attract ants if it has a leaking pipe, faucet, or areas with standing water or moisture issues.
Decaying wood: Moist wood in or around your home offers the ideal setting for a colony of carpenter ants. Indoors, leaky pipes or backed-up drains make wood flooring, beams, and baseboards wet. Rotting deck wood, decaying tree stumps, or fallen branches are also appealing.

Signs of an Ant Infestation in a House

While it may start with just a few ants, there are some telltale signs you’re dealing with a larger infestation. If you notice these signs, you likely have more than just a few visitors—it’s time to consider treatment:

Trails of ants traveling to and from a specific food or water source
Small dirt piles or sawdust near walls or wood structures
Rustling noises in walls (especially with carpenter ants)
Ants showing up repeatedly, even after cleaning or using repellents

How to Deal With Ant Infestations in the House

The best way to keep ants out of your house is to make it unappealing to them. Follow these tips to keep common house ants out of your home:

Clean thoroughly: Quickly clean up spills, especially honey, maple syrup, and soda. Vacuum food crumbs and keep your food sealed in air-tight containers. Throw away or compost rotting fruits and vegetables.
Remove rotted wood: To prevent carpenter ants, fix leaks from pipes or faucets and replace water-damaged materials. This includes indoor spaces and exterior structures like porches and decks.
Remove trash frequently: Take the household trash out often, especially if it contains a lot of food waste. Keep your trash bins clean by rinsing them out at least once a month and cleaning up exterior spills when they happen.

How to Get Rid of an Ant Infestation

If you found this page looking up how to get rid of ants, you’re definitely not alone. But here’s the thing: While DIY solutions like sprays and bait traps may work temporarily, they often miss the nest—where the real problem lives. The best strategy is a multi-step approach:

Identify the ant species (since each behaves differently)
Clean thoroughly and remove food and water sources
Use bait traps that the ants will carry back to the colony
Seal cracks and entry points around the home
Treat or remove nests if found

Even though you may have some initial success in reducing the amount of ants, Professional pest control is typically necessary to eliminate the full infestation and prevent ants from returning.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of an Ant Infestation?

The timeline depends on the size of the infestation, the species, and the treatment method. Minor infestations can resolve in a few days with professional treatments. Larger or more entrenched ant infestations—especially involving pharaoh or carpenter ants—can take several weeks and may require follow-up treatments.

Common Types of Household Ants

There are over 12,000 species of ants across the globe. While many species are not problematic or invasive to homes, there are a few in particular to look out for:
Fire ants
Fire ants are an aggressive ant breed that will sting humans and animals when they feel threatened or are hunting. They typically make their homes in hot and sunny areas, so if you’re planning an outdoor picnic, lay your blanket under the shade of a tree to avoid them.

Carpenter ants
As their name suggests, carpenter ants like to make their homes in wood, typically the damp or decaying wood of a home. They’re commonly found in homes with preexisting moisture or water damage issues. As they build their nests, they dig tunnels through wood beams, causing significant structural damage to your home.

Pharaoh ants
Pharaoh ants are a major problem in the U.S. They not only have the unique ability to get into everything, but they also transmit a wide variety of diseases. Plus, improper use of pesticides to treat pharaoh ants can cause the colony to split in two, potentially doubling the population.

Let Hawx Handle Your Ant Infestation

Time is of the essence with ant infestations. The longer ants go untreated, the more established their colonies become—and the harder they are to eliminate. At Hawx, we know how frustrating it is to deal with recurring ant problems, and we’re here to help.

Our licensed technicians are trained to identify the ant species, locate the nest, and deliver targeted treatments that work. We don’t just treat the surface—we get to the root of the issue to stop ants where they start.

Don’t let ants take over your home. Contact Hawx today for a free estimate and get a customized plan to eliminate ants and prevent future infestations.

Spread the love