Carpenter ants infestations can go unnoticed, but they can cause significant damage to a home’s structure. These ants often make their nests inside walls, where they chew through wood, weakening the foundation. Detecting carpenter ants in your home early is essential to prevent costly repairs. Some key signs include frass (wood shavings), rustling sounds, winged ants, physical damage, and unexplained moisture or decaying wood. In the sections below, we will explain these signs to help you locate carpenter ants before they spread and cause further damage.
Signs of Carpenter Ants in the Walls of a Home
Visible Evidence
- Frass (Wood Shavings): One of the clearest signs of carpenter ants in walls is the appearance of frass, small wood shavings or sawdust that ants discard from their tunnels. This carpenter ant frass often piles up near wall cracks or baseboards.
- Rustling Sounds: If you hear a faint rustling sound in walls, especially at night, it could be carpenter ants moving through their tunnels. This noise is often more noticeable in quiet environments.
- Winged Ants: Seeing winged carpenter ants emerging from walls during the spring or summer is a strong indicator of a mature colony within your home.
- Physical Damage: Warped walls or hollow-sounding spots are signs of carpenter ant damage inside the walls, where they’ve tunnelled through the wood.
- Unexplained Moisture or Decaying Wood: Carpenter ants thrive in moist environments, so damp or decaying wood in the walls can attract them. These ants prefer building their nests in areas with high moisture content.
How to Locate Carpenter Ants in Your Walls
Inspection Techniques:
Look for Frass
Begin by inspecting common areas like baseboards, window frames, and doorways for wood shavings, also called frass. This material is often found where carpenter ants have been tunnelling inside the walls. Finding these small piles of frass indicates an ant infestation. Check corners and cracks, as frass may accumulate in hidden areas. This is one of the simplest ways to locate carpenter ants in your walls.
Listen for Noises
Tap along the walls, especially where you suspect activity, and listen closely for faint rustling sounds. Carpenter ants make this noise as they move through their tunnels inside the walls, particularly at night. The sound is often subtle but can indicate an infestation. Pay attention to quiet moments in your home to detect these noises. Listening to these sounds is key for detecting carpenter ants in walls.
Look for Entry Points
Examine the exterior of your home for small gaps or cracks, especially around the foundation, doors, and windows. Carpenter ants often enter homes through these tiny openings to access moist wood inside walls. Sealing these entry points can help prevent further infestations. These cracks are also a good place to focus your inspection when locating carpenter ants. Ants will often leave visible signs of their activity near these areas.
Using Flashlights or Drills
For a more invasive inspection, use a flashlight to shine into cracks and crevices or gently drill small holes in suspicious areas of the wall. This lets you see inside and detect any ant galleries hidden within the wood. Be careful not to cause excessive damage to the structure. Flashlights are especially useful in dark or concealed spots, while drilling can reveal the extent of carpenter ant damage.
Professional Tools
If you can’t locate the ants, pest control experts use advanced tools like moisture meters, infrared cameras, and stethoscopes to detect hidden colonies. These tools help professionals locate carpenter ants in walls more precisely, even if the signs aren’t visible. Infrared cameras can detect heat generated by ant nests, while moisture meters find areas of dampness where ants are likely to thrive. These methods are highly effective for finding hidden infestations.
Common Carpenter Ant Nesting Locations in Homes
Structural Wood
Carpenter ants prefer nesting in moist or decaying wood, making areas like window sills, roof beams, and behind baseboards prime targets. They chew through the wood to create smooth tunnels, weakening the structure over time. Homeowners should inspect these spots regularly, especially if the wood shows signs of damage. Detecting carpenter ant nests early in these areas can prevent further harm. Structural wood is one of the most common home carpenter ant nesting areas.
Crawl Spaces and Basements
Dark, damp environments like crawl spaces and basements offer ideal conditions for carpenter ants to establish satellite nests. These areas often go unnoticed, allowing ants to thrive without disturbance. Homeowners should check for frass, moisture, or rustling sounds in these spaces. Crawl spaces are particularly vulnerable due to their moisture levels, making them a frequent carpenter ant nesting area. Regular inspection is essential for early detection.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Carpenter ants are drawn to areas with water sources, so kitchens and bathrooms are common nesting spots. Leaky pipes, damp cabinets, and hidden areas under sinks can attract these ants. Homeowners should regularly inspect plumbing, under cabinets, and around water fixtures for signs of carpenter ant activity. Detecting carpenter ant nests in these areas can help prevent infestations from spreading. Moisture control is key to keeping these areas free from carpenter ants.
Attics and Wall Voids
Attics and wall voids provide undisturbed environments where carpenter ants can establish large colonies. Homeowners may notice subtle signs such as rustling sounds or small piles of frass in these areas. Due to the attic’s quiet and remote nature, carpenter ants can remain undetected for extended periods. Regularly inspecting these areas for signs of carpenter ants in walls and attics can help in early detection. These are common carpenter ant nesting locations in homes.
External Wooden Structures
Carpenter ants often begin infestations in external wooden structures like wood piles, decks, or sheds before moving inside the home. These areas provide the moist wood they prefer, making them perfect for initial nests. Homeowners should check these external locations for signs of carpenter ant activity, such as frass or small holes in the wood. Preventing infestations in external wooden structures is essential to avoid them migrating indoors.
When to Call a Professional Pest Control Service for Ant Extermination
When DIY Solutions Aren’t Enough
While DIY methods can help in the early stages, carpenter ant infestations can quickly grow beyond what homeowners can manage. If you notice extensive damage, multiple colonies, or persistent signs of carpenter ants, it’s time to seek professional carpenter ant removal. Non-toxic methods and over-the-counter products often fall short when the infestation is widespread or deeply hidden within walls. Recognizing when to escalate to professional services is key to preventing further damage.
Benefits of Professional Services
Pest control experts have the experience, tools, and techniques necessary to detect and eliminate carpenter ants accurately. Our team at Pestong use specialized equipment to find hidden nests, even in hard-to-reach areas like wall voids or attics. Our professionals also apply targeted treatments that remove the ants and prevent them from returning. Hiring a professional service ensures the problem is handled efficiently and thoroughly, providing peace of mind and long-term protection.
Pestong Pest Control Services in Toronto
We specialize in professional carpenter ant removal across Toronto, offering expert solutions to locate and eliminate these destructive pests. Our team uses advanced detection tools and proven strategies to handle infestations safely and efficiently. Whether you need early detection or full extermination assistance, Pestong provides reliable and effective Toronto pest control services that keep your home safe from carpenter ants.
Conclusion
Identifying and locating carpenter ants in your home’s walls is crucial to preventing significant structural damage. Homeowners can detect infestations early by recognizing signs like frass, rustling sounds, and damaged wood. If you suspect a carpenter ant problem, don’t hesitate to contact us for professional carpenter ant control in Toronto, Canada. Our team offers free inspections and effective solutions to eliminate the issue.
