Large Ants!

[Hangar18]

We seem to have problems with large ants in our house. I am pretty sure they are carpenter ants. They were living in some of the boards in our deck at the back of the house. I replaced a few of the worst boards last year and thought the problem would go away.

Well this summer they're back. Is there anything we can do to keep them out? We have all new windows and doors so they should be getting in through there. I am kind of apprehensive about 'bombing' the house with pesticides since we have a baby and pets.

One pest control guy told me I have to find the nest to get rid of them. Since we live next to a forest, that's virtually impossible.

Should I be calling pest control? I'm afraid they're gonna eat my floorboards!

[ynot]

Check for any other soft or rotted wood, including trees, and remove them.

Raid makes an Ant and Earwig Dust product that I find works quite well. You can place the powder near windows and doors, or around your house. It won't completely solve the problem, but it helps.

[Grassgreen]

Coffee grounds will get rid of ants for you.

You still need to find the nest, but once you do, plop a filters worth of grounds on it, and that should take care of things, cheaply and environmentally friendly