To eliminate ants from your home, you can either set out bait or contact an outdoor ant control professional. This article elaborates on these possibilities and discusses How Much It Costs To Get An Exterminator for Ants.
Ants are well-known for their enormous colonies and intricate dirt mounds, making them one of the most prevalent insects. It is easy to remove a few ants from a countertop or window sill, but you may need to call in reinforcements if there are more than a few ants in your home. This article will help you understand the cost of DIY and professional ant removal, as well as provide advice for preventing repeat infestations.
Indicators and Roots of an Ant Infestation
There are numerous species of ants, each with its own qualities and behaviors. Below are common pests found in and around the home, as well as recommendations for identifying indicators of infestation.
Carpenter Ants
As their name suggests, carpenter ants adore wood and create their nests by tunneling into it. Contrary to termites, carpenter ants do not consume wood, instead they discard it as sawdust outside their burrows.
Immediately contact a professional ant extermination service if you observe sawdust tracks around floorboards, window sills, and wooden beams. If left unchecked, these ants can cause structural damage to your property, necessitating costly repairs in the future.
Fire Ants
Fire ants, characterized by their reddish-brown exoskeleton and burning sting, are usually seen in parks, playgrounds, and yards. These pests prefer warm environments and are attracted to food scraps and waste dispersed throughout your home.
Fire ants are easy to notice, as their mounds can reach heights of 7 inches and widths of 24 inches. These sand mounds are frequently accompanied by worker and swarmer ant activity and are easier to see after rainfall.
Although fire ant stings are severe, they are rarely life-threatening. However, tiny children and pets can be harmed by a fire ant’s repeated attacks. In rare instances, these bites can cause infections or allergic responses requiring rapid medical care.
The Pharaoh and Other Ants
Pharaoh ants are tan to brown in appearance and are known to consume nearly anything. From sweet delights to leftover meat, these insects may find sustenance and invade your home. The odorous house ant, which emits a rotten coconut odor when crushed, is another popular form of home. Similar to Pharaoh ants, odorous house ants are drawn to sweets and liquids.
It’s typical to notice these ants looking for food along the floor or countertops of your kitchen. While neither species can cause structural damage to your home, both can spread hazardous microorganisms.
Average Cost of an Ant Exterminator
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of ant removal is $150, ranging from $80 to $500. This estimate is affected by the number of treatments required for your infestation. For instance, if you require four treatments within a year, you can anticipate spending closer to $500.
You can also choose monthly treatments to keep your home free of ants. These recurring treatments begin with a one-time price, followed by recurring monthly expenses. Typically, this initial appointment costs between $150 and $300. Following the development of an initial treatment plan, expect to spend between $40 and $70 per consultation.
Aspects That Influence Ant Extermination Cost
The cost of ant extermination depends on a number of factors, including the species of ant, the intensity of the infestation, the square footage of your home, and the treatments required.
Ant Genus
Not all kinds of ants require the same means of eradication. For instance, eliminating carpenter ants from inside your home’s walls may result in a higher price estimate than destroying a few fire ant mounds.
Probability of Infestation
The amount of time, visits, and effort required from an exterminator correlates with the severity of your ant infestation. Consequently, you might anticipate paying more as the severity of your infestation worsens.
Extermination Technique
The cost of your treatment will also rely on the eradication methods utilized by your service provider. A treatment spray, for instance, will be less expensive than a combination of treatment sprays and professional-grade poison traps.
DIY Ant Control vs Employing an Exterminator
Consider do-it-yourself methods and solutions for ant extermination if you have a minor infestation and need to eliminate ants from the kitchen or another part of your home. Here are some of the most prevalent ant elimination methods, along with their advantages.
It is crucial to note that some remedies may not be effective against huge infestations. Immediately contact a pest control company and find out the ant exterminator cost near me if your home treatment fails. While hiring a professional exterminator may be more expensive than tackling the issue on your own, you can feel certain that your provider will eliminate your ant infestation and answer any questions you may have along the way.
Here are some advantages of hiring a professional pest controller:
- In the long term, it may be cheaper to pay for expert services because you won’t have to treat repeated infestations.
- Professional ant exterminators know how to treat your house without causing any damage.
- An expert understands how to handle and utilize hazardous chemicals and repellents safely.
- Individually treating an ant infestation may entail more time and effort than anticipated.
How To Prevent Future Ant Problems
Here are several methods for preventing ant infestations:
- Use a moist cloth to clean frequently used surfaces, such as countertops and tables.
- Weekly sweeping and vacuuming will remove crumbs from your floors.
- Do not leave soiled dishes in the sink or nearby. Immediately after a meal, wash or place them in the dishwasher.
- Food must be kept in sealed containers.
- Caulk any exposed cracks around the outside of your home.
Have a pest control company or our ATAP Pest Control experts spray your home with a preventative spray by calling (773) 701-7705 now! Also stop by our website today for assistance on How Long It Takes Ants To Go Away After Extermination and more.