Why Are There Ants In My San Mateo House And How Do I Get Them Out?

Ants in a plate
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Nestled along the coast lies the beautiful city of San Mateo, California. According to some, it's one of the best places to live in California. The mild temperatures encourage outdoor activities in the local area's prettiest municipal parks and trails. Whether residents live in million-dollar homes or modest apartments, they all have one thing in common – local ants. Without pest control in San Mateo, ants might use a trail from the outdoors to walk right into your home.

How Can I Tell If I Have An Ant Infestation?

If you find one or even a few ants congregating in your home, you're in danger of having an ant infestation because where there's one, there's probably more. Ants in San Mateo are socialites; they love the company of others. Another sign of an infestation is finding a well-defined trail of ants (inside or outside) of your home. When workers leave an established ant colony searching for food, they often find their way into homes. If they find a good food source, they will lay down a pheromone trail that lets others know where to join them. Soon, you'll have a trail of ants coming in and out of your home. 

Noticing dirt mounds can also indicate heavy ant activity that could lead to an invasion of your home. Ants that lead their friends to your home can get annoying, so it's always wise to contact a pest professional like Pacific Pest Management for ant pest control and treatment.

Can Ants In My Home Make Me Sick?

While most people know about ants that damage wood or inflict nasty stings, many are unaware that ants can make you sick. Ants travel across various germ-infested locations. When they crawl over your surfaces and foods, they can transfer the germs stuck to their bodies to things you touch or eat; that's why they're often called vectors of food-borne diseases like salmonella and E. coli. Getting sick from pathogens ants carry is rare, but it can happen. To ensure your home is safe from food-borne illnesses carried by ants, it's always best to have an expert like Pacific Pest Management locate points of entry and perform ant control in your home that will eliminate any threat to your health. 

What's Attracting Ants Into My Home?

Let's face it; ants are everywhere; that's why ant control in San Mateo can get challenging. Since ants are tiny, any crack, crevice, or gap can give them free access to the inside of homes. Ants are always looking for food and water; they may also search for shelter, especially during extreme weather changes. Removing things around your home that may attract ants is essential to keep ants from visiting.

Tips to deter ants from your home include:

  • Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink.
  • Don't leave pet food out.
  • Immediately clean up foods or spills.
  • Fix any leaking sprinkler heads, pipes, or faucets.
  • Eliminate mulch, shrubs, plants, grass, and trees too close to foundations and buildings.

Taking proactive steps to address ant control problems around your home is a great way to protect yourself from ant infestations, but even the best preventative measures can fail. When and if ants access your home, it's good to know that Pacific Pest Management is nearby and offers same-day or same-week services that can quickly remove ants from homes.

What's The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Ants?

Pacific Pest Management is a professional pest control company with 17 years of industry experience. We use the latest industry technologies to perfect professional home pest control solutions that can effectively get rid of ants from homes. Our top-of-the-line inspection tools and treatments ensure our customers experience fast and thorough ant removal services that last. Call Pacific Pest Management today for a free estimate to prevent ants from contaminating your home.