Ants can establish a colony in any sheltered place, and that includes the gutters. In this blog, gutter and roof repair contractor Patriot Roofing LLC shares how to prevent ants from building a nest your gutters.
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How Ants Nest In Gutters
Many domestic ant species favor areas that are not disturbed by the elements, predators and daily human activities. Gutters fulfill all of these conditions, providing the perfect shelter during seasons without rain, long enough for ants to establish a colony and begin foraging. Gutters filled with detritus—leaves, dirt, loose roofing granules—are more likely to contain ant colonies, as they provide enough building materials for ants.
Preventing Ants from Colonizing Your Gutters
Prevention is still the best solution to avoiding an ant infestation in your home. Keeping in mind that ants thrive in dirty and clogged gutters, your first priority is to make sure your gutters are clean. This means you should have a regular roofing and gutter cleaning routine, ideally done every six months. If you don’t have the tools and equipment to do so, you can have your roof professionally cleaned. Either way, this routine makes your gutters inhospitable to ants.
If you find ants in your home, you can get rid of them using a type of insecticide called ant bait, or ant traps. Both are somewhat misnomers as it doesn’ work like bait nor as a trap. Rather, it’s a type of slow-acting insecticide that ants mistake for food, and store along with their food supplies. The poison then spreads upon contact, eventually killing all ants in the colony. It should be noted that ant bait is toxic to humans, and requires protective equipment when handling it.
Gutter Protection Systems
A gutter protection system can help minimize the cleaning and maintenance that your gutters require. There are several types of gutter protection systems to choose from: some filter solid matter at the top, while others shed it to the ground. It helps keep your gutters clear of dirt and debris, prevents corrosion and other kinds of damage caused by clogged gutters and keeps your gutters free from ants.
Patriot Roofing LLC is your leading provider of gutter installation services. Give us a call at (405) 217-0473 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Moore, OK, and the surrounding areas.