Ant Infestation in Home
Ants in your house? Learn how to identify types, DIY elimination methods, and exterminator costs ($100–$500).
Typical repair cost: $100–$500 · DIY difficulty: Easy · About 30–60 minutes.
What usually causes it
- Food crumbs and spills
- Moisture sources
- Cracks in foundation
- Trees touching house
- Sweet or greasy residue
What you need
- Ant bait stations
- Caulk
- Vinegar spray
- Diatomaceous earth
How to fix it yourself
- Identify the entry point — follow the ant trail back to where they enter
- Clean the trail with vinegar solution to disrupt pheromone path
- Place ant bait stations near entry points — don't kill ants on the trail, let them carry bait to the colony
- Seal entry cracks with caulk
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the foundation perimeter
- Remove food sources — store food in sealed containers, clean counters daily
When to call a pro
For carpenter ants (large, black, found in wood) or if the infestation returns after DIY treatment.