Ants enter homes in search of food and moisture. Carpenter ants in particular are drawn to wood in your home that has sustained water damage. To help reduce the chance of carpenter ants invading your home, eliminate moisture or standing water in and near your home. In order to do that, it is necessary to repair or replace damaged downspouts, leaking hose bibs and other supply lines, broken drain lines, as well as air conditioner condensation lines.

Ants are always in search of food, and are particularly attracted to sweet smells. In the wild ants will sometimes guard and even care for aphids in return for their honeydew (a sweet excretory product) they produce. Inside our homes, ants are constantly on the lookout for other sweet smelling items as well.