With a little patience and a dab of honey, Potter says homeowners can track down carpenter ant nests. The first step, says Potter, is knowing where to look. But when carpenter ants come into the house to forage, they often create satellite nests indoors. Homeowners can locate nests by focusing on water leaks and hollow cavities. Ants prefer to nest in moist wood around sinks, dishwashers, showers, bathtubs, and roof leaks, but they also inhabit hollow places behind walls, beneath insulation, or within doors, curtain rods, ceiling beams and porch columns.
Potter recommends using something sweet to lure carpenter ants from their indoor hiding spots.
After the ants have fed on the honey, follow them to the nest. But sooner or later they'll disappear behind a baseboard, cabinet, or some other hidden location near the nest. For ants that disappear into a wall, Potter says homeowners can locate the nest by tapping along the surface. It's similar to the crinkling of cellophane. A homeowner who dusts nests in this way can be just as effective at eliminating carpenter ants as a professional, Potter says, but if you do call a pest-control company, you should look for people who spend a lot of time asking questions about where you've seen ants, and if you've had any moisture problems.