The main colony, with the Queen, is in a tree outside. Her eggs need the high humidity that a tree provides. Carpenter ants can trail into your home directly from nests outside. Otherwise, they set up satellite nests in your home. These nests are in water damaged wood. Older larvae require lower humidity. As a result, satellite colonies consist of only workers and older larvae. In other words, the queen is not in your home.
You will want to target both the tree with the queen, and any nests in your walls. Moisture accumulates under windows and doors. Nests can be there. Otherwise, think plumbing leaks, gutter issues, and roof leaks.
We use a moisture meter to locate potential nests in walls. Readings over 30% indicate a moisture problem. Keep in mind, the wood can be previously water damaged. It doesn’t have to be currently wet. It only needs to be softened enough for them to excavate the wood. Carpenter ants also burrow into foam insulation. They can also be found behind fiberglass insulation.
Ants can occupy your home from trees up to 750 feet away. The problem can reoccur or continue if the correct tree is not treated. We treat the base of all deciduous trees on your property. Evergreen trees usually are not a problem. If there is a suspect tree in an adjacent property, it is a good idea to get permission from the Owner to treat it. We can include this in the service if you receive permission.