Ants Coming Out of the Faucet! ARGH!

[Feralpeg]

This morning, DD turned on the water in her bathtub and about a dozen big black ants came out of the faucet. After she stopped screaming, I killed them all and let the hot water run for a good 5 minutes. This afternoon, I looked in her bathtub and there were at least a dozen more. I got rid of them and turned the hot water on to run again for at least 10 minutes. I just went back in and turned on her faucet. Another one came out! Yuck! How are they getting in her faucet and how come they don't die when I turn on the hot water? Tomorrow, I'm calling the exterminator. We are trying to sell this house. Not what I needed now!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would say they are crawling up INTO it rather than coming out FROM it. When you turn on the water, they do come out though. They are probably looking for mositure. Maybe a few ant traps will do the trick.

 

[Feralpeg]

It is possible that they are crawling up into it, but that means they are coming up from the drain. Probably more likely. Needless to say, Kendall will not use her bathroom now. She is afraid of all bugs. I'm not crazy about them either. Thanks, Dan!

 

[Virgo10]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
This morning, DD turned on the water in her bathtub and about a dozen big black ants came out of the faucet.

EWWWWW! Sounds like something out of a Stephen King book.

Roberta

 

[Robinrs]

I had a nightmare ant problem a few months back and the exterminator, who didn't want to spray because of my many cats, suggested Combat gel. I placed it in about 5 spots in my house and BAM they disappeared. Best part is it costs less than $5. Try it, it works!

 

[tidoublegger]

Feralpeg: eewww, I hope you get this taken care of...I hate bugs, ants, etc! We get tons of ants in the spring/summer so my question is~ Robinrs: How is that Combat gel applied and where do you buy it...any hardware store??


Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DSNY FN]

We have the same problem in teh early spring you can buy the stuff at Wal Mart or hardware stores etc. Just place a few drops where you believe they are coming from and around the house where you see them. We use the raid one works the same.

 

[cgcw]

I'm going to look for the combat gel too. We also have ants from time to time and it's so hard to get rid of them. Just the other day we saw a group of ants on a neighbors sidewalk. They looked just like an entire coffee filter of used grounds . It was very disgusting but it made me realize just how many are in a colony.

Anyway, back to the drain. I know that ants can swim and do not die when thrown in water. I've tried flushing them, but they still survive. My guess would be they are coming out of the drain pipe from the sewer some how. Amonia will kill them -- I found that out here on the DIS when I was having such an awful time with them (I think Olena offered that suggestion ) but it does work. Maybe try pouring some down the drain in the hopes of killing them.

Best of luck -- you have my sympathy.

Cindy

 

[DVC-Don]

Big black ants could be Carpenter Ants looking for water. These could be coming from inside the walls. Very distructive and you'd need an exterminator to make sure they are gone. They are sort of like termites, but do not "eat" the wood. They chew holes in the wood for their nests. We had them and had to have Orkin come quarterly for a while to make sure.

Here is a link for you: Carpenter Ants

 

[Feralpeg]

DVC-Don, thanks. I think they may be carpenter ants. I'm calling the exterminator first thing tomorrow. I killed one with wings. Yuck!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Do they like Dave Matthews?

 

[Feralpeg]

Ha! Good one, Dan.

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
I killed one with wings. Yuck!

I know for slab ants that the winged ones are looking to go off and start their own colony. An exterminator once told me that means the current nest is a good size. I hope this isn't the case with your problem.


They are disgusting, aren't they.

Good luck with the exterminator.

 

[poohbear1029]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
I would say they are crawling up INTO it rather than coming out FROM it. When you turn on the water, they do come out though. They are probably looking for mositure. Maybe a few ant traps will do the trick.

I agree with Dan. They are looking for moisture. We are battling them now too with the help of Terminix. We find them on our shower head seeking the extra water. They are coming from somewhere else seeking food and water to bring back to the nest. If they are carpenter, standard ant cups wont work, you need to bring in the big guns!

Good luck! I know how frustrating they are!!!