Carpenter ants, once inside your home can be very difficult to get rid of. They eat away at the wood in you home and make a nest for the queen within the structural members, like wood joists, beams and rafters. This can quickly compromise the structural integrity of your home.

What does a carpenter ant look like? They are jet black and usually very large - sometime extremely large. I have seen them in my home up to 3/4" in length. I just shiver thinking about that.

Just because you see a few in your home does not mean that there is an infestation just yet. These may merely be scouts looking for moisture and food sources. But, it should send a signal to you to begin the offensive with a home pest control program.

I use one of two products to kill these scouts. The first is simply boric acid. It is also sold under the name of Roach Pruf. If you buy simple boric acid, it will be much less expensive in this form. 

Do some investigation as to where the ants might be entering the home. Sprinkle the boric acid on the ground outside and also sprinkle it in the areas you saw ants inside. This could be along the baseboards, in cabinets or in cracks. Boric acid is quite harmless to pets and humans so it is a very organic pest control. Boric acid needs to be replaced once it becomes wet as it looses its effectiveness and clumps together.

The other treatment I prefer to use is diatomaceous earth. This product is the fossil remains of single celled creatures called diatoms. They have very sharp surfaces and cut through the cuticle of the ant, causing them to dye. Sprinkle it around the house in a similar manner. Do not breath this dust in though. It can cause lung damage, so use sparingly inside, like enclose spaces, cabinets etc. It can be used freely outdoors.