As temperatures start to drop, ants and other pests shift into overdrive, foraging for food and shelter before winter sets in. That extra activity is exactly why fall is one of the most common times for residents to spot ants indoors. The good news: a few targeted steps outside your home make a much bigger difference than anything sprayed inside.

Ants spend the fall stocking up before colder weather slows them down. A home offers exactly what they’re after: warmth, moisture, and easy access to food. That’s why you may notice more ant activity in September and October than at almost any other time of year.

The most effective defense starts outside. Treating ant hills directly targets the colony itself, rather than just the handful of ants that have already made it inside. If you spot an ant hill in the yard, that’s the first place to address.

Tip: Ant hills near the foundation or close to exterior walls should be treated first, since they’re the most likely source of indoor sightings.

If your home has brick exterior walls, small gaps called weep holes run along the base — they let moisture drain out from behind the brick. They’re also a favorite entry point for ants. Spraying along these weep holes closes off one of the most common paths ants use to get inside.

Tip: Weep holes usually sit just above ground level along the bottom row of brick — look for small, evenly spaced gaps.

Spraying inside your home only deals with the ants you can already see. It won’t stop new ants from continuing to arrive, because the colony outside is still active and still sending foragers your way. Treating both the ant hills and the weep holes, in addition to inside, is what actually breaks the cycle.

Tip: Think of indoor spray as a short-term fix and outdoor treatment as the long-term solution — you really need both.

A little attention to the outside of your home goes a long way toward keeping pests out as the seasons change. Treat the source, seal the entry points, and you’ll spend a lot less time dealing with ants indoors.

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