We have had rain down here. Lots of it. With the rain come the ants. When there is a lot of rain the ants get into the switch on the pump of the water system. They get between the contacts and when the pump is supposed to go on the contention is blocked. Take a long screwdriver out with the very thick plastic handle and flick the contacts until all the ants are burned off and the pump and switch work like they are supposed to. Any one experience this. Any ideas. I noticed this morning that the pine needles have piled up around the base of the pump and I have to clear that out. Thanks to all who try to help.
Water System question about ants.
- Thread starter MaxMan
- Start date
Not on a pump, but ants got into the 'brain' of my whole house generator and shorted it out. New 'brain' to arrive on 1 October. The one item not covered by my maintenance contract is 'insect infestation'. Brains are EXPENSIVE!
Is it not so simple as to put some ant killer around the water pump you want to keep clean?
OP
Sorry to hear. Pressure switch is about $50 but a little pain to put in.
OP
Yes. Keeping it clean with all the pine needles another forever job.
It's not that simple. I have yet to find any ant killer that works longer than just on the immediately visible ants. We have ants come and go. No product I have ever tried, works.
How about using a sealed enclosure. I know ants are small but if water can't get inside neither can ants.
I had an issue with spiders getting into control boxes. While they usually weren't a problem, the Black Widows were. I ended up putting the controller inside a waterproof enclosure and making sure all of the penetrations and conduits were sealed with foam. Problem solved.
Then of course I had to deal with the rattlesnakes that liked the shade and little critters attracted by the water.
I had an issue with spiders getting into control boxes. While they usually weren't a problem, the Black Widows were. I ended up putting the controller inside a waterproof enclosure and making sure all of the penetrations and conduits were sealed with foam. Problem solved.
Then of course I had to deal with the rattlesnakes that liked the shade and little critters attracted by the water.
We use Ortho Home Defense spray. It is both a repellent and pesticide. Lasts up to a year (in dry conditions). I spray all around the house and in some areas inside. Works great.
I also use Ortho ^^^
One trip around the baseboards in the spring and I seldom see an ant the rest of the year. This is sandy country and ants are plentiful Not sure how it would work if exposed to the elements, but would be worth a try.
One trip around the baseboards in the spring and I seldom see an ant the rest of the year. This is sandy country and ants are plentiful Not sure how it would work if exposed to the elements, but would be worth a try.
I’ll 3rd Ortho Home Defense. A good spray in the spring and I’m good til the next spring.
Perhaps an aardvark to keeps the ants at bay?
OP
As long as he keeps his tongue off the 220 it might work.
Spraying around the generator is almost wasted motion. Spray today, rain in a couple days and everything stays wet so spraying again is usless.
Use Sevin dust, INSIDE the control panel down at the bottom. Not in the electronics. I use it to dust the door step out side and it kills that stuff snooping around the door for most all summer.
Buy a can of Orthene powder and sprinkle it on the ground around the area. Ants track it into their mound where it kills the whole mound in a couple of days.
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Not a pump but ants took out our outside A/C unit a couple years ago.
Armybrat
Hunter
Spray Cy-Kick around the base of outdoor machinery including A/C units, then around the house foundation and under the eaves several times during the year.
It will stay there for a couple months after it has dried for about two days.
But for Florida monsoons, all bets are off.
No crawling bugs at all.
