ajr2993
Active member
We have an ant infestation, and we're wondering how our central vacuum takes care of those little assholes.
Do central vacuums work well for killing ants?
- Thread starter ajr2993
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
madman
Well-known member
Pretty sure it would just relocate them to the dust collection bin. When I have ant problems I just buy a load of Raid ant bait things. The thing is with them that they take ages to work, but they really do. It poisons the whole colony, so the ants don't drop dead immediately. These days, I'm just proactive. I put out fresh ones all over the house in February.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Since the dirt is traveled outside of the house and into the unit, also with a big canister or a bag that holds alot of dirt, and with alot of air pressure, it would make it harder or even impossible for the ants to survive after being sucked up. Out of curiosity, what kind of central vac do you have?
I would not recommend sucking up ants in a central vac. As said above it would pretty much just re-locate them. Do you want ants in your central vac and piping? I do not think there is enough air pressure to kill them in a central vac. Terro also works well.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
At least by today's central vac units, they've improved than what central vacs were a while ago. They are perhaps the best all surface cleaners on the market. If you're concerned about the ants being trapped in the pipes, then suck up some cleaning wipes like the Tornado Maintenance Cloths. And if you're concerned about ants living in a central vac, then get a water filtration power unit like Aqua-Air for example. Their 258 model is guaranteed to kill ants because it has one of the highest air pressures of central vacs, you can also suck up water to flush through the pipes, and the water tank would automatically drain down into the sewer. Or at least get a bagless unit where you can empty out the unit at any time you'd want. Can't do that with a bagged unit cause you'd have to use it until the bag gets full.
https://www.aquaair-wetdry.com/prod...duty-central-vacuum-unit-wet-extractor-with-2
https://www.aquaair-wetdry.com/prod...duty-central-vacuum-unit-wet-extractor-with-2
The airflow thru most vacuums-central or portable-can kill insects picked up by too high amount of airflow the insect breathing spiracles can stand.They get killed by the airflow drying them out from the inside.Insects don't have lungs as we do.Goes right to their tissues and cells.
I would say go right ahead. They won't survive the trip through the tubing. I've sucked up bees, flies, ladybugs, stink bugs...never a problem.
One time I became aware of an active hornet's nest in the attic above the garage at my parents' house. I crawled up there with a headlamp, a can of Raid Wasp & Hornet spray, and the central vac hose (probably two hooked together to reach; no inlets in the attic!). Was able to spray some and suck up others all at the same time.
No survivors in the bag when I carefully checked after the job was done.
One time I became aware of an active hornet's nest in the attic above the garage at my parents' house. I crawled up there with a headlamp, a can of Raid Wasp & Hornet spray, and the central vac hose (probably two hooked together to reach; no inlets in the attic!). Was able to spray some and suck up others all at the same time.
No survivors in the bag when I carefully checked after the job was done.
[No message]
I guess it depends on how many ants we are talking. I was picturing sucking up armies of ants. Either way. You still need to kill the queen and there are multiple queens if it’s a large infestation. I’m sure you already know this. With a product like Terro the ants bring it back to the nest and Terro kills the colony. Last week I bought Ortho Home Defense and sprayed it around the exterior of my home. I’ve seen a great reduction of ants especially around my wooden fences. I hate them too! They are resilient little buggers.
mark40511
Well-known member
I second the ant traps from Raid. Normally I hate poisons of any kind but in this case I do it... it's a longer process but ultimately it works. The thing with vacuuming is you can vacuum them and more will always follow. They are after something...sometimes if they find nothing they want...they leave and go elsewhere...I keep my house spic and span and still I will see a couple of those tiny ants crawling on the floor... that's when I get the raid traps out and put them by the age of the door.
there are natural things I've read about such as eucalyptus and Bay leaves...which I've tried...and it doesn't seem to work..Well.. I take that back.. the bay leaves worked one time, but another time they didn't work at all. So I don't know. What's weird is that some years go by and I never see them...other times...they show up. the really really tiny ants are the worst.
there are natural things I've read about such as eucalyptus and Bay leaves...which I've tried...and it doesn't seem to work..Well.. I take that back.. the bay leaves worked one time, but another time they didn't work at all. So I don't know. What's weird is that some years go by and I never see them...other times...they show up. the really really tiny ants are the worst.
