How to Get Rid of Ants in Hot Tub | A Complete Guide

Ants can appear anywhere in your household, but it’s particularly annoying when they show up in our relaxation areas. For hot tub owners in the United States, ants are a major problem. Carpenter ants in hot tubs can cause significant damage to wooden hot tub cabinets. This is especially true when the wood is damp or has begun to rot.

How to get rid of ants in your hot tub? Carefully inspect the surrounding area and try to locate the ant colony. The best course of action is to use ant baits as they will destroy the entire ant colony. Simply apply the baits on their trails around the hot tub, and your problem will be resolved.

In the following sections, we have gone in-depth about ants in hot tubs and ways to eradicate them. Besides, we also provided some product recommendations that will help you with your ant problem. If you are interested, then stay with us till the end. Let’s start!

Why Is My Hot Tub Infested With Ants?

There are several reasons why your hot tub may be infested with ants. Ants are attracted to warm and moist environments, making spa insulation an ideal nesting spot. Carpenter ants, in particular, seek shelter in decayed and damp wood.

To prevent ant infestations, inspect your hot tub for any wooden areas that require repair and maintenance. If your hot tub is outdoors, check for any rotting or dead trees in the surrounding area and remove them.

Additionally, ants are attracted to food particles. It’s crucial to keep your hot tub and its surrounding area spotless and promptly clean up any spills, crumbs, or food debris to prevent ant infestations.

Ants in Hot Tub Cover

Inspect the cover and assure that the cover seals completely when you close it. Any openings or gaps will act as an entrance for ants. Especially if located in an outdoor setting, it is important to keep your hot tub sealed tightly.

Ants Under Hot Tub Cover

Ants that appear under the hot tub cover could be an indication that the cover was not sealed entirely or that there is another entrance for ants to enter. Be sure to inspect if there are any holes or leaks in the pipes that may allow ants to come in and out.

Ants In Hot Tub Jets

If you spot ants in your hot tub jets, there is a possibility that there is a hole or a leak in your insulation. Carefully inspect your hot tub to look for any potential areas that ants might be able to enter through.

Is It Dangerous To Have Ants In Or Around A Hot Tub?

While ants do not pose much danger to your health, they can be detrimental to the integrity of your hot tub. Ants may severely damage your hot tub cabinets or insulation if the infestation is left untreated.  While the damage can range from minor to severe, the repairs and maintenance may be very costly if the infestation is not treated as soon as possible.

How To Get Rid Of Ants In Hot Tub: Step By Step Instructions

To prevent ants from entering your hot tub, inspect the cover to ensure it seals completely when closed. Any openings or gaps can provide an entrance for ants, especially for outdoor hot tubs.

Ants under the hot tub cover may indicate poor sealing or another entrance for ants to enter. Check for holes or leaks in the pipes that may allow ants to come in and out.

If you spot ants in your hot tub jets, there may be a hole or a leak in the insulation. Carefully inspect your hot tub for potential areas where ants may be entering. The following is our ant control guide.

Step 1: Inspection

To check for ant infestations, carefully inspect your hot tub for signs of activity. Look for holes or gaps around and inside your hot tub, as these areas may provide an entrance or exit for ants.

If you cannot see any ants from the outside, inspect the interior of your hot tub as well. Ant colonies and nests are likely to be located inside the hot tub.

Step 2: Insecticide | Liquid, Powder, Ant Baits

Once you inspected your hot tub, you can apply insecticide. Insecticide comes in different forms such as sprays, powders (dust), and ant baits. Make sure to wear protective equipment prior to the application and keep pets or children away when using insecticides to treat the ant infestation.

Insecticide Dust

If you decide to use a powder insecticide be sure to distribute the powder or dust evenly around the hot tub and at the entrance of the ant colony. Ants that come in contact with the insecticidal powder will carry it on them and will additionally later poison the other ants.

Reapply the powder when needed if your hot tub is located outdoors as the rain or wind may wash or blow the powder away.

Insecticide Ant Spray

If you choose to use a liquid insecticide, spray it directly at the entrance of the colony and on their trails. These sprays work immediately and will eliminate ants on the spot.

Ant Baits

Ant baits are the most effective choice for treating ant infestations. Many baits contain borax as the active ingredient, which is an effective and inexpensive solution. Worker ants will take the bait back to the colony, where the other ants, including the queen, will consume it and eventually die.

Do not use ant baits with other forms of insecticides in the same area as the other types of insecticides will repel the ants away from the ant bait. If you choose to use both methods, be sure to use a non-repellent insecticide along with the ant bait.

Step 3: Aftermath

After the application of insecticides, be sure to keep children and pets away from the hot tub. If your hot tub is indoors, make sure the room is well-ventilated.

How to Get Rid of Ants Around a Hot Tub?

If you spot ants around your hot tub, identify where they are coming from, especially if your hot tub is outdoors since ants can travel long distances. Check to see if the nest is located inside the hot tub or nearby.

For outdoor hot tubs, remove any rotting logs, food traces, or other attractors that may draw ants. You can also use insecticides in the form of sprays, powders, or baits to eliminate them.

If your hot tub is indoors, ensure that the space around it is free of food and debris to prevent ants from visiting. You may use indoor insecticides around your hot tub, following label instructions carefully.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants in a Hot Tub?

Carpenter ants may appear if your hot tub has any rotting or damp wooden infrastructure. To get rid of carpenter ants, make sure to regularly maintain the wooden parts of your hot tub. Replacing any rotting wood and covering them in a protective coating will protect your wood and prevent carpenter ants from damaging your hot tub.

If your hot tub is located outdoors, inspect if there are any rotting logs or trees nearby that may cause carpenter ants to appear. If located indoors, be sure not to have any wooden areas of your hot tub wet or damp to prevent carpenter ants from excavating the wood.

You can opt to use insecticides labeled for either indoor or outdoor use depending on the location of your hot tub to get rid of carpenter ants (read the above guide).

Related: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Without an Exterminator

How to Keep Ants Away From Hot Tubs: Prevention Guide

The most effective way to deal with an ant infestation in your hot tub is to maintain its condition. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat their way through the wood. Instead, they build colonies in already wet or rotting wood. By keeping the wood dry and protected, you can prevent the ants from expanding their colony.

Inspect the wooden parts of your hot tub for any signs of rot or dampness. Replace any rotten wood, or have a professional do it for you. Keep the wood as dry as possible and seal it with a protective coating.

Another method is to use ant sprays. Ant sprays can drastically decrease the population of ants. If you choose to use a powerful spray, be sure to keep children and pets away as some of them can be quite toxic. You can also create your own natural ant repellent at home to keep ants away from your hot tub.

Finally, maintain cleanliness around your hot tub and its surrounding area. Remove any traces of food and wipe away any spills that may attract ants.

Calling a professional exterminator is always the most effective option for getting rid of ants in your hot tub for good.

Related: How to Get Rid of Ants | Safe and Effective Methods

List of Sources

Ants, University of Minnesota Extension

Rust M.K. & Choe D.H., Pests of Homes, Structures, People, and Pets, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Palmer A., Tips for Humane, Nontoxic Ant Control, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Potter  M.F., Ant Control for Householders, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Potter M., Carpenter Ants, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment