To get rid of ants, it is necessary in most to locate their nest or colony and spray it thoroughly with insecticide. Carpenter ants do not eat wood the way termites do, but they do chew it and hollow it out to create a nesting spot. They like dampness so they will often build their nests near leaky gutter, or near the bottom of damp, hollowed-out post. For full pipe or control, this colony must be located and treated even if means ripping some walls open. A professional exterminator should be able to locate and treat the nest.