Ant Proof Well Pump Pressure Switch

   / Ant Proof Well Pump Pressure Switch #11  
I haven't had the ant problem but I did once have the honor of cleaning the remains of a mouse out of the switch box. He decided to suicide by electric chair.
 
   / Ant Proof Well Pump Pressure Switch #12  
I use those medicated ear tags for cattle. I get a bag of them at the tractor store. I put one of those ear tags in the pressure switch and wrap a plastic sack around it with tape or zip ties. I also use them in the breaker box and even down in my valve boxes. I have to replace them every couple of years but they work well.
 
   / Ant Proof Well Pump Pressure Switch #14  
There are a couple of other ways to solve the problem but they are both kinda expensive:
1) They do make waterproof pressure switches but the prices range from about $200 up.
2) You could enclose the switch in a NEMA 12 (dust tight) junction box but you would have to use waterproof bulkhead fittings to get the 1/4" NPT connection and wiring through the box for that to do any good.
 
   / Ant Proof Well Pump Pressure Switch #15  
This could be coincidental but several months ago I covered my well, tank and switch with one of those large fake boulders. The very next week my pump was not working and I found a big hill of fire ants had taken up residence under the cover and had nested in the PS.

Because I am concerned about well contamination I did not want to use a pesticide and I happened to have a homemade batch of borax and sugar I had made to kill ants that had gotten into our RV. I sprinkled this liberally on the ground and have no more problems with ants under the cover. A box of Mule team borax is only a couple bucks and it is considered biodegradable.

As a side note it does not seem to work when not protected from the wx as I have a new problem with black ants in my yard and the borax does not seem to have any effect on them, with all the rain we have had this year it could be simply being wash away.

Good Luck!

p.s. Borax kills ants much the same way as diatomaceous earth as JAMES HW suggested but I found it to be much cheaper.
 

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