Last year I tried a reverse ant trap of sorts around my house. I was tired of having carpenter ants invading and have learned through trial and massive error not to destroy their nest, lest you make them relocate closer. So, I encouraged them with actual ant bait which I know works. I just put the humming bird nectar fluid in tiny containers and place those away from my house. It worked last year; they did not break the entrance of the house.
I don't know what kind of ants you are dealing with. If it is fire ants, I don't know if that will work. The sugar ants (tiny) wake up first and invade the garage in spring, but then are basically gone by summer as a pest. Its the carpenter ants that are the destructive ones that invade and move their nests around here. I'm going to do the same thing this year because giving them a source of food and water away from the house is easier than trying to destroy the indestructible.