Contrary to what some may believe, carpenter ants do not eat wood.Carpenter ants eat whatever source of protein and sugar that they can find. When outdoors they'll eat other insects. When indoors they are attracted to syrup, honey, sugar, jelly, and other sweets. The damage that they do to wood as they as they create galleries and tunnels is what causes people to assume that they eat wood.

Carpenter ants nest in moist wood out of doors but of more concern to the home owner is that they also  nest in moist or decayed wood inside buildings. Wood decay caused by  leaks, condensation, or poor air circulation can attract carpenter ants to nest in a home or other building. Commonly carpenter ants nest behind bathroom tiles; around tubs, sinks, showers, and dishwashers; under roofing, in attic beams, and under subfloor insulation;  Carpenter ants may also nest in foam insulation.

 and in hollow spaces such as doors, curtain rods, and wall voids.

A main carpenter ant colony will sometimes establish a satellite colony  nearby. Satellite nest do not require moisture, so they may be found in dryer areas away from the main nest. In late summer, winged carpenter ants emerge from pupae and  appear in structures in late winter and early spring as they swarm from a satellite nest.

The winged carpenter ants are often the first sign that a homeowner will get that carpenter ants exist. It is important to note where and when the swarming ants are first seen. This information is important in order to determine the location of the main colony.
During the Spring time the reproductive members of an ant or termite colony will fly away from the main colony, mate and then go looking for a place where they can create a new colony. If you spot these winged reproductive members in your South Jersey home, you will want to know that you are sure whether you are dealing with flying termites or winged ants. The reproductive member of an ant or termite colony is commonly called a swarmer. These flying ants or termites  are responsible for laying eggs to expand the colony. Here in South Jersey termites will start to swarm in March and continue up through June. Ants will swarm later than termites beginning in late April and continuing throughout the summer. In South Jersey there is an overlap from late April til June so  if you see swarmers you can tell whether they are ants or termites with a quick and easy examination. Look see if the wings are attached to the body. A termite will lose its wings, the ant does not. Examine the body parts. An ant has three distinct body parts, the head, thorax and abdomen, the termite has only two. Also you can tell if you have termites or carpenter ants if you to look for saw dust. Carpenter ants do not eat wood , they only bore through it in order to nest. A termite will digest wood to make mud tunnels used for transportation routes from one area of the colony to another, or to a water or food source.When carpenter ants are present you are likely to see mounds of saw dust. 
If you are sure you are dealing with carpenter ants, you need to figure out if the nest is in fact in the home or outside of the home. If you are seeing the ants indoors during the late spring  there is a good chance that the nest will be indoors as well. Carpenter ants are attracted to moist conditions such as those that are found around windows, doors, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, leaky pipes and drains, and under leaky roof shingles. They have also been found in dry areas such as hollow-core doors and false beams, and foam insulation. Your best bet is to find the nest if you can and destroy it. If you locate a new young colony you have better odds of complete elimination. If the colony is well established your best bet is to hire a knowledgeable professional. Pesticides that are available over the counter to the unlicensed novice are often seriously diluted versions of pesticides that require licensing to apply. When looking for a quality pest control professional be sure you are well informed and don't hesitate to ask questions. If you are in South Jersey feel Free to call Cato Termite and  Pest Control for thorough affordable carpenter ant and/or Termite extermination.