A total waste of time pouring hot water down the nest, and never block the hole, they will find away out and it could be all over the house!!!!
Get a Ant killer from the garden centre mix it with a little sugar and water and put it in the vicinity of the nest, keep away pets as they maybe attracted to the sugar!!
You will need to keep on top of this problem and they may come back next year, treat again the same way maybe for 2 or 3 years to wipe the nest out completely.
After doing Pest Control for 13 years I can tell you for nothing that all these old wives tales will not work!!!
Bay leaves may deter them for a day or two but you need to kill the ants and wipe out the nest!!