Carpenter Ant Control in NJ: Find the Nest, Treat It, Fix the Wood

The clearest signs are large black or black-and-red ants indoors, especially at night, and small piles of sawdust-like frass under windows, baseboards or in the attic. Winged ants inside in spring and damp, soft wood are other clues. Text a close-up photo to 973-510-2585 and we'll confirm what you have.

Yes, over time. They don't eat wood but hollow it out to build nests, usually starting in wood softened by water. A colony left for years can weaken window framing, sill plates, joists or rafters. Damage is generally slower than termites, but it's worth treating early and fixing the moisture source.

We follow frass piles, foraging trails and damp wood, check voids around leaks, and inspect the yard for outdoor colonies in trees, stumps and woodpiles. Ants are most active at night, so notes on when and where you see them help. Leaving a little frass in place helps the technician trace the nest.

You can reduce them by fixing leaks, trimming branches and moving firewood, but sprays usually only kill the foragers you see. The queen stays in the nest, and repellent sprays can make colonies split. Most lasting results come from finding and treating the nest, inside and out, which is hard to do without experience.

You may still see some ants for a short time while the colony dies off, which is normal. Most homes see activity drop off within a few weeks once the nests are treated. If you keep seeing ants after that, or new frass appears, call us so we can recheck and treat again.

Often they point to moisture. Carpenter ants prefer wood that's been softened by leaks, gutter overflow or poor ventilation, so finding them is a good reason to check roofs, windows, plumbing and the basement sill area. Fixing that moisture is part of keeping them from coming back.

Yes. After treatment, we repair damaged wood ourselves, the same way we handle termite damage — sill plates, joists, beams and framing. That way you don't need a separate contractor. The leak or moisture problem behind the damage should be fixed as well so the new wood stays sound.

No. Carpenter ants have a pinched waist and bent antennae, leave sawdust-like frass and smooth tunnels, and forage in the open. Termites have a thick waist and straight antennae, leave mud tubes and soil-packed galleries, and stay hidden. The treatments are different, so getting the identification right matters.

They become active as the weather warms in spring and stay busy through summer. Ants seen indoors in late winter or very early spring often mean a nest is inside the heated house. Winged swarmers usually appear in spring when a colony is mature.

Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control holds New Jersey pesticide applicator business License 90568B, has over 15 years of experience and has 4.9 stars on Google. We're based in Garfield and serve Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.

Sí. Buscamos el nido, lo tratamos y podemos reparar la madera dañada. Mande una foto por texto al 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.