Residential Carpenter
Ant Control Services

Carpenter Ant Control FAQs

Choosing an ant control service for your home comes with many questions. When you're ready to learn more, call our office and talk with our friendly staff. We’ll ensure you get the answers you need on our services, pricing, appointments and any other questions you may have.

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  What are carpenter ants?

  Carpenter ants are a type of ant commonly found in many forested parts of the world. They build their nests inside of trees and wooden structures, and are fond of damp or humid environments. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood, but merely chew through the grain as a means of constructing their homes. This process aids in forest decomposition and replenishment, but is also a major cause of costly structural damage in human dwellings. Carpenter ants comprise a wide variety of ant species, but generally have a much larger body than their black ant cousins. Carpenter ant workers are wingless, but the swarmers of the colony will possess two sets of distinctive wings.

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  How did carpenter ants get into my home?

  Carpenter ants are indigenous to forests and forested areas. A colony may have “moved-in” to your house or apartment from another location -- a woodpile, a neighbor’s home, or a forestland, for example -- or the ant colony may have “grown up” in you home, transforming from single queen to full-blown infestation over a period of several seasons.
  
  A fully-functioning, mature colony can take years to develop within a structure, and may go unnoticed until people finally encounter them. This means that the infestation can do a lot of damage long before it’s even detected. While sanitation and physical measures are strong methods of deterring a potential infestation, these often end up taking place too late, after ant reproduction has already begun the process of expanding the colony throughout the structure. The best method for managing a current infestation or growing colony is by contacting a professional who can put together an integrated solution plan to locate and eliminate all colonies and nests on a given property.

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  What are the best ways to manage an infestation?

  If you suspect that you have carpenter ants in your home, it is important to hire a qualified pest control company that can do an inspection and assessment. They will provide a plan to treat the ant problem, identify potential moisture problems and to conduct preventive measures aimed at ant-proofing your home and yard. An important consideration is that over the counter ant baits are largely ineffective against the carpenter ants in the Northwest.

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  Where will carpenter ants be found in my home?

  Indoor infestations can be tricky to manage. Carpenter Ants can nest in a variety of hollow and hidden areas. They can be found in decayed wood, within walls, in insulation near wood, behind cabinets and baseboards, or any other hollow area conducive to their foraging. Due to their affinity for damp spaces, they can also be found beneath kitchens and bathrooms, or other areas where moisture can accumulate in your home. Control of indoor infestations requires thorough inspection of the structure and a knowledge of its specific materials and layout.
  
  Carpenter ants tend to prefer nocturnal foraging schedules, and though it is not uncommon for them to forage in groups, typically they prefer to forage individually -- making them more difficult to notice in the home or on your property. Infestations may be noticed by observing small piles of sawdust-like material or tunnels through wooden structures (both left behind by the ants’ construction efforts).
  
  Carpenter ant colonies can cause significant structural damage to a home in mere months, so any suspected activity should be dealt with immediately.

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  What types of ants do you treat?

  At Bug Zapper, we provide top-of-the-line treatments for all varieties of ants in Oregon. We specialize in identifying and treating Argentine ants, Carpenter ants, Odorous House ants, Pavement ants and Velvety tree ants. Each of these are unique and requires a specific approach to treatment and eradication, but our 100% guarantee of satisfaction extends to every service we cover.

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  What types of training do your technicians go through?

  We are committed to providing you the absolute best in knowledgeable, experienced technicians with expert-level technical capabilities. All of our technicians are fully licensed and certified in Oregon, in addition to undergoing advanced training though our intensive internal apprenticeship training program. All technicians complete state testing for laws and safety, including IIHS General, IIHS Structural, and Agricultural Vertebrate tests before going through a month-long apprenticeship field training program. In addition, our staff regularly completes ongoing advanced training and attends industry-based seminars. We are fortunate to have an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) on our staff - one of only 12 currently operating in the whole state of Oregon.

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  Do you have same day service?

  Same day service is something we pride ourselves on. Bug Zapper is known for speedy response times and timely service appointments, in addition to our all-around excellent customer care. We make every effort to prioritize your needs and to offer same day appointments when able. An ant professional can be at your home in most cases within 24-48 hrs. Call our office and we will gladly work with what best fits your schedule and time.

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  Do I Need to Vacate My Home During Treatment?

  In general, the products we use have minimal odor, and you are not required to leave your home or office during the treatment.