We’re here to help
Find Modern Pest Services Near You
Modern Pest Services technicians are local experts that understand the unique pest challenges in your community
Ready For Expert Pest Control?
Enter your zip code below or call (800) 323-7378
Lasting Solutions for Carpenter Ant Control
Carpenter ants tunnel through damp or damaged wood to build nesting galleries. The ants you see may be traveling some distance from the main colony, which is why treating only the visible ants may not solve the problem.
Tell us where you’re seeing activity and whether you’ve noticed winged ants, wood shavings or possible wood damage. A Client Care Professional will assess the situation by phone, explain the recommended service and provide a free quote. Your technician will inspect and confirm activity during the initial service.
Tell Us What You’re Seeing
Let Client Care know where you see ants and whether you have noticed wings, wood shavings or possible damage.
Get Assessed by Phone
A Client Care Professional will review the activity with you and determine the appropriate service.
Receive Your Free Quote
We’ll explain the recommended service, what it includes and the cost before you schedule.
Schedule Initial Service
Your technician will inspect the affected areas, confirm activity and complete the appropriate targeted treatment.
How to Identify Carpenter Ants in Your Home
Color alone is not enough to identify carpenter ants because many ant species in New England are dark brown or black. Some carpenter ants may appear reddish-brown, but color variation exists across several species. Although carpenter ants are often larger than other ants, size alone is not always the most reliable way to identify them during an infestation.
One of the clearest ways to identify carpenter ants is by the damage they leave behind, especially tunneling through moist wood and the small piles of wood shavings, or frass, near nesting sites.
Why Pest Control for Carpenter Ants Matters
Carpenter ants can cause significant damage by tunneling through damp or weakened wood and expanding their nests over time. The longer an infestation goes untreated, the greater the risk to parts of your home’s structure. Just as important, it is difficult to feel comfortable in your home when ants are actively invading it. Early, professional pest control for carpenter ants can help stop the infestation before the damage becomes more extensive.
Are They Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are often larger than common household ants, but size and color alone cannot confirm the species. Look for these common signs:
- Large black, dark brown or reddish ants
- Winged ants emerging indoors
- Sawdust-like wood shavings near wooden areas
- Activity near windows, doors, porches or damp wood
Carpenter ants excavate wood to create nesting galleries; they do not eat wood like termites. Your technician will confirm activity during the initial service and determine the appropriate treatment.
What Happens During Initial Carpenter Ant Control Service?
Your technician focuses on the colony and the conditions supporting it—not simply the ants currently visible. Treatment is targeted to the areas where carpenter ants nest, travel and forage.
Inspect and Confirm
Your technician examines the affected areas, confirms carpenter ant activity and looks for nesting areas, travel patterns and entry points.
Identify Conditions
We look for damp or damaged wood, leaks, gaps and other conditions that may support carpenter ant activity.
Apply Targeted Treatment
Your technician treats the areas where carpenter ants are nesting, traveling or foraging to address the colony—not only visible ants.
Explain Next Steps
We explain treatment expectations, prevention steps and how HomeCare Green provides ongoing coverage.
Carpenter Ant Control Is Included With HomeCare Green
Modern provides carpenter ant control through our HomeCare Green program. Your initial service addresses the carpenter ant activity you have now. From there, three strategically timed services help prevent future pest problems, and unlimited callbacks provide help if carpenter ants return—or another covered pest such as mice or wasps appears later.
Instead of starting over and purchasing another one-time service whenever a covered pest appears, HomeCare Green gives you ongoing prevention, broader coverage and one team to call. Separate pest treatments commonly cost $200–$400 each, while ongoing plans can start around $50 per month.
General estimates only. Pricing varies by home and service needs. See Modern’s pest-control cost guide.
More Than a Carpenter Ant Treatment
Carpenter Ant Control Is Part of HomeCare Green
Modern provides carpenter ant control through HomeCare Green. Your initial service addresses the activity you have now. The program then shifts from reacting to one pest problem to helping prevent the next one.
If carpenter ants return—or mice, wasps or another covered pest appears later—you already have coverage and a team to call.
Separate pest treatments commonly cost $200–$400 each. Ongoing plans can start around $50 per month. See cost details.
With HomeCare Green, You Get:
- Carpenter ant treatment during your initial service
- Coverage for rodents, ants and 55+ common pests
- Three strategically timed services each year
- Unlimited callbacks for covered pest activity
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
HomeCare Green
Eco-Friendly Pest Control for
a Healthier Home
Year-round protection for common household pests
Coverage includes rodents, ants, and 55+ common pests
Tri-annual inspections and treatments
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Unlimited callbacks
+SMART Monitoring
Smart 24/7 Intelligent Rodent Detection and Prevention
Everything included in HomeCare Green
SMART monitoring system for advanced rodent detection
Includes 2 SMART eyes and a modem, with the option to add more eyes or SMART catches
Proactive monitoring of high-risk areas
+YardGuard
Bite-Free Living Starts Here
Perimeter treatments targeting key areas to stop pests before they enter your yard
Focused application to ensure protection against mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks
Keeps your yard safe for outdoor activities, providing peace of mind throughout the season
Why Preventative Service Is Worth Considering
Carpenter ants may be the problem today, but New England homes face changing pest pressure throughout the year. Ants and wasps are common during warmer months, while mice often move indoors as temperatures fall.
HomeCare Green combines treatment for today’s covered problem with three strategically timed services, protection against more than 55 common pests and unlimited callbacks. Instead of starting over—and paying for another separate service—whenever a covered pest appears, you already have a team to call.
Carpenter Ant Control FAQs
Don’t see your question answered? Get in touch today!
What is the best time of year to start ant pest control?
If you already have ants in your home, the best time to start ant pest control is right away. For proactive prevention, spring is often the ideal time because ants become more active after winter and begin searching for food and nesting areas. Learn more about why homeowners often notice increased carpenter ants in spring and what that seasonal activity can mean for your home.
How much does an ant exterminator cost in New England?
Carpenter ant control pricing varies based on home size, where activity is located and the recommended service. A Client Care Professional will assess your situation by phone and provide a free quote before you schedule. The on-property inspection occurs during the initial service.
Why am I suddenly seeing so many carpenter ants in my home?
First, the infestation may have reached the point where you notice them and/or their behaviors. Or perhaps this is a new infestation.
In either case, if your home contains moist untreated wood, this can attract carpenter ants to exposed areas. If the wood is already softening, the impact of the ant presence can be more significant as they tunnel through the material to create their nests. So, check areas where leaks can exist in your home because moisture seeping into the wood can form a perfect place for a carpenter ant presence. Our pest control for carpenter ants helps to eliminate them.
What are the signs of a serious ant infestation?
The easiest sign to spot: ants in your home, which often occur in groups since these are social critters. As they trudge through your home in search of food, particularly your kitchen and pantry, they leave behind special chemicals that attract additional ants to the hunt.
If you notice damage to the wood in your home, carpenter ants may be causing this destruction as they tunnel through the wood. Unlike termites, they don’t eat the wood, engaging in this behavior to build nests. Outdoors, you may notice small dirt mounds created by ants, a colony that may find its way indoors to eat and drink.
Do you offer ongoing or seasonal ant prevention plans?
Our ant control program is a core component of the HomeCare Green plan, providing comprehensive protection against more than 55 common New England pests, including rodents and wasps. We prioritize proactive prevention over reactive spot treatments, utilizing environmentally friendly techniques to maintain a pest-free environment. This service includes scheduled triannual treatments to ensure consistent, year-round protection and long-term results for your home.
How can I help prevent ants from coming back?
Repair leaks and other moisture problems, replace damaged wood where appropriate, trim branches away from the structure and keep firewood and mulch away from the foundation. These steps can reduce conditions that support carpenter ant activity, but they do not eliminate an established colony.
Also, rely upon our professional pest control for ants to help keep them away for good.
Sign Up for Exclusive Content & Special Offers
By submitting this form, you agree to allow Modern Pest Services to contact you via phone, text, and/or e-mail.