Alexandria Ant Control
Eliminate carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and other ant species from your Alexandria home with our proven non-repellent treatment methods.
Family Owned
57 years of experience serving local homes with pets and kids.
Lower Risk Products
Our research team picked materials better for the planet & your home
No Contracts
We don't lock you in with paperwork - stay because it works!
Professional Ant Control for Alexandria Homes
57 Years of Trusted Service in Northern Virginia
Alexandria's historic homes are among the most beautiful in Northern Virginia. From the 18th-century brick townhouses of Old Town to the Craftsman bungalows of Del Ray and Rosemont, these properties have character and charm. Unfortunately, the same features that make them special, including thick masonry, crawlspaces, and mature landscaping, also make them attractive to ants.
Better Termite & Pest Control has been protecting Alexandria homes from ant infestations since 1968. Our ant control service uses non-repellent insecticides that ants carry back to their colonies, eliminating the entire population rather than just the ones you see. We've removed 9 of the harshest chemicals common in our industry, choosing products like Essentria and Alpine that our research team has thoroughly vetted.
With triannual maintenance visits and unlimited free callbacks, we keep your home ant-free year-round. And because we don't believe in locking you into contracts, you can cancel anytime with 30-day notice if you're not satisfied.
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Why Alexandria Homes Attract Ants
Local Conditions Create Perfect Ant Habitat
Alexandria's humid subtropical climate, with hot summers averaging in the 90s and year-round rainfall, creates ideal conditions for ant colonies. The city's proximity to the Potomac River, Holmes Run, and Cameron Run provides moisture that ants need to thrive. Neighborhoods like Parker-Gray, Arlandria, and areas near Four Mile Run are especially prone to ant activity.
The age of Alexandria's housing stock compounds the problem. Many homes in Old Town date to the 1700s and 1800s, with aging foundations and utility penetrations that provide entry points. Even newer areas like Cameron Station and the West End see ant issues, particularly in townhome communities where shared walls allow colonies to spread between units.
Common Ant Species in Alexandria
Carpenter ants are the most concerning species in Alexandria. These large black ants don't eat wood like termites, but they excavate it to build their nests, potentially causing structural damage in older homes. Odorous house ants are the small black ants that invade kitchens, attracted by moisture and food. Pavement ants nest under sidewalks and foundations, while acrobat ants often enter through damaged wood or old insulation.
Carpenter Ant Control in Alexandria
Protecting Alexandria's Historic Wood Structures
Carpenter ants pose a particular threat to Alexandria's older homes. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood, but they hollow it out to create their nests. In historic properties throughout Old Town, Rosemont, and Del Ray, this can mean damage to original wood framing, window sills, and porch structures.
Signs of carpenter ant activity include sawdust-like frass near wood surfaces, rustling sounds in walls, and the appearance of large black ants (often with wings during spring swarming season). Our technicians know where to look in Alexandria homes, from the aging sills common in 19th-century townhouses to the crawlspaces beneath early 1900s bungalows.
Our Carpenter Ant Treatment Approach
We start with a thorough inspection to locate the colony. Carpenter ants often nest in areas with moisture damage, so we'll identify any conducive conditions and provide recommendations. Treatment involves applying non-repellent insecticides to cracks, crevices, and entry points. Because the ants don't detect these products, they carry them back to the colony, eventually eliminating the entire population.
Kitchen Ant Infestations
Eliminating Odorous House Ants in Alexandria Homes
If you've seen trails of tiny black ants marching across your kitchen counter or around your sink, you're likely dealing with odorous house ants. These small ants get their name from the rotten coconut smell they produce when crushed. In Alexandria's older homes with aging plumbing and inevitable moisture, they find plenty of attractive nesting sites.
Odorous house ants are particularly common in Alexandria neighborhoods with mature landscaping and tree cover, like North Ridge, Beverley Hills, and areas near Dora Kelley Nature Park. They nest outdoors in mulch, under stones, and in leaf litter, then forage indoors for food and water.
Long-Term Kitchen Ant Solutions
A single treatment rarely solves odorous house ant problems because these ants have multiple queens and can quickly establish new colonies. Our approach combines immediate crack-and-crevice treatment inside your home with a perimeter barrier outside. Triannual maintenance ensures that as one treatment fades (typically after 90 days), new protection is already in place.
Carpenter ants are common in Alexandria's older homes with wood framing
Winged carpenter ants swarm in spring, often mistaken for termites
Our technicians create a protective barrier around your home's foundation
Alexandria's humid climate near the Potomac creates ideal conditions for ant colonies
We inspect and treat all potential entry points during every visit
Our Alexandria Ant Control Process
Step 1: Interior Inspection & Treatment
Our licensed technicians begin inside your Alexandria home, focusing on areas where ant activity has been observed or is likely to occur. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, pantries, and basements. In historic Alexandria properties, we pay special attention to areas around old plumbing, where moisture often attracts ants.
We look for ant trails, nests, and entry points such as cracks, crevices, and voids in walls and around pipes. A crack-and-crevice treatment using non-repellent insecticide targets these areas without disrupting your daily life.
Step 2: Exterior Perimeter Protection
Next, we inspect the exterior of your home, focusing on the foundation and perimeter. We look for ant nests, trails, and entry points where ants are getting inside. A perimeter treatment creates a barrier around your structure to prevent new ants from entering. We'll also identify conducive conditions, like areas of wood rot or moisture buildup common in Alexandria's older structures, and advise on addressing these issues.
What Alexandria Neighbors Say
1,050+ 5 Star Reviews on Google "I have been a client of Better Termite & Pest Control for decades. Their service is always A+. Cindy has always been helpful with clear explanations and quick to follow up. Being my main contact Cindy gives me great confidence in the company."
"We've had a subscription service with this company for yrs, since moving into our current house, and realizing it was rather...spidery. But NO MORE! Over the years, they've tackled ants, bees, and HORRIBLE paper wasps! Further, Cindy and Darren are awesome to work with, and really know their stuff! I can't recommend this company enough."
"Daren did an outstanding job conducting my termite inspection today. He was right on time and extremely professional thorough throughout the entire process. I did not have any problems, and he was very good with some solid advice about how to continue to guard against not only termites but other rodents as well. Cindy also expertly took care of me throughout the process. Outstanding job!!"
"Better Termite has been keeping our house bug free for years with regular perimeter treatments. As a small, family owned business, they are able to personalize their approach based on your needs. It's clear that they prioritize customer service and communication. We recently had a swarm of a stinging insect take shelter under our ground-level deck, and they researched, bought necessary equipment, and came up with the best way to treat it. Highly recommend!"
"I signed up for a plan and have been truly happy with it. This company is highly professional and very responsive. When I saw fence damage from a carpenter bee, they came out quickly to address the issue right away! Accolades to Cindy the dispatcher, and all the technicians from Juan to Daren to Fredie. I appreciate your service!"
"I have been a client of Better Termite & Pest Control for decades. Their service is always A+. Cindy has always been helpful with clear explanations and quick to follow up. Being my main contact Cindy gives me great confidence in the company."
"We've had a subscription service with this company for yrs, since moving into our current house, and realizing it was rather...spidery. But NO MORE! Over the years, they've tackled ants, bees, and HORRIBLE paper wasps! Further, Cindy and Darren are awesome to work with, and really know their stuff! I can't recommend this company enough."
"Daren did an outstanding job conducting my termite inspection today. He was right on time and extremely professional thorough throughout the entire process. I did not have any problems, and he was very good with some solid advice about how to continue to guard against not only termites but other rodents as well. Cindy also expertly took care of me throughout the process. Outstanding job!!"
"Better Termite has been keeping our house bug free for years with regular perimeter treatments. As a small, family owned business, they are able to personalize their approach based on your needs. It's clear that they prioritize customer service and communication. We recently had a swarm of a stinging insect take shelter under our ground-level deck, and they researched, bought necessary equipment, and came up with the best way to treat it. Highly recommend!"
"I signed up for a plan and have been truly happy with it. This company is highly professional and very responsive. When I saw fence damage from a carpenter bee, they came out quickly to address the issue right away! Accolades to Cindy the dispatcher, and all the technicians from Juan to Daren to Fredie. I appreciate your service!"
Our Ant Control Process
Thorough Inspection
Our technicians inspect your Alexandria home's interior and exterior, identifying ant trails, nests, and entry points in walls, foundations, and around pipes.
Non-Repellent Treatment
We apply non-repellent insecticides that ants carry back to their colonies, eliminating the entire population rather than just repelling them.
Perimeter Protection
A protective barrier around your foundation prevents new ant colonies from entering your home.
Triannual Maintenance
Most ant treatments last around 90-120 days. Our triannual visits ensure continuous protection throughout the year.
Free Callbacks
If ants return between visits, we'll retreat your home at no extra cost. It's included with your plan.
Serving All Alexandria Neighborhoods
From Old Town to the West End, we're your local ant control experts