Annandale Ant Control
Eliminate carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and other ant species from your Annandale 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 Annandale Homes
57 Years Protecting Northern Virginia Families
Annandale's tree-lined neighborhoods are among the most desirable in Fairfax County. From the established homes of Broyhill Crest and Camelot to the family-friendly streets of Canterbury Woods and Sleepy Hollow, these communities offer a perfect blend of suburban comfort and natural beauty. Unfortunately, the same mature trees and wooded stream valleys that make Annandale special also create perfect habitat for ants.
Better Termite & Pest Control has been protecting Annandale 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 Annandale Homes Attract Ants
Stream Valleys and Mature Trees Create Perfect Conditions
Annandale is bisected by Accotink Creek and surrounded by nearly two dozen parks, including Mason District Park, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, and multiple stream valley parks along Indian Run, Turkeycock Run, and Long Branch. These wooded corridors provide abundant habitat for ant colonies, which then forage into nearby homes for food and water.
The humid climate compounds the problem. With summer temperatures averaging in the high 80s, humidity around 75%, and well-distributed rainfall year-round, Annandale sees excellent conditions for ants from March through November. Neighborhoods near stream valleys like Camelot, Broyhill Crest, and areas adjacent to Lake Accotink experience particularly high ant pressure.
Mid-Century Homes Present Unique Challenges
Most Annandale homes were built between the late 1950s and 1970s, with a median construction year of 1967. These 50-70+ year old structures often have aging sill plates, cracked foundations, and utility penetrations that have settled over time, creating entry points for ants. Basements common in Northern Virginia homes provide additional access routes.
Carpenter ants are especially concerning in Annandale. These large black ants don't eat wood like termites, but they excavate it to build their nests, potentially causing structural damage. Odorous house ants are the small black ants that invade kitchens. Pavement ants nest under sidewalks and foundations, while acrobat ants often enter through damaged wood or old insulation.
Carpenter Ant Control in Annandale
Protecting Your Home from Wood-Damaging Ants
Carpenter ants pose a particular threat to Annandale's mature housing stock. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood, but they hollow it out to create their nests. In homes throughout Broyhill Crest, Canterbury Woods, and Annandale Acres, this can mean damage to original wood framing, deck posts, 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 Annandale homes, from the aging sills common in 1960s split-levels to the crawlspaces beneath ranch-style homes.
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 Annandale 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 Annandale's older homes with aging plumbing and inevitable moisture, they find plenty of attractive nesting sites.
Odorous house ants are particularly common in Annandale neighborhoods with mature landscaping and tree cover, like Camelot, Sleepy Hollow, and areas near Mason District 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 Annandale's mid-century homes with wood framing
Carpenter ants thrive in wooded areas like Accotink Stream Valley Park
Our technicians create a protective barrier around your home's foundation
Small black ants in your kitchen are likely odorous house ants
We inspect and treat all potential entry points during every visit
Our Annandale Ant Control Process
Step 1: Interior Inspection & Treatment
Our licensed technicians begin inside your Annandale home, focusing on areas where ant activity has been observed or is likely to occur. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, pantries, and basements. In the mid-century homes common throughout Annandale, we pay special attention to areas around old plumbing and utility penetrations 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 Annandale's older structures, and advise on addressing these issues.
What Your Annandale Neighbors Say
1,050+ 5 Star Reviews on Google "I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns and works with me to come up with the best plan for whatever pest issues I'm dealing with."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes."
"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."
"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!"
"Steve was very accommodating and patient in explaining what we're dealing with and what measures he recommended to address our rodent issue. He walked through and assessed our home thoroughly for areas of concern and walked my wife and I through the treatment plan and why he recommended the treatments. Steve's customer service skills were fantastic."
"I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns and works with me to come up with the best plan for whatever pest issues I'm dealing with."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes."
"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."
"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!"
"Steve was very accommodating and patient in explaining what we're dealing with and what measures he recommended to address our rodent issue. He walked through and assessed our home thoroughly for areas of concern and walked my wife and I through the treatment plan and why he recommended the treatments. Steve's customer service skills were fantastic."
Our Ant Control Process
Thorough Inspection
Our technicians inspect your Annandale 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 Annandale Neighborhoods
From Broyhill Crest to Canterbury Woods, we're your local ant control experts