Great Falls Ant Control
Eliminate carpenter ants and house ants on your wooded Great Falls property with targeted treatments, reduced-risk products, and no binding contracts
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.
Ant Control Built for Great Falls' Wooded Estate Properties
Great Falls sits on some of the most heavily wooded residential land in Fairfax County. Nearly every home is surrounded by mature hardwood forest on 1 to 2+ acre lots, with Great Falls Park, Riverbend Park, and the Difficult Run stream valley feeding ant populations directly into your property. Carpenter ants nest in dead trees and stumps just steps from your foundation. Odorous house ants trail in from mulch beds by the hundreds.
Better Termite & Pest Control has served Great Falls since 1968. Our research team has eliminated 9 harsh chemicals from our programs, choosing reduced-risk products like Essentria and Alpine. Whether you're in Lexington Estates, Beach Mill, Kenmore, or along Georgetown Pike, we understand why your property has ant problems and we know how to fix them.
Every Great Falls ant control plan includes unlimited callbacks at no extra cost. If ants come back between scheduled visits, so do we. No binding contracts. Call 703-683-2000 and talk directly with a licensed technician about your property.
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Option 1: Call a Licensed Tech
Option 2: Submit Your Info to our Team
Carpenter Ants: The Biggest Threat on Wooded Lots
Carpenter ants are the number one ant concern in Great Falls. These large black ants, often half an inch or longer, don't eat wood like termites, but they excavate it to build their nests. On a wooded Great Falls property, they start in dead stumps, fallen branches, and firewood stacks. From there, they follow moisture into your home through foundation cracks, utility penetrations, and where deck ledger boards meet siding.
Homes along Difficult Run, backing onto Great Falls Park, and near the Potomac bluffs face the heaviest carpenter ant pressure. Older homes built in the 1960s through 1980s with original wood framing and aging crawlspaces are especially vulnerable. But even newer luxury builds with complex rooflines and multiple decks create hidden voids where carpenter ants establish satellite colonies.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Sawdust-like shavings (frass) near baseboards, windowsills, or in the crawlspace
- Winged swarmers appearing inside your home in spring
- Large black ants active at night near kitchens, bathrooms, or where plumbing enters walls
- Rustling or crunching sounds inside walls or ceilings
How Our Great Falls Ant Control Works
Our approach starts with a detailed inspection of your entire property. On a typical Great Falls lot, that means checking the tree line, mulch beds, retaining walls, stacked firewood, and every spot where wood meets soil. Inside, we trace ant trails to entry points and identify moisture sources that attract colonies.
We use non-repellent products that ants carry back to their nests without knowing it. Since ants share food and groom each other, the material spreads through the entire colony. This eliminates the population at the source rather than just pushing them to a different part of your house. For carpenter ants, we also treat wall voids and known gallery areas directly.
The exterior treatment creates a protective perimeter barrier around your foundation. On Great Falls properties where the woods come right up to the house, this barrier is your first line of defense against new colonies pushing in from the surrounding forest. Treatments last approximately 90 to 120 days, which is why we recommend visits 3 times per year for continuous protection.
Carpenter ants excavate moist or decaying wood to build nests, a common issue on Great Falls wooded lots
Perimeter barrier treatments prevent new ant colonies from entering your home from the surrounding woods
Odorous house ants form long trails from outdoor nests to kitchen counters and pet food bowls
Our uniformed technicians serve Great Falls neighborhoods from Lexington Estates to Beach Mill
Carpenter ants excavate smooth galleries in wood, causing structural damage that worsens over time if untreated
Exterior treatments target entry points along foundations, utility penetrations, and where siding meets the deck
Odorous House Ants: Kitchen Invaders on Great Falls Properties
While carpenter ants get the most attention, odorous house ants are the species most Great Falls homeowners actually see trailing across their counters. These small, dark brown ants form colonies of 10,000 to 100,000 workers that nest in mulch beds, under stones, and inside wall voids. They trail indoors looking for sweets, grease, and pet food, especially after heavy rain floods their outdoor nests.
On Great Falls' large, landscaped lots with extensive mulch beds, irrigated lawns, and ornamental plantings, odorous house ants have no shortage of nesting habitat close to your home. The key to controlling them is treating both the foraging trails you see inside and the outdoor colonies they come from. A perimeter barrier alone won't solve the problem if there are satellite nests in your mulch beds 10 feet from the kitchen window.
Our treatment approach uses baiting combined with non-repellent applications. The bait attracts foraging workers who carry it back to the colony. The non-repellent barrier catches any ants that cross it without triggering avoidance behavior. This two-pronged method addresses both the ants you see and the thousands you don't.
Why Great Falls Properties Have Persistent Ant Problems
Great Falls (ZIP 22066) is one of the most ant-prone areas in Northern Virginia. The community's estate-style properties border Great Falls Park (800 acres of Potomac River gorge and floodplain forest), Riverbend Park, and the Difficult Run stream corridor. These massive natural areas are home to enormous carpenter ant populations that constantly push into adjacent residential properties.
Most Great Falls homes sit on 1 to 2+ acre wooded lots with mature oak, hickory, and tulip poplar canopy. Dead trees, stumps, and fallen limbs are everywhere. Stacked firewood, thick mulch beds around foundation plantings, and retaining walls create nesting habitat right at the doorstep. Many properties also have outbuildings, barns, and sheds that serve as staging areas for ant colonies before they move into the main home.
Virginia's humid subtropical climate makes it worse. Heavy spring rains flush ants from saturated ground nests directly into structures. Summer humidity keeps wood moisture levels high enough for carpenter ants to thrive inside wall cavities. And because winters here are mild enough for colonies to overwinter successfully underground, the populations just build year after year without intervention.
Bundle Ant Control with Year-Round Protection
Most Great Falls homeowners deal with more than ants. The same wooded environment that drives ant populations also brings ticks, mosquitoes, spiders, and rodents looking for shelter. Properties with equestrian facilities, garden sheds, and compost piles face additional pressure from stored-product pests and wildlife.
Our SeasonGuard+ program bundles ant control, tick prevention, mosquito barrier treatments, Sentricon termite monitoring, and general pest management into a single monthly plan starting at $95/month. You get 9 strategically timed visits per year, one consolidated bill, and unlimited callbacks across all covered pests.
What SeasonGuard+ Covers
- Ant treatments 3 times per year with non-repellent products and perimeter barrier
- Monthly mosquito barrier sprays from April through October
- Spring and fall granular tick treatments plus Damminix Tick Tubes
- Sentricon termite baiting system with annual inspection
- Coverage for 35 common local pests including spiders, crickets, and mice
- Unlimited callbacks for any covered pest between scheduled visits
Our Process
Thorough Inspection
Our technicians inspect your Great Falls home's interior and exterior, identifying ant trails, nests, and entry points around foundations, decks, and where tree limbs meet the structure.
Non-Repellent Treatment
We apply non-repellent products that ants carry back to their colonies, eliminating the entire population rather than just pushing them to a different room.
Perimeter Protection
A protective barrier around your foundation prevents new ant colonies from entering your home from the surrounding woods.
3 Visits Per Year
Most ant treatments last 90 to 120 days. Our 3 visits per year ensure continuous protection throughout the year on your wooded lot.
Free Callbacks
If ants return between visits, we retreat your home at no extra cost. It's included with your plan.
What Your Neighbors Are Saying
1,100+ 5 Star Reviews on Google "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 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. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"We have used Better Termite since 1996 and we're very pleased with the results. The techs and the staff are flexible and prompt with appointments. Their price is reasonable. In 2023 we started using their pest control service for bugs and mice. Again we have been happy with the results of their service."
"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!"
"Better Termite & Pest Control has been providing us effective and reliable service for over 20 years. Darren is our current technician, and he is wonderful. We couldn't be more pleased. Based on our experience, we would highly recommend Better Termite to anyone looking for a termite and pest control provider."
"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 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. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"We have used Better Termite since 1996 and we're very pleased with the results. The techs and the staff are flexible and prompt with appointments. Their price is reasonable. In 2023 we started using their pest control service for bugs and mice. Again we have been happy with the results of their service."
"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!"
"Better Termite & Pest Control has been providing us effective and reliable service for over 20 years. Darren is our current technician, and he is wonderful. We couldn't be more pleased. Based on our experience, we would highly recommend Better Termite to anyone looking for a termite and pest control provider."
Serving Great Falls & Surrounding Communities
Proudly serving Lexington Estates, Kenmore, Beach Mill, Haver Hill, Hickory Creek, Great Falls Forest, and all of ZIP 22066 since 1968.