Olney Ant Control
Family-owned & local since 1968
Carpenter ants, kitchen ants and everything between, treated at the colony. Free callbacks and no binding contract.
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Trusted Ant Control in Olney, MD — in Our Customers' Words
Hear what Northern Virginia and Maryland homeowners have to say about our service — in their own words. Real customers from real homes, sharing why they trust Better Termite with what matters most.
- Homes protected
- 100k+
- Google reviews
- 4.9★
- Years local
- 58+
Why Better Termite
Ant Control in Olney you can trust — from $49/mo with no binding contracts.
Lower-Impact Products
Hand-picked, EPA-approved treatments selected by our research team — without 9 of the harshest products still used by most companies.
Local Ant Control Experts
Family-owned since 1968, with 300+ years of combined experience protecting Olney homes. A licensed local tech answers the phone.
The Better Promise
Unlimited free re-services and no binding contracts — we keep coming back until your problem is gone. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.
About Better Termite
Ant Control in Olney, MD
Big Trees, Wood Trim and Houses Now 40 Years Old
Drive through Olney Mill, Hallowell or Olney Oaks and look up. Many of these lots kept the oaks and tulip poplars that were standing when the farms were sold. Forty years later, those trees are huge, and a lot of their limbs hang over the roof. Under them sit houses built in the 1970s and 1980s with wood siding, wood window frames, bay windows and back decks.
That mix is why ant control in Olney so often means carpenter ants. They nest in dead limbs and old stumps, walk across a branch onto the roof, and move into any wood that has stayed wet. Add the small ants that trail across kitchen counters every spring, and most Olney homes deal with ants at some point.
We have been getting rid of ants for Montgomery County families since 1968, and the Schulz family still runs the company. When our research team went through what goes into our programs, they cut 9 of the harshest products on the market. For ants we lean on non-repellent treatments that reach the colony. 1800+ reviews later, the small team behind those treatments adds up to more than 300 years in the field.
Local Ant Pressure
What Makes Olney Good Ant Country
A Canopy That Reaches the Roof
Olney was farmland and woodlots until the 1960s. When the subdivisions went in, builders left a lot of the trees standing, and the streets of Olney Mill, Tanterra and Williamsburg Village are still shaded by them. Big trees drop dead limbs, hold rainwater in old wounds and rot from the inside. That is where carpenter ant and acrobat ant colonies start. When a branch touches the house, the ants have a bridge straight to the gutters and soffits.
Original Wood That Has Been Wet for Years
Half of Olney's houses were built before 1990. Many still have the original wood siding, wood windows and trim. Wood that has been wet for years is what carpenter ants want. They do not eat it. They chew it out to make room for the nest, and soft wood is easier to dig. The usual places are window sills where caulk has failed, the boards behind a gutter that spills over, and the box under a bay window.
Bigger Lots, Woodpiles and Stumps
Olney lots run larger than lots closer to the Beltway, and some on the edges of town are zoned for one or two acres. More yard means more firewood stacks, sheds, play sets, landscape timbers and stumps from storm-felled trees. Each one can hold an ant colony a short walk from your back door. Ponds and stream valleys around town, from Lake Hallowell to the North Branch of Rock Creek, keep the soil damp much of the year, and damp wood is easier for ants to move into.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants in Olney Homes: Check the Roofline First
People expect ants to come up from the ground. On Olney houses, carpenter ants often come in from above. Workers forage up tree trunks and along branches at night. Where a limb touches the roof, they walk right onto the shingles and look for a way in.
Where We Find Carpenter Ant Nests on Olney Houses
- The fascia and soffit behind gutters clogged with oak and poplar leaves
- The framed box under a bay window, where water gets behind the trim
- Wood window sills and door frames with old, cracked caulk
- The ledger board where a deck bolts onto the house
- Sunroom and porch additions with a flat or low roof
- Wall voids next to a leaking bathroom or kitchen pipe
Signs You Have a Nest, Not Just a Visitor
One big black ant in the kitchen in June may have walked in from the yard. Several, night after night, usually means a nest is close. Watch for small piles of what looks like sawdust mixed with insect parts below a window or along a baseboard. That is carpenter ant frass, and the nest is usually right above it. Some people also hear a faint rustling in the wall at night. Our guide to the signs of carpenter ant damage has photos.
Winter and Spring
Ants Inside in February Mean the Nest Is Inside Too
Here is a rule of thumb we give Olney homeowners. Carpenter ants that live outdoors sit out the winter. If you are finding big black ants walking across the floor in January or February, the nest is almost always somewhere inside the heated part of the house: a wall, a ceiling, a window frame or a crawl space.
The same goes for winged ants. In late winter and spring a mature colony sends out winged ants to start new nests. If they show up indoors near a window or skylight, they likely came from a nest inside. Our page on carpenter ant swarmers explains the timing.
Make Sure They Are Not Termites
Winged carpenter ants and termite swarmers show up in the same months, and both are dark and about the same size. Carpenter ants have a pinched waist and bent antennae. Termites have a thick waist, straight antennae and four wings of equal length. If they turn out to be termites, our Olney termite control page covers what comes next. If you cannot tell, bag a few and call. We will tell you which one it is.
Small Ants
The Small Ants in Olney Kitchens, Patios and Trees
Odorous House Ants
These are the tiny dark ants that form a line from a window or the back door to the sink, the dishwasher or the pet bowl. Crush one and you will smell something like rotten coconut. They often show up after a heavy rain floods their nests in the mulch. In townhome rows like those around Lake Hallowell, a colony can move along shared foundations from one unit to the next. Store-bought sprays usually make it worse. These colonies have many queens, and a spray that scatters them can split one nest into several. Read more about odorous house ants.
Acrobat Ants
Acrobat ants are small, often two-toned, and hold their heart-shaped rear end up over their back when you bother them. Around Olney they nest in old trees, in wet wood, and sometimes in foam insulation behind siding. They come inside along branches and utility lines just like carpenter ants. See acrobat ants in our pest library.
Pavement Ants
If you see small piles of sand along a patio joint, the edge of the driveway or a crack in the basement slab, those are pavement ants. They nest under concrete and pavers and come inside through slab cracks and expansion joints.
Prevention
Five Things Olney Homeowners Can Do About Ants
Treatment is our job. Making your house harder to get into is something you can start on yourself. None of this replaces an inspection, but all of it helps.
- Trim the limbs back so no branch touches the roof, gutters or siding.
- Clean the gutters after the oaks and poplars drop in the fall, so water does not soak the fascia all winter.
- Move the firewood off the ground and away from the house, and bring in only what you will burn that day.
- Re-caulk old windows and fix the drip at a hose bib or AC line.
- Pull mulch back a few inches from the foundation and grind out stumps close to the house.
For more, see our tips on how to keep ants away. Dealing with spiders, stink bugs or mice too? Our Olney pest control plan covers ants and dozens of other common pests under one plan.
A black carpenter ant in wood mulch. On Olney lots they move from the tree line to the house through beds like this
Exterior treatment at the foundation and the beds against it
Acrobat ants in rotted wood. Old trees and wet trim are their favorite spots
Pavement ants leave little sand piles along patio joints and slab cracks
Porches, steps and door frames are common ways in
Your plan includes 3 service visits a year and free callbacks in between
Everything We Do
Every service we offer in Olney — one local team, one phone call.
Core Programs
- Home Pest Control in Olney
- Termite Control in Olney
- Rodent Control in Olney
- Mosquito & Tick Control in Olney
- Extermination Services in Olney
- Eco-Friendly Pest Control in Olney
- Sentricon® Termite Baiting in Olney
- IN2CARE® Mosquito System in Olney
- Commercial Pest Control in Olney
- Pre-Construction Termite Control in Olney
Insects & Spiders
- Ant Control in Olney
- Carpenter Ant Control in Olney
- Sugar Ant Control in Olney
- Spider Control in Olney
- Roach Control in Olney
- German Cockroach Control in Olney
- Oriental Cockroach Control in Olney
- American Cockroach Control in Olney
- Flea Control in Olney
- Silverfish Control in Olney
- Carpet Beetle Control in Olney
- Pantry Pest Control in Olney
- Stink Bug Control in Olney
- Lady Bug Control in Olney
- Boxelder Bug Control in Olney
- Cricket Control in Olney
- Tick Control in Olney
- Earwig Control in Olney
- Millipede Control in Olney
- Centipede Control in Olney
- Pill Bug Control in Olney
- Springtail Control in Olney
- Clover Mite Control in Olney
Stinging & Flying
Rodents & Wildlife
What Our Customers Say
1800+ Reviews on Google "We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"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."
"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!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
"We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"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."
"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!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
How It Works
How Ant Control Works in Olney
Talk to a Licensed Technician
Call (703) 683-2000 and tell us what you are seeing: big black ants on the kitchen floor at night, a trail along the counter, winged ants by a window. Where you saw them and when helps us narrow down the species before anyone comes out.
78-Point Inspection, Roofline to Basement
On an Olney house we look up as well as down: limbs touching the roof, gutters that overflow, soffits, bay windows, the deck ledger and the wood trim around old windows. Then we follow trails inside to where they start.
Non-Repellent Treatment That Reaches the Colony
We use non-repellent products the ants cannot detect. Workers walk through, carry it home and pass it around, so the nest you cannot see is hit along with the ants you can. Sprays that scatter ants are what we avoid.
Exterior Barrier and Three Visits a Year
We treat the foundation, entry points and the places ants travel up the house. Your plan includes 3 service visits per year so protection does not lapse between seasons.
Free Callbacks, No Binding Contract
Ants back between visits? Call and we come back out at no extra charge, as many times as it takes. You can end the plan with 30 days notice.
Your Local Office
Ant Control Across Olney, MD 20832
Olney Mill, Williamsburg Village, Tanterra, Hallowell, Lake Hallowell, Arden Woods, Norbeck Hills, Olney Oaks, James Creek and Norbeck Grove, plus Brookeville, Sandy Spring and Ashton.
Get in Touch
Call Us
703-683-2000Email Us
info@bettertermite.comVisit Our Alexandria (Headquarters) Office
2647 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314
Office Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu7:30 AM – 7 PM
- Wed, Fri7:30 AM – 8 PM
- Sat, Sun9 AM – 6 PM
Good to Know
Olney Ant Control Questions
Still have questions? A licensed local tech picks up at (703) 683-2000.
Our Free Callback Promise
See pests between scheduled visits? We come back and retreat at no extra cost — as many times as it takes. No binding contracts, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.