Termite & Carpenter Ant Control in Union County, NJ

Arnold’s Pest Control has been providing ant control services across Union County since 1952. As experts in termite and carpenter ant infestations and prevention, we have over 70 years of on-the-ground experience. We understand the nuances, property types and climate in Union Country and provide personalized pest control services to our clients. Our goal is to stop pests at the source, and prevent them from coming back.

If you notice anything irregular in the crawl space, attic, or around the foundation, give us a call and we will come take a look.

Termite damage and what to watch for

We have noticed that many people get confused when it comes to termites and carpenter ant infestations. This is because both pests attack wood and can do real damage to a building, given enough time. 

When it comes to the two pests, termites are the most costly and serious of the two. This is because they eat cellulose and gnaw off tiny pieces of wood around the clock. For further perspective, across the U.S., termite damage runs into the billions of dollars annually. 

A colony of termites that goes undetected has the ability to completely weaken load-bearing structures to the point that a building becomes unsafe to occupy. There are also great health concerns as termite infestations have been linked to respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

As experts in termite control in Union County, many residents and business owners struggle to identify termite activity before they have taken over. This is because they stay inside their mud tubes and tunnels and rarely come out into the open. Quite often a termite infestation remains undetected, only revealed during a renovation or when a contractor pulls up a floorboard.

As experts in Termite control in Union County, some termite activity signs to look out for include:

• Mud tubes that run along your foundation or walls
• Paint that blisters or bubbles without water damage
• Hollow-sounding wood when you tap on it
• Discarded wings close to windowsills or doors
• Small pinhole openings in your drywall

If you happen to notice any of these signs, contact Arnold’s Pest Control immediately.

Carpenter ant damage 

Black carpenter ants are common in Union County and can be a big problem for properties in the area. They do not eat wood but they tunnel through it to form their nesting galleries. They are also drawn to wood that’s already been softened by water damage. Worker carpenter ants measure between 6 and 12mm while queens get up to 20mm, making them among the biggest ants you will encounter in New Jersey.

The threat to your structure is real as carpenter ants tunnel through joists, sill plates, and support beams. They leave behind sawdust-like excavations called frass as they go and the longer a colony goes undiscovered, the more hollowing occurs. If this continues, you will experience compromised framing that will need to be replaced.  

Signs of a carpenter ant infestation

Carpenter ants run a two-part operation. The parent colony usually lives outdoors, in a tree stump, a rotting log, or a woodpile.  They then build satellite nests inside any nearby structure that offers damp wood. Catching them early saves you money. Signs of carpenter ant activity to look out for includes:

• Big black ants (roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch) turning up inside the house, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere there is a water pipe behind a wall
• Small piles of fine wood shavings collecting near baseboards, windowsills, door frames, or up in the attic
• A faint rustling sound inside walls or ceilings after dark as carpenter ants are mostly nocturnal, and a disturbed colony makes a noise like someone crinkling cellophane
• Wood that sounds hollow when you tap on it. Also make sure to check decks, porch columns, soffits, and siding
• Winged ants appearing indoors in spring as these swarmers are reproductive ants leaving a mature colony, and finding them inside means there is an established nest somewhere close

Spotting any of these around your Union County property? Do not wait for the damage to get worse.

Our carpenter ant treatment process

Our approach to treating carpenter ants begins with a thorough inspection. We look for nests, then treat them directly. Simply spraying baseboards or placing traps rarely solves the problem because the center of the colony is hidden.

1. Inspection: We go through the property inside and outside, looking for the parent colony and any satellite nests. We pay particular attention to wood near leaky pipes, old chimney flashing, windowsills, soffits, and crawl spaces.
2. Targeted treatment: Once we know where the colony has its foothold, we use a combination of bait systems, non-repellent insecticides, and dust applications to knock it out at the source. The goal is to eliminate the queen and the workers, not just the few ants trailing across your kitchen counter.
3. Follow-up and prevention: We return to confirm everything is gone. We also help you seal up entry points, fix moisture problems, and create an environment that does not attract the ants as a dry, well-sealed home is one they tend to leave alone.

Why call a professional for carpenter ants?

Carpenter ants are stubborn and can be costly. They maintain satellite nests alongside a parent colony that can sit as far as 100 yards from your house, and the parent colony is where the queen lives. Spray the ants you see with an over-the-counter spray and you have done nothing about the queen or the satellite nests hidden behind your walls. A few weeks later, the trails are back.

The only way to get rid of the entire colony network is with professional-grade products applied to the right places, by someone who has done enough inspections to know where carpenter ants actually build their nests. Get in touch and we will handle it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I permanently get rid of carpenter ants?

You have to find and destroy every nest including the parent colony and all the satellites. That means professional-grade bait systems and residual insecticides applied directly into wall voids and nest sites. Once the colony is gone, sealing cracks and fixing any water-damaged wood keeps them from coming back.

Should I call pest control for carpenter ants?

Yes, and sooner rather than later. These ants cause structural damage that compounds over time. DIY sprays scatter the colony instead of eliminating it, and the workers just regroup elsewhere in the house. A technician with the right tools can locate nests that are invisible to the homeowner.

What do carpenter ants hate the most?

Dry environments. Carpenter ants gravitate toward moisture-damaged wood, so anything you do to keep your home dry such as fixing leaks, venting crawl spaces, and storing firewood away from the foundation will make your property less appealing to them. But deterrents alone will not clear out a colony that is already established. That takes direct treatment of the nest.