Ant Control
Ant Control
Ants are one of the most common pest issues for residential homes, commercial kitchens, and industrial facilities across British Columbia. These pests invade kitchens, walls, foundations, landscaping, warehouses, and food-handling areas, often in large and rapidly expanding colonies.
Whether it’s carpenter ants damaging wood, pavement ants building trails through kitchens, or odorous house ants invading pantries, professional treatment is required to eliminate them effectively and prevent re-infestation. We provide professional ant control across Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Langley, Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Burnaby, Vancouver, and all surrounding Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland communities.
Absolute Pest Solutions offers safe, targeted, and long-lasting ant control services using industry-approved products and detailed inspection techniques.
Common Ant Species We Treat
Ant infestations vary depending on species, and each type of ant requires a different treatment method. Below are the most common ant species found in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland:
Carpenter Ants – Large ants that tunnel through wood and can damage structural framing.
Pavement Ants – Small brown ants commonly found in kitchens, baseboards, patios, and foundations.
Odorous House Ants – Known for their strong “rotten coconut” smell when crushed; often invade pantries and kitchens.
Pharaoh Ants – A high-risk ant species that spreads quickly in multi-unit and commercial buildings.
Moisture Ants – Found in damp or decaying wood and areas with water intrusion.
Signs of an Ant Infestation
- Visible Ant Trails – Trails of ants moving along walls, baseboards, floors, or exterior pathways.
- Ants in Kitchens & Wet Areas – Ants appearing around sinks, pantries, windows, garbage, or pet food dishes.
- Sawdust Piles (Frass) – Small piles of sawdust-like debris, a common sign of carpenter ants excavating wood.
- Flying Ants Indoors – Winged ants emerging inside, especially during spring or early summer.
- Clicking or Rustling Sounds – Faint noises inside walls, often caused by large carpenter ant colonies.
- Moisture Activity – Ants gathering around water leaks, bathroom fixtures, or damp wood.
- Soft or Hollow Wood – Wood that feels spongy, weak, or hollow due to hidden tunneling or structural damage.
Carpenter ants do not eat wood, they excavate it. The smooth, channeled tunnels shown here are a characteristic of carpenter ant galleries and indicate that a colony has been active inside the structure for some time. If left untreated, this damage can spread across framing materials and compromise structural integrity.
Ant Biology & Behaviour
Ants are social insects that live in structured colonies made up of workers, queens, and sometimes multiple reproductive females. Their behavior is driven by chemical communication (pheromones), which is why ant trails grow quickly once a food source is discovered.
Key biological facts:
Workers gather food, care for larvae, and defend the colony
Queens lay eggs and ensure colony growth
Colonies can contain thousands of ants depending on the species
Multiple queens may exist in the same colony (especially in pavement and pharaoh ants), making elimination more complex
Ants are highly adaptive, capable of relocating or splitting colonies when threatened
Understanding ant biology is critical for effective treatment because improper methods can cause colonies to scatter and expand.
What Ants Eat
Different ant species have different dietary needs:
Carbohydrates (sugars) – odorous house ants, pavement ants
Proteins (meat, insects) – carpenter ants, pharaoh ants
Grease/fats – pharaoh ants, pavement ants
Honeydew from aphids and outdoor plants
Moisture from leaks or damp wood
Knowing what ants feed on helps identify the species and choose the most effective bait or treatment method.
Risks & Damage Caused by Ants
Carpenter ants can weaken structural wood over time by tunneling through framing and damp building materials. Other ant species can contaminate food, spread bacteria, and invade kitchens, pantries, and storage areas. In commercial settings, ant activity can lead to health violations, customer complaints, and product contamination.
Identifying the correct ant species is essential for proper treatment and preventing long-term damage.
Our Ant Treatment Process
Inspection
We inspect your home or business to identify ant species, locate active trails, pinpoint moisture areas, and find the main colony or satellite nests.
Targeted Treatment Application
We apply safe, effective products such as gels, sprays, dust, and baits to eliminate active trails and begin destroying the colony at its source.
Colony Elimination
Our treatments are designed to be carried back to the nest, eliminating queens and workers to stop the entire colony—not just the visible ants.
Prevention & Follow-Up
We provide helpful recommendations, moisture corrections, sealing advice, and optional follow-up service to prevent ants from returning.
FAQ – Ant Control
Have questions about ant treatments, safety, or what to expect? Here are answers to the most common questions we get from customers.
1. Why do I suddenly have ants in my home?
Ants enter homes in search of food, water, and shelter. Small gaps around doors, cracks in concrete, plumbing penetrations, moisture issues, and even pet food can attract them. Once a few ants find resources, they leave a pheromone trail for others to follow, causing a rapid increase in activity.
2. Will store-bought sprays get rid of ants?
No. Over-the-counter sprays only kill the ants you can see, not the colony. In many cases, DIY sprays cause colony splitting (budding), making the infestation worse as ants relocate and form new satellite nests. Professional treatments target the nest, not just the surface trails.
3. How do I know if I have carpenter ants?
Common signs include:
Large black or red-and-black ants
Sawdust-like frass (wood shavings)
Clicking or rustling sounds inside walls
Wood that feels hollow or damaged
Instead of eating wood, carpenter ants carve out smooth tunnels and galleries inside it, which can weaken framing and structural components over time.
4. Are ant treatments safe for children and pets?
Yes. We use Health Canada–approved products that are safe when applied professionally. Treatments are targeted to specific areas such as cracks, crevices, wall voids, and exterior foundations. In most cases, you can remain home, and re-entry instructions will be provided based on the treatment type.
5. How long does it take to see results after treatment?
Most customers see a significant reduction within 24–72 hours. For larger carpenter ant colonies or infestations with multiple nests, full elimination may take several days as the treatment spreads through the colony. Follow-up service may be recommended for severe cases.
🏠 Residential Ant Control
Ants often invade kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and exterior foundations. We eliminate all major ant species, including carpenter ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants, and apply preventative barriers to stop new colonies from entering your home.
🏢 Commercial Ant Control
Ants in commercial environments can contaminate food areas, damage inventory, and lead to health and safety concerns. We service restaurants, offices, retail stores, warehouses, and multi-unit buildings with discreet, effective treatments and customized prevention plans.
🏭 Industrial Ant Control
Large facilities such as warehouses, distribution centers, processing plants, and manufacturing sites require compliant, safe, and long-lasting solutions. We provide targeted industrial ant control with non-contaminating treatments and scheduled maintenance options.
🏠 Residential Ant Control
Ants often invade kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and exterior foundations. We eliminate all major ant species, including carpenter ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants, and apply preventative barriers to stop new colonies from entering your home.
🏢 Commercial Ant Control
Ants in commercial environments can contaminate food areas, damage inventory, and lead to health and safety concerns. We service restaurants, offices, retail stores, warehouses, and multi-unit buildings with discreet, effective treatments and customized prevention plans.
🏭 Industrial Ant Control
Large facilities such as warehouses, distribution centers, processing plants, and manufacturing sites require compliant, safe, and long-lasting solutions. We provide targeted industrial ant control with non-contaminating treatments and scheduled maintenance options.
Our Commitment to You
At Absolute Pest Solutions, we understand that dealing with pests can be stressful, disruptive, and sometimes overwhelming. Our commitment is to make the process simple, respectful, and effective from the moment you contact us until the problem is fully resolved.
You can expect:
Reliable, responsive service: We show up on time, communicate clearly, and treat every property with care.
Safe and responsible treatments: All products are approved and applied with your family, pets, and facility safety in mind.
Honest recommendations: No upselling, no unnecessary treatments, and full transparency about what you do or don’t need.
Long-lasting results: We focus on solving the root cause of the infestation, not just the visible activity.
Friendly, respectful technicians: Professional, trained, and dedicated to delivering real solutions.
Your home, business, or industrial facility deserves to feel safe and protected.
We stand behind our work and are committed to delivering reliable, professional pest solutions you can trust in every visit.
Service Areas We Proudly Serve
Absolute Pest Solutions delivers fast, reliable ant control across the Fraser Valley & Lower Mainland. Our team provides professional, safe, and long-lasting treatments for homes, businesses, and industrial facilities throughout the region.
📍 Fraser Valley
Abbotsford • Chilliwack • Mission • Hope • Agassiz • Harrison Hot Springs
📍 Langley & Surrounding Areas
Langley • Aldergrove • Fort Langley • Brookswood • Walnut Grove
📍 Ridge Meadows & Tri-Cities
Coquitlam • Port Coquitlam • Port Moody • Maple Ridge • Pitt Meadows
📍 Surrey & Delta Region
Surrey • South Surrey • Cloverdale • Delta • Ladner • Tsawwassen • White Rock
📍 Vancouver & Nearby
Vancouver • East Vancouver • West End • Burnaby • New Westminster • Richmond
📍 North Shore
North Vancouver • West Vancouver
We continue to expand our coverage to ensure fast response times and consistent, high-quality service across all communities.
Book Your Ant Control Service Today
Fast response times. Professional treatments. Long-lasting results.