Residential Ant Pest Control In Des Moines

Ants are a nuisance that can persist year-round for homeowners, requiring ant pest control to prevent major infestations. You're most likely to see them build nests and form colonies outside, but ants may sneak into your home in search of food. If you're lucky, they’ll come in, get what they need and then be on their way searching for the next meal. However, if an ant colony finds a good food source, they’re more likely to stick around and use it to provide for their nest. This consequently leads to ants establishing scent trails that attract fellow ants to follow suit. Considering colonies can grow as high as 500,000 members, homeowners should address an infestation at the first signs and contact our team of ant pest control professionals in Des Moines right away.

If you see ants in the house, professional pest control solutions can stop a growing infestation before it’s out of control. Otherwise, ant problems can escalate to cause food contamination and significant damage to your house, depending on the species. Preferred Pest Control’s trusted ant control services are the best way to identify the source of the infestation. We provide professional ant removal and extermination solutions designed to get rid of the colony and prevent ants from returning.

Professional Ant Removal & Pest Control For Ants In Your House

At Preferred Pest Control, our process for professional ant removal recognizes how the various ant species in Iowa require different solutions to safely get rid of them. That means our approach is never one-size-fits-all, and we tailor our ant control services to your needs, including carpenter ant prevention to avoid recurring issues with this common pest. However, all of our residential solutions are safe and low-odor to minimize impact to your family, pets and home. From ant inspections to extermination, we don't just focus on the ants in front of us. We figure out how to reach ants at the source and eliminate the entire colony.

Ant Pest Control Inspection

To effectively get rid of ants, our ant control services start with a comprehensive inspection of your home's foundation, rooms, trim, windows, vents, lawn and other potential access areas to assess the situation. These potential problem areas are where ants are likely to enter your home and hide away, eventually growing into a major infestation. We also identify nests located in or near your property to determine where the concern is stemming from.

Professional Ant Removal

For the most effective ant pest control, we apply both interior and exterior solutions, including low-odor insecticides and/or baiting techniques. These options allow us to safely get rid of any ant problems you're facing without damaging your property. Our trained ant exterminators decide which solutions will work best depending on the kind of ant problem or infestation in your home.

Professional ant removal typically requires more than one treatment to gain control of an entire ant infestation and work toward eradicating the colony. We work with you to provide effective ant extermination solutions to not only get rid of the ants you can see, but also remove any nests and prevent future ant infestations.

Contact Us For Professional Ant Removal

Started using this company when we discovered a carpenter ant problem. The main reason I chose them was they emphasized they were careful with pets. They have been fabulous taking care of our home. We are pest free since we started using them about five years ago.

Teresa S.
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30 Pests Covered
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Initial Premium Interior Treatment

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Wasp Nest Removal

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Inspection and Sealing of Rodent Entry Points

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Includes SELECT Services

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Termite Prevention

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Sentricon Termite Control

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Common Ant Species & Problems In Iowa

In Iowa, ants are typically a nuisance in the spring and summer months, but when the weather shifts in the fall, homeowners may especially notice a need for pest control when ants get in the house. When temperatures drop, ants may try to seek food or find protection. If ants make their way into your home, you can quickly develop an ant infestation. 

This is especially concerning if carpenter ants form nests in your home because they seek shelter in wood, potentially causing damage to structural materials. Carpenter ant prevention is critical for Iowa homeowners looking to protect their homes from long-term ant infestations.

Common ant species in Iowa to be aware of include:

Carpenter Ants
Odorous House Ants
Pavement Ants
Larger Yellow Ants
Thief Ants (Grease Ants)

Carpenter Ants & How To Prevent Them

Carpenter ants are one of the most common ant species found in Iowa and the most hazardous to your home. These pests forage for food, potentially contaminating your kitchen if they get into your pantry. Carpenter ants find their way inside through small cracks in your home’s exterior, broken or loose screens and improperly sealed access points. Problematic ant infestations occur when these unwanted guests nest their colonies in decayed wood or in damp, unused areas of your home. Homeowners can practice smart carpenter ant prevention by sealing cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation, keeping firewood and other lumber at a safe distance away from your home and fixing leaks to avoid creating a moist environment that attracts these ants.

Frequently Asked Ant Extermination Questions

Ants aren’t necessarily dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you want them around. In addition to our ant control services, we help educate homeowners about pest prevention so you can keep ant armies at bay. 

What Do Pest Control Companies Use For Ants?

Professional ant removal typically involves low-odor insecticides and baiting techniques, often used in conjunction depending on the species and extent of the infestation. Insecticides act as an immediate solution to start getting rid of ants by creating a protective barrier around your house, while baits range from gel and granular solutions to liquid applications containing slow-release pesticides. Baits attract ants to feed on them, where they ingest a slow-acting insecticide that they will take back to their colony, effectively killing the colony off and preventing repeat infestations.

What Causes An Ant Infestation?

Ants are primarily attracted to food, especially sweet and sugary food or drink items like fruit, syrup, juice or pop. If these items are left out or leave a sticky residue behind, ants will signal to their colony that your kitchen is a reliable food source so they keep coming back for more. Damp environments are also appealing to ants, especially carpenter ants who form their shelter in wet wood.

How Do You Know If You Have An Ant Infestation?

Since ants live in colonies with up to hundreds of thousands of other ants, you’ll likely know when you have an infestation due to finding trails of ants in your home, particularly in your kitchen near food or in your bathroom near water. Look for potential entry points like windows or loose door seals to see if you can spot how they’re getting inside. You may also notice small piles of wood shavings if carpenter ants are nesting in wooden structures in your home.

How To Prevent Ants In The House?

To keep ants out of your home, seal cracks and entry points like doors and windows, repair leaks to prevent damp environments and store food items securely. Clean up crumbs and wipe away spills to avoid attracting ants. Also be mindful of the proximity of landscaping or wood to your home, as these environments are appealing to ants and may draw them closer to your home. 

Preferred Pest’s Ant Control Services In Des Moines

Wondering how to get rid of ants if they come marching into your home? If you suspect signs of an ant infestation, contact our professional ant removal experts, and we’ll provide proven pest control solutions for ants in and around your house. Call our team at (515) 717-7644 or contact us online to learn more about ant pest control in Des Moines or to schedule an appointment.

For in-depth, year-round pest prevention that includes ant control services, check out our service bundles and save today. Our ant extermination professionals in Des Moines will check your home quarterly to make sure ants and a long list of other pests stay out of your home.