Trai came out for our initial inspection and was amazing! He provided us with all of the information we needed in order to move forward with booking quarterly inspections/treatment and he was super nice! If our experience with Liberty Pest Control will always be as great as it was with Trai today, then we are definitely looking forward to our future with them! Thank you so much, Trai! 100/10 recommend!
Carpenter Ant Control
Carpenter ants are large ants that hollow out damp or softened wood to build their nests. They aren't part of Liberty's plans, so carpenter ant treatment starts with a free inspection.
How to identify
- Large ants, about ¼ to ½ inch long, usually black or black and red.
- An evenly rounded back and a single small node at the narrow waist.
- Winged carpenter ants may appear indoors in spring.
Common carpenter ants in our area
Black carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
- Look for
- A large dark ant, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, with an evenly rounded back and a single bump at its narrow waist.
- Where you'll find it
- Nests in damp or decaying wood such as porch posts, sills, window and door frames and wall studs, and in nearby stumps, logs and firewood.
Signs you have them
- Small piles of sawdust-like shavings below wood trim, windows or beams
- Large ants inside, especially at night
- Winged ants coming from walls, ceilings or window frames
- Faint rustling sounds inside walls
Where they're found
Carpenter ants nest in damp or softened wood, like around leaky windows, roofs, decks and porches, and in trees and stumps near the house.
How Liberty treats it
Starts with a free inspection
Inspection
Carpenter ant treatment starts with a free inspection. A local Service Advisor does a thorough inspection to see how bad the problem is, where the ants are getting in and nesting, and what draws them, like damp or softened wood, leaks and branches touching the house.
Treatment
- Treat the nestYour Service Specialist treats the nest areas they find, like damp wood around windows, roofs and decks.
- Bait placementThey place bait along the trails carpenter ants use, which the ants carry back to the colony.
- Outside treatmentThey treat around the outside of your home, where carpenter ants travel in from trees, stumps and woodpiles.
Follow-up
Your Service Specialist comes back for follow-up visits as needed to check the nest areas. Carpenter ants aren't part of our plans, but a pest control plan, with visits every 3 months, helps keep everyday pests like household ants and spiders away.
What our customers say
Reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Reviews and rating from Google, updated September 20, 2026.
Voted best pest control
Paducah Sun readers chose Liberty as the best pest control three years in a row.
- The Paducah Sun Readers' Choice · Best Pest Control 2024, 2025, 2026
- Marshall County Tribune-Courier · Best Pest Control 2025, 2026
- West Kentucky Star · People's Choice 2026
- Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce · Entrepreneur of the Year: John Stopka 2025
What it costs
FreeInspection
Your Service Advisor looks at the problem first and goes over your options.
DIY prevention tips
- Fix roof leaks, clogged gutters and leaky pipes that keep wood damp.
- Replace wet or rotting wood around the house.
- Store firewood away from the house and up off the ground.
- Trim tree branches and shrubs so they don't touch the house.
- Remove old stumps and scrap wood from the yard, and seal gaps where pipes and wires enter.
Common questions
Are carpenter ants covered by my plan?
No. Carpenter ants aren't part of our plans. They start with a free inspection.
How do I know if I have carpenter ants?
Look for large black or black and red ants inside, small piles of sawdust-like shavings below wood trim, and winged ants coming out of walls or window frames.
Do carpenter ants eat wood?
No. Carpenter ants chew out wood to make their nests and push the shavings out, which is why you may see small piles of sawdust.
What attracts carpenter ants?
Carpenter ants look for damp or softened wood to nest in, like wood near leaks, rotting deck boards and wood touching soil. Tree branches touching the roof and firewood stacked against the house give them an easy way in.
What's the difference between carpenter ants and regular ants?
Carpenter ants are larger, about ¼ to ½ inch long, and nest in wood. Household ants are small and trail in for food, and every plan covers them.
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