Usually not, and we would rather say so. Here is where the line actually falls, written by the people who would benefit from putting it somewhere else.
Usually not. Black garden ants outdoors need nothing, and most indoor trails stop once the food source and entry point are dealt with.
It is worth it for a trail that persists after you have done the free steps, for a nest inside the structure, and for pharaoh ants. £190 flat, £220 house.
That covers the majority of ant enquiries we receive. Saying so costs us bookings and we would rather say it.
See our full ant control service and published prices — and our honest view on when you do not need us.
View Ant Control Edgware →Before booking anything, spend a weekend on this. It resolves a large proportion of cases.
| Do | Then |
|---|---|
| Remove every food source | Wait 3 days |
| Clean the entire trail route with detergent | Wait 3 days |
| Follow the trail outside and note where it enters | Seal that point |
| Keep surfaces dry and the bin closed | Wait a week |
| Still there? | That is when to call |
If a fortnight of wiping surfaces fixes it, that was not a job worth £220.
Worth its own note, because it is where the answer differs from rodents.
The one situation where waiting and DIY are both actively harmful.
If you have small pale ants indoors in January, do not reach for a spray. Tell us.
| Concern | Reality |
|---|---|
| Eat wood like termites | No. There are no termites in UK homes |
| Damage structure | No |
| Undermine a patio | Excavation can loosen sand between slabs over years — cosmetic |
| Damage electrics | Not black garden ants |
| Bite or sting | Black garden ants are harmless |
| Contaminate food | Yes — the real reason to deal with indoor trails |
The honest case for treating ants is food contamination and nuisance, not damage. We would rather make the accurate argument.
Yes, and it happens more on ants than any other pest we deal with.
The free steps above, done properly. That is the honest answer.
With ants it mostly does not matter. Bait reaches the colony and sealing protects your side.
A wasp nest is the summer job that always needs doing — £90 fixed in Edgware, guaranteed.
Usually not. Ants outdoors need nothing, and most indoor trails stop once the food source and entry point are dealt with.
A trail that persists after the free steps, a nest inside the structure, year-round indoor activity, or pharaoh ants.
Remove every food source, clean the whole trail route with detergent, seal the entry point, and wait a week. If it is still there, that is when to call.
With ants that is rarely an obstacle. Bait is carried home through the colony, so treatment at your entry points can still resolve it.
Small pale ants that nest inside the structure and are active year-round. Spraying causes the colony to split and spread, including between flats.
No. They do not eat wood — there are no termites in UK homes — and they do not damage structure. Food contamination is the real reason to treat.
Yes, and it happens more on ants than any other pest we deal with. There is no charge for the assessment.
£190 for a flat and £220 for a house, covering the complete programme.
Try the free steps first. If they work, you have saved £220 and we would rather that than the booking.
Prefer to talk? Call 0203 151 6640 or WhatsApp us.
