Carpenter ants may look like ordinary household pests, but the damage they cause is anything but ordinary. Left unchecked, they can tunnel through the wooden framework of your home, quietly weakening its structure without you realizing it—until the repairs cost thousands.

That’s why early detection matters. The sooner you spot the signs, the faster you can stop the damage. At Pied Piper Pest Control, we help Long Island homeowners and businesses eliminate carpenter ants fast—with same-day inspections, expert treatment, and long-term prevention.

Here’s what you need to know to protect your property.

Why Carpenter Ants Are a Serious Problem

Carpenter ants don’t eat wood the way termites do—but the damage they leave behind can be just as severe. These ants burrow through wood to build their nests, hollowing out beams, joists, and supports in the process. If you’re seeing even a few large black ants inside your home, there’s a good chance a nest is nearby—or already inside your walls.

Some key facts:

• Carpenter ants weaken the structural integrity of homes by nesting inside damp or rotting wood.
• Their nests expand over time, branching out to satellite colonies across your home.
• If untreated, infestations can spread into attics, basements, crawlspaces, and even neighboring properties.

Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't digest wood, but their excavation patterns still create soft, unstable wood that can collapse under stress. And because they often target already-damp wood, they compound existing moisture damage.

At Pied Piper Pest Control, we’ve seen firsthand how fast these infestations can spiral. We use advanced detection techniques to locate nests hidden behind walls, under floors, and even in insulation.

Top 7 Early Warning Signs of Carpenter Ants in Your Home

The sooner you recognize carpenter ant activity, the easier and cheaper it is to resolve. Here are the most common early warning signs homeowners should look for:

1. Large Black Ants Inside Your Home

These ants are typically between 3/8” to 1/2” long—much bigger than most household ants. You’ll often see them at night, especially near sinks, windows, or food sources.

2. Rustling or Chewing Noises Inside Walls

As they excavate tunnels, carpenter ants can produce faint clicking or rustling sounds. This usually occurs at night when the house is quiet.

3. Piles of Wood Shavings or “Frass”

This is a classic carpenter ant indicator. Frass looks like sawdust and can accumulate under wooden beams, windowsills, or baseboards.

4. Discarded Wings

Swarming ants shed their wings after mating. If you find wing piles near windows or vents, you may have a mature nest inside.

5. Hollow-Sounding Wood

If knocking on a wooden surface produces a hollow sound, ants may be nesting inside. This is especially true for damp, softwood areas.

6. Ant Activity Around Moisture-Rich Areas

Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and anywhere with plumbing are prime locations. Carpenter ants love moist environments.

7. Outdoor Nesting Near the Home

Rotting tree stumps, firewood piles, and woodpiles close to the foundation can be starting points for an infestation.

If you spot any of these signs, don’t wait. Visit Pied Piper’s Carpenter Ant Service Page to schedule an inspection before the damage spreads.

What Causes Carpenter Ants to Enter Your Home?

Carpenter ants don’t randomly show up. They’re driven by specific environmental factors—mostly moisture and shelter. Here's why they're choosing your home:

• Leaky pipes or roof issues: Water-damaged wood is their preferred nesting ground.
• Poor ventilation: High humidity indoors encourages nesting.
• Cracks in siding or foundations: Small gaps provide easy entry points.
• Accessible food sources: Even though they don’t eat wood, they forage for sugary foods and proteins.
• Tree branches or vegetation touching the home: These create bridges for ants to enter attics and upper floors.



Once a colony finds a safe, damp nesting spot, they establish satellite nests and multiply. What starts as a few ants in the kitchen can quickly become a full-blown infestation.

Pied Piper Pest Control offers moisture detection as part of our inspection, helping you identify and correct the conditions that attract these pests.