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Ants are the number one nuisance pest in the United States, and Windsor Heights homes see more than their share. The city’s older housing stock — most of it built in the 1950s and ’60s — gives ants plenty of entry points: settling foundations, aging caulk, gaps around original windows, and mature trees with branches touching rooflines. Once a few scout ants find a way in, hundreds follow.
Miller Pest Solutions has been handling ant problems across the Des Moines metro since 2007. Whether you’ve got pavement ants trailing across your kitchen counter or carpenter ants hollowing out a window frame, we know how to stop them.
Signs of an Ant Infestation
- Ant trails — Lines of ants marching along baseboards, countertops, or window sills. They follow pheromone trails, so you’ll see them taking the same path repeatedly.
- Small dirt mounds — Pavement ants push fine soil out of cracks in driveways, sidewalks, and foundation joints. Look for tiny sand piles near your home’s exterior.
- Sawdust piles (frass) — Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they excavate it to build nests. Fine wood shavings near baseboards, door frames, or window sills point to carpenter ant activity.
- Winged ants indoors — Swarmers emerging inside your home usually mean a mature colony is living in the structure. This is especially concerning with carpenter ants.
- Rustling sounds in walls — Large carpenter ant colonies sometimes produce faint rustling or crackling noises inside wall voids.
Why Ants Are Common in Windsor Heights
Windsor Heights is a small, established community surrounded by Des Moines and West Des Moines. The mature landscaping, large shade trees, and older homes create perfect habitat for multiple ant species. Carpenter ants thrive in moisture-damaged wood — and in homes that are 60-70 years old, there’s often hidden moisture damage around windows, bathrooms, or flat roof sections that have been patched over the years.
Pavement ants are everywhere along the University Avenue corridor, nesting under sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas. Odorous house ants — the ones that smell like rotten coconut when crushed — take advantage of any tiny gap to get inside, especially during spring rains or hot summer weather.
Iowa’s seasonal temperature swings drive ants indoors twice a year: in spring when colonies become active and in fall when they seek warmth before winter.
Our Ant Control Process
Identification First. Different ant species require different treatments. Carpenter ants need a completely different approach than pavement ants or odorous house ants. We identify exactly what you’re dealing with before we treat.
Targeted Treatment. We apply professional-grade products where ants are active — along entry points, foundation perimeters, and directly to nest sites when possible. For carpenter ants, we trace activity back to the colony and treat wall voids, damaged wood, and satellite nesting areas.
Exterior Barrier. A perimeter treatment around your home’s foundation creates a protective zone that intercepts ants before they get inside. This is especially effective for the older Windsor Heights homes where sealing every possible entry point just isn’t realistic.
Ongoing Protection. Ants are persistent. Our regular service plans keep the barrier fresh and catch new activity before it becomes a full-blown problem again.
Why Choose Miller Pest Solutions
- QualityPro Certified — A standard fewer than 3% of pest control companies meet.
- NPMA Member — Connected to the latest research and treatment methods.
- In business since 2007 — Nearly two decades of pest control experience in central Iowa.
- Species-specific approach — We don’t just spray and pray. Proper ant identification drives the right treatment strategy.
Get a Free Phone Bid Today
Tired of ants showing up in your kitchen, bathroom, or along every window in the house? A quick phone call is all it takes to get started. We’ll ask about what you’re seeing, give you an honest bid, and schedule service that works for your schedule.
Call Miller Pest Solutions at (515) 329-1679 for a free phone bid. Or visit millerthekiller.com to learn more about our ant control services in Windsor Heights.
