Ants

ZAP Pest Control provides inspection-led ant control for homes and businesses in Calgary and selected surrounding communities.

Many summer calls involve pavement ants and other small soil-nesting ants active around lawns, patio stones, walkways, driveways, deck edges, railway ties and foundations. ZAP also treats ants entering kitchens, bathrooms, basements and other indoor areas.

Standard residential ant-control packages within Calgary city limits range from $275 to $375 plus GST. Every standard package includes a 100-day warranty.

Packages containing exterior-yard treatment cover residential lots up to 0.20 acres, or 8,712 square feet.

Carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, commercial properties, multi-unit infestations and unusually large or complex properties are assessed and priced separately.

Call or text (587) 435-7378 to discuss what you are seeing. During regular phone hours, customers speak directly with certified Alberta Structural Pesticide Applicators who also perform pest-control work in the field.

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Common Ant Problems ZAP Treats

ZAP treats ant problems commonly encountered around Calgary properties, including:

• nests and concentrated activity in lawns and garden areas;
• ants beneath patio stones, walkways and driveway edges;
• activity around decks, railway ties and landscape borders;
• trails along exterior foundations and around basement windows;
• ants entering kitchens, bathrooms, basements and other indoor areas;
• colonies or activity beneath foundations or inside walls;
• unusually large ants or signs that may indicate carpenter ants;
• suspected pharaoh ants in homes, businesses or multi-unit buildings;
• flying ants and winged ants emerging from structural openings.

Customers do not need to identify the species before contacting ZAP. The ants’ size, appearance, activity and location can help a certified applicator determine the appropriate next step.

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What to Tell Us When You Contact ZAP

To help us recommend the appropriate service, please tell us:

• whether the ants are active indoors, outdoors or both;
• where trails, nests, soil mounds or concentrated activity have been seen;
• whether the ants appear very small, unusually large, winged or difficult to describe;
• whether there is damp wood, suspected wood damage or sawdust-like material;
• whether the property is larger than 0.20 acres, or 8,712 square feet;
• whether detached garages, sheds or multiple buildings are involved;
• whether store-bought sprays, baits or other treatments have already been used.

A photograph can be helpful but is not required. Do not disturb a nest or put yourself at risk merely to obtain a picture.

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How ZAP’s Ant Service Works

1. Inspect

Every ZAP ant service begins with a discussion and an inspection of the areas included in the selected package.

The technician looks for active trails, visible nests, soil mounds, nesting zones, cracks, crevices, exterior entry areas and conditions that may be contributing to the activity.

It is not always possible or necessary to locate every part of a concealed colony before effective treatment can begin.

2. Diagnose

Ant type, colony behaviour and nesting location affect which treatment is appropriate.

The technician assesses whether the activity appears to involve ordinary household or soil-nesting ants, or whether the situation may require a separate carpenter-ant or pharaoh-ant programme.

The technician also determines whether the activity fits one of ZAP’s standard residential packages or requires a customised assessment.

3. Treat

ZAP does not apply one identical ant treatment at every property.

Depending on the ant type, activity, location and selected service package, the technician may use:

• bait or gel bait;
• targeted liquid treatment;
• granular treatment or granular bait;
• dust treatment;
• direct nest treatment;
• crack-and-crevice treatment;
• accessible-void treatment;
• exterior foundation treatment;
• or a suitable combination of methods.

Not every property receives every treatment type. A certified applicator selects the methods according to the activity, site conditions and approved product label.

4. Protect

Treatment is applied to the areas included in the purchased package: the interior, exterior foundation, exterior yard or a combination of those areas.

“Protect” refers to pest-control treatment and the 100-day warranty. ZAP’s standard ant service does not include structural sealing or construction work.

The technician may identify cracks, moisture concerns, food sources, vegetation contact or other conditions contributing to the activity and provide practical recommendations.

5. Explain

After service, the technician explains:

• what was observed;
• which areas were treated;
• which treatment methods were selected;
• what activity may continue temporarily;
• applicable preparation, re-entry and safety instructions;
• practical recommendations;
• and when to contact ZAP under the warranty.

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Strategic Indoor Ant Treatment

Interior treatment is normally strategic and targeted rather than automatically applied throughout every room.

When appropriate, ZAP prefers strategic indoor baiting. Ant colonies may be beneath foundations, inside walls or in other spaces that cannot be reached directly. Foraging ants can carry suitable bait toward concealed colony areas.

Baiting also commonly causes less disruption inside the home than broader liquid treatment. Customers receiving bait-only treatment normally do not need to leave, provided the selected product, placement and label directions allow it.

Liquid, dust, crack-and-crevice and accessible-void treatments may also be used when appropriate.

Customers requesting broader whole-home treatment can discuss the scope with a certified applicator. Whole-home treatment is considered case by case and is not automatically included in every interior service.

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Inspection-Led Exterior Ant Treatment

ZAP’s exterior-yard service is inspection-led and targeted. It does not mean every square foot of the property is automatically broadcast sprayed.

Depending on the activity found, the technician may treat:

• active nests and soil mounds;
• established trails;
• cracks and crevices;
• edges and concealed harbourage areas;
• lawns and garden edges;
• patio stones;
• walkways and driveway edges;
• deck edges;
• railway ties;
• exterior foundations;
• areas around basement windows;
• accessible activity around detached structures.

Liquid treatment, granules, bait, dust, direct nest treatment or a suitable combination may be selected according to the circumstances.

Packages containing exterior foundation treatment include the accessible perimeter of the primary residence and attached garage, including relevant areas around basement windows, cracks and active entry locations.

A dedicated treatment around the complete perimeter of detached garages, sheds and other outbuildings is not automatically included.

When exterior-yard service is purchased, accessible ant activity around detached structures may be treated as part of the wider yard service. Multiple buildings, extensive activity or requests for complete treatment around separate structures may require additional pricing.

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Residential Ant-Control Pricing

Pricing last updated: August 2026

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Every standard residential package includes a 100-day warranty beginning on the original treatment date.

Interior Ant Treatment — $275 + GST

This package includes assessment and targeted treatment of relevant accessible interior areas where ants are trailing, entering, nesting or foraging.

Baiting is preferred where appropriate. Liquid, dust, crack-and-crevice or accessible-void treatments may also be selected.

Exterior foundation and yard treatment are not included.

Interior and Exterior Foundation Treatment — $325 + GST

This package combines the Interior Ant Treatment with treatment around the accessible exterior foundation of the primary residence and attached garage.

The exterior foundation treatment includes relevant areas around basement windows, cracks, active trails and locations where ants may be entering.

Full-yard treatment and dedicated treatment around detached structures are not included.

Exterior Yard and Foundation Treatment — $350 + GST

This package includes inspection-led, targeted treatment of accessible exterior ant activity together with exterior foundation treatment around the primary residence and attached garage.

It may include treatment of active nests, trails, cracks, crevices, patio stones, walkways, driveway edges, deck edges, railway ties, lawns, garden edges and accessible activity around outbuildings, depending on what the technician finds.

Interior treatment is not included.

Complete Interior, Foundation and Yard Treatment — $375 + GST

This package combines targeted interior treatment, exterior foundation treatment and qualifying exterior-yard treatment in one service.

The technician selects and combines appropriate methods according to the ant type, activity and property conditions.

Property-Size and Pricing Conditions

The published prices apply to standard residential properties within Calgary city limits.

Packages containing exterior-yard treatment cover residential lots up to 0.20 acres, or 8,712 square feet, subject to ordinary access and treatment conditions.

Properties over 0.20 acres, properties with multiple buildings, unusually large building perimeters and locations involving extensive activity or complex access are assessed and priced separately.

Carpenter ants and pharaoh-ant infestations are not included in the standard package prices.

Commercial properties, apartment buildings, condominium buildings and other multi-unit programmes are quoted according to their specific requirements.

ZAP will confirm the applicable package and price before treatment begins.

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Results and 100-Day Warranty

Every standard residential ant-control package includes a 100-day warranty beginning on the original treatment date.

Ant activity may begin decreasing sooner, especially when an active nest can be treated directly. Please allow three to four weeks for treatment to reduce colony populations and establish control throughout the areas included in your service.

When bait is used, foraging ants need time to interact with the bait and carry it toward concealed colony areas. Results are therefore not always immediate.

If established trails, recurring groups of ants or active nesting continue in a covered area after the initial three-to-four-week treatment period, call or text ZAP.

ZAP will assess and re-treat the covered area at no additional treatment charge during the 100-day warranty period.

The warranty is not limited to one follow-up visit when continued covered activity reasonably requires additional treatment.

Because ants naturally live outdoors throughout Calgary, seeing an occasional isolated ant does not necessarily mean treatment has failed.

Warranty coverage follows the package purchased:

• Interior Ant Treatment covers treated interior areas.
• Interior and Exterior Foundation Treatment covers treated interior and foundation areas.
• Exterior Yard and Foundation Treatment covers treated exterior-yard and foundation areas.
• Complete Interior, Foundation and Yard Treatment covers treated interior, foundation and qualifying exterior-yard areas.

Activity in an area not included in the selected package may require an additional service.

Carpenter-ant and pharaoh-ant programmes have separate scopes, pricing and warranty terms.

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Preparing for Your Ant Appointment

Before the appointment:

• note where ants, trails, soil mounds or concentrated activity have been seen;
• avoid applying additional store-bought sprays after booking unless a ZAP technician advises otherwise;
• keep food and pet food covered;
• clean accessible food and drink spills;
• provide access to rooms and exterior areas where activity has been observed;
• unlock gates;
• identify irrigation systems, electrical equipment, ponds, edible gardens or other sensitive areas;
• advise ZAP about children, pets, aquariums, birds, reptiles or other relevant concerns;
• send a photograph if one can be taken without disturbing the ants.

Unless sanitation requires it, avoid washing away active trails or destroying visible nests immediately before the appointment. Seeing where ants are travelling may help the technician assess the activity.

ZAP does not require every ant customer to empty every cupboard, move all furniture, mow the lawn, stop watering or leave the property for one universal period.

Preparation requirements depend on the treatment being planned. The technician will explain any additional steps that apply.

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Treatment-Specific Safety and Re-entry Instructions

ZAP uses pest-control products registered for use in Canada and applies them according to the approved product label and conditions at the property.

Preparation and re-entry requirements depend on the product, placement and application method.

Customers receiving bait-only interior treatment normally do not need to leave, provided the selected product and placement allow it. Children and pets must not disturb or access bait placements.

For liquid, dust or other applications, people and pets may need to leave a treated room, treated area or the property while treatment is being applied and for the period required by the product label.

Some targeted dust or void applications may not require the entire property to be vacated.

The technician will explain:

• whether people or pets need to leave;
• which rooms or areas must be avoided;
• when normal access can resume;
• whether ventilation is required;
• any food, pet, aquarium or sensitive-area precautions;
• and any watering, mowing or weather-related instructions.

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Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are assessed and priced separately because their nesting behaviour and treatment requirements can make them more labour-intensive than ordinary nuisance-ant service.

Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They excavate galleries to create nesting space and may be associated with damp, decaying or damaged wood. They can also occupy wall voids, insulation, attics and other concealed spaces.

Signs may include unusually large ants, winged ants emerging indoors, concentrated activity around damp wood or piles of sawdust-like material.

Pest-control treatment does not repair moisture conditions or damaged building materials. The technician may recommend that underlying moisture or construction concerns be investigated separately.

Call or text ZAP to discuss suspected carpenter-ant activity and arrange the appropriate assessment.

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Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are not included in ZAP’s standard residential ant packages.

They may form multiple connected colonies in warm interior environments and can be especially challenging in apartment buildings, condominiums, food-handling facilities and other connected structures.

Disturbing or spraying a suspected colony can cause the ants to split into additional nesting groups.

Do not apply insecticidal spray to suspected pharaoh ants before speaking with ZAP.

Pharaoh-ant control may require a specialised baiting programme, coordination across connected areas and more than one visit.

ZAP assesses and prices these programmes separately.

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Flying Ants in Calgary

Calgary occasionally experiences brief summer swarms of flying ants.

Flying ants are reproductive ants leaving mature colonies to mate, not a separate species. An outdoor swarm may last only several hours or a day and may disperse without treatment.

Winged ants repeatedly emerging indoors, from a wall, beneath a floor or through another structural opening can indicate a nearby colony and should be assessed.

If you are unsure whether you are seeing flying ants or another insect, send ZAP a clear photograph taken from a safe location.

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Certified Applicators You Can Speak With

Every ZAP pest-control technician holds a current Alberta Structural Pesticide Applicator certificate.

During regular phone hours, customers speak directly with certified applicators who also perform pest-control work in the field and have practical experience with ant activity in Calgary homes, yards and businesses.

ZAP Pest Control was founded in Calgary in 2015 by a pest-control professional whose Calgary career began in 2001.

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Learn more about ZAP’s experience and technician qualifications

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Ant-Control Questions

How much does residential ant control cost in Calgary?

ZAP’s four standard residential ant-control packages range from $275 to $375 plus GST.

The price depends on whether service covers the interior, exterior foundation, exterior yard or all three areas.

Exterior-yard pricing applies to qualifying Calgary residential lots up to 0.20 acres, or 8,712 square feet.

Does ZAP spray the entire yard?

ZAP’s exterior-yard service is inspection-led and targeted.

The technician treats relevant nests, trails, cracks, crevices, edges and accessible harbourage areas according to the activity found. ZAP does not automatically broadcast every product across every square foot of the property.

Does ZAP use bait or spray?

The treatment depends on the ant type, location and activity.

ZAP may use bait, gel bait, liquid treatment, granules, dust, direct nest treatment, crack-and-crevice treatment, accessible-void treatment or an appropriate combination.

Strategic baiting is preferred for many indoor situations, although other methods may be used when appropriate.

Do I need to leave during ant treatment?

Customers receiving bait-only interior treatment normally do not need to leave when the product, placement and label allow it.

Liquid, dust or other applications may require people and pets to leave a room, treated area or the property. The technician will provide the instructions that apply to the specific service.

How long does ant treatment take to work?

Activity may decrease sooner, particularly when an active nest can be treated directly.

Please allow three to four weeks for treatment to reduce colony populations and establish control throughout the covered areas.

What does the 100-day warranty cover?

The warranty begins on the original treatment date and covers continuing ant activity in the areas included in the purchased package.

After allowing the initial three-to-four-week treatment period, customers can contact ZAP if established activity remains. ZAP will assess and re-treat covered areas at no additional treatment charge during the warranty period.

The warranty is not limited to one follow-up visit when continued covered activity reasonably requires additional treatment.

Does ZAP treat carpenter ants and pharaoh ants?

Yes. Both are assessed separately from the standard residential packages because their nesting behaviour and treatment requirements can require more investigation, labour or follow-up.