Advice
Ants in the Kitchen: Causes and What Helps
Ants in the kitchen are usually following food and warmth, and a few careful habits can reduce them, though a persistent trail often needs professional treatment.
Read the guide →We trace the trail, find the nest and treat it properly, then talk you through the gaps and food sources that drew the ants in so you can reduce the chance of a repeat.
Hillside houses and sloping gardens
Homes rising up the Dawlish hillside often have terraced gardens, retaining walls and steps, and each of these is a good spot for an ant nest. Soil beside a wall warms in the sun and drains well, which is exactly what black garden ants look for. From there, they can reach a house through air bricks, door frames and gaps round service pipes.
We walk the outside as well as the inside, because the nest is often a few metres from where the ants appear. Once we find it, we treat it directly and explain the route so you can seal or repair it.
Seafront flats, shops and guest rooms
Along the seafront there are flats, cafes, shops and guest accommodation, where shared walls and bin stores can pass ants from one unit to another. A trail in one flat may well be linked to a nest outside and to neighbours who have seen them too.
For businesses and managed buildings in Dawlish, we aim to keep the work tidy and quick, and we explain clearly what we have done. We also suggest practical changes to storage and waste handling, as food left within reach will keep ants returning.
Dealing with flying ants safely
Flying ants are the winged form of the same nest, and they leave in numbers on warm, humid days. They do not bite in any way that matters and will disperse within a day or two, but the nest remains. Vacuum the ones indoors and call us if swarms recur. We cover Dawlish and EX7, and we also cover Teignmouth and Exmouth for anyone close to the town boundaries.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get flying ants in my Dawlish house every summer?
A mature nest nearby, often beneath paving or beside a wall, releases winged ants on warm days. Treating the nest can reduce the numbers, though a neighbour's nest may still send a few over.
How do I stop ants coming through a gap by the back door?
Wipe away the trail, then fill the gap with a suitable sealant or repair the threshold. We can find the nest as well, since sealing alone may only move ants to another route.
Do you treat ants in blocks of flats near the sea wall?
Yes, we treat individual flats and shared areas where access allows. Speak to the managing agent about outdoor areas, and we will explain what we find so everyone knows the next step.