Will Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

When someone purchases a home, they never expect pests to come and damage the property. Though, sometimes intruders like termites can come in and wreak havoc. You may hope that your home insurance will cover pest-related damage, but often this is not the case. 

To learn more about home insurance and termite damage, keep reading. 

Can Termites Cause Significant Damage?

Termites are said to cause up to $5 billion in property damage every year. These insects eat wood and other organic materials, putting the structure of your home at great risk. For example, a colony of termites can quickly eat through the support beams in your home, causing lasting damage that will be costly to repair. 

Termites will also happily dine on cabinets, flooring panels, furniture, and even ceilings. Depending on the number of termites in your home, they may also be able to eat through seemingly strong materials, like metal and plaster. 

Do Termites Go Away On Their Own?

Termites can live in a home for years before they are discovered. If you aren’t actively looking for the pests, they can go unnoticed for some time. This means that many people become aware of their termite infestation after they have already caused tons of damage. Before you can repair the damage, the termites must be removed because they will rarely just leave on their own. 

How To Find Termites In Your Home

If you aren’t aware of what to look for, termites can be hard to identify. Look for common signs of termites, such as:

• Mud tubes – Look for termite tunnels around the foundation of your home and anywhere that exposed wood exists. The tunnels are small tubes that look like mud, and they are usually positioned in a vine pattern on walls and other surfaces. 
• Wood damage – Wood damage is the most obvious sign of termite infestations. Look for any damage that visually looks like a maze carved into wood. There are different types of termites and the patterns they typically create vary. 
• Irregular flooring – If your floors are buckling or sagging, there may be termites leaving beneath them. Sometimes this type of damage can look like water damage when in reality it is termite damage. 
• Termite wings – Termites sometimes enter homes by flight. Though, once they get in, they tend to shed their wings. If you see a pile of wings on your window sill, chances are a termite swarm has made it into your home. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

Home insurance does not cover termite damage. Most companies won’t sell termite insurance either. The best way to avoid the cost of termite damage is to have annual inspections and treatments from a professional pest control company. By keeping an eye out for pests like termites, you can prevent damage and protect your home. 

Find Home Insurance

Home insurance may not cover termite damage, but it does cover a variety of perils, such as fire, floods, and weather-related damage. To get started with a quote on home insurance in your area, give Get Insured For Life a call at 1-888-989-0079.