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December 29, 2022Home Inspection, Termites

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

Your home is one of your most valuable assets. And homeowners insurance exists to protect your investment, right? These policies typically cover damage caused by fire, wind, hail, and water–but does homeowners insurance cover termites?

According to the National Pest Management Association, termite damage costs homeowners an estimated $5 billion annually, making it a leading cause of diminished home value. Unfortunately, standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite treatment or damage repair. 

Because termite infestations are preventable with routine home maintenance, insurance carriers consider them the homeowner’s responsibility. For this reason, it’s critical for homeowners like you to proactively prevent termites and seek professional treatment at the first sign of these destructive pests.

How to Prevent Termites

In lieu of homeowners insurance coverage for termites, protect your home–and your wallet–by preventing them on the front end. The money you invest in termite prevention pales in comparison to the potential out-of-pocket costs of treating advanced infestations and repairing damage. Here’s how Bug House recommends termite-proofing your home:

• • Eliminate Moisture: Termites love moisture, and they can probably find plenty of moist environments in your home–from your roof down to your basement. Eliminate moisture-accumulating conditions by investing in crawl space encapsulation, roof repairs, HVAC maintenance, and plumbing repairs. Not only does moisture control reduce your termite risk, it also protects your home from mold, structural damage, and other pests.

• • Reduce Food Sources: Termites eat wood and anything else made of cellulose. This includes books, boxes, wallpaper, drywall, carpet backing, and furniture. Reduce these food sources by regularly throwing out unneeded papers and boxes, clearing firewood or wood debris from around your home’s foundation, and ensuring wood siding is at least six inches above the ground.

• • Remove Access Points: Like any pest, termites seize any opportunity to enter your home. Eliminate entry points by sealing gaps in the foundation, cracks in exterior wood, and crevices around water and gas lines. For subterranean termites, wood-to-ground contact is a common entry point into your home, so try to reduce direct wood-to-ground contact wherever possible.

• • Schedule Professional Service: Regular professional pest management is one of the most effective ways to keep your home termite-free. Annual termite inspections keep you ahead of infestations by identifying potential problems before they become a larger issue. In addition to annual inspections from Bug House, our monthly pest control plan offers total home defense against termites and pests of all kinds.

Signs of Termites in Your Home

What’s particularly insidious about termites is that they can go undetected for years, silently destroying the structural integrity of your home. In addition to implementing the termite prevention tips above, it’s your responsibility as a homeowner to look out for any subtle sign of termites:

• • Wood Damage: You can typically tell when you have wood damage somewhere in your home just by looking at it. When termites are present in the wood, you may see buckling, swelling, and even holes. Tap on a few different pieces of wood to check if they sound hollow. If you need to dig a little deeper, break open a piece of wood from your home. If it’s layered or carved out, it’s likely due to termites.

• • Drywall Damage: Drywall contains cellulose fibers that termites love to eat. If termites are present in your home’s drywall, you may notice pin-sized holes where the termites have eaten their way through. You may also see bubbling or peeling in the wallpaper or paint covering the drywall.

• • Floor Damage: Have you ever noticed sagging or swelling floors in your home? What about excessive squeaking and noise? These signs could mean termites are chowing down on your floorboards. When termites eat your flooring or subflooring, they loosen tiles and cause the hardwood to buckle, resulting in more noise as you walk over them or apply pressure to the damaged area.

How to Treat Termites

Though it can be daunting for homeowners, termite treatment is time-sensitive and not DIY-friendly. Professional treatment eliminates termite infestations in one fell swoop, preventing further structural damage and saving you from even greater repair costs. That’s why the first step in treating termites is scheduling an inspection with a reputable, professional pest control provider like Bug House. Our home pest inspections, consultations, and service quotes are free, so there’s no excuse to put it off.

Based on the results of the inspection, your Bug House technician recommends one of our two termite treatment options: the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System or the Termidor System. Both of these solutions are superior professional-grade termite treatments that eradicate existing infestations and help defend your home against future termite colonies.

Bug House Has Your Back

If you’re a Georgia homeowner searching for a reliable residential pest control partner, call the experts at Bug House. Our technicians are always ready to tackle your bug problems and kickstart an effective, long-term solution for your homeWe proudly serve customers across Georgia with offices in Augusta, Carrollton, Columbus, Dublin, Eastman, Forsyth, Lake Oconee, Macon, Madison, McDonough, Milledgeville, Monroe, Sandersville, Savannah, St. Simons, Warner Robins, and Watkinsville. Contact Bug House today to schedule a free consultation!