The Truth About Termite Damage and Your Home Insurance
Have you ever wondered the truth about your home insurance with termite damage? Most homeowners assume that if any damage occurs, insurance will help cover the repairs. I mean, that’s what insurance is for right?
Unfortunately, that’s not the case in this situation. When it comes to termites damaging your home, you’re left with major repairs that could cost you thousands.
We know how frustrating this already sounds. Termite damage is very misunderstood in today’s world. Every year, thousands of homeowners discover infestations after it’s too late to stop them. And it only gets worse when they find out that their insurance won’t cover it.
Let’s talk more about it.
Why Termite Damage isn’t Covered
Standard homeowner insurance policies typically don’t cover termite damage because they don’t want to pay for long-term costs. It would be a different story if it was a sudden accident, such as an injury or a house fire.
On the other hand, termite damage requires a lot more attention. An infestation starts to build slowly over time, so it’s a good idea to understand the signs and call the professionals. Colonies are able to chew through the foundation of your home for months or even years, which can make it difficult to spot any signs of early damage. This is why insurance companies mark termite damage as a preventable maintenance issue, and not a sudden accident.
All in all, keeping up with your termite treatments is the homeowner’s responsibility. So, we strongly encourage you to set up a free inspection with your local pest control company immediately. Please don’t be like the people who wait until the last minute because it usually never ends well.
The Expensive Reality of Termite Damage
Now, this is where things get a little rocky.
Termites can cause damage in up to 600,000 homes every year. This results in over $5 billion in property damage and repair costs. According to several sources, these pests are extremely active
in 49 U.S. states, causing more financial damage than many other natural disasters. The only state that won’t see termites is Alaska because they simply can’t survive the cold climate.
While you think termites just chew through the wood of your home. They can also weaken support beams, flooring systems, walls, and even the furniture inside your home. It’s hard to notice these damages because they’re extremely small.
According to many sources, termite damage to wood appears as small, round, pin-sized holes, typically at 1.5-2 millimeters in diameter. Surrounding these holes, you will find hard, hexagon-shaped droppings. They use these holes to push out waste and exit through.
Why Insurance Companies See it Differently
Honestly, we know how incredibly unfair this is. However, insurance companies have to set boundaries in areas that they can’t reasonably prevent from happening again. While storms and fires are unpredictable, termites are considered to be very preventable with consistent inspections and treatments.
When there’s prevention methods available for homeowners to use, insurance companies expect you to move forward with them.
But… Do Insurance Companies Ever Make Exceptions?
In certain circumstances, insurance companies do make exceptions, but it’s very rare. For example, if a storm came through your town and left small openings around your home to help create an infestation. Then, they would consider covering the damage costs.
Now if you’re reading this and already have termite damage, we don’t recommend telling your insurance company that a storm came through and started the infestation. That will only make things worse and is extremely difficult to prove.
As you can see, the safest assumption you can have is to not expect coverage in this type of situation.
What Homeowners Can Do Instead
Now that we know insurance won’t cover any of the repairs, it’s time to resort to our back-up plan. Can you guess what that plan is?
If you guessed scheduling an inspection with U.S. Pest Protection, you are CORRECT! Regular inspections are a great solution for many reasons.
- When you catch early activity, you’re putting an end to an infestation before it gets worse.
- Early detection is saving you money in the long-run.
- Professional protection ensures consistent liquid treatment services throughout the year to monitor the area.
In a similar way, it’s basically like keeping up with your healthcare. We wouldn’t skip doctor appointments and then hope insurance pays for major issues that have developed over the years. Would you?
The Warning Signs You Should NEVER Ignore
With termites being known as silent destroyers and really good at hide-and-seek, any subtle clues are a sign to call for help. You might notice mud tubes along the foundation of your home, faint sounds in your walls, wings near windows, or bubbling paint.
These are just a few indicators of when to call us for the next step.
Why Termite Protection is Actually the Smart, Financial Move
When homeowners really think about the cost of prevention versus the costs of repairs, everything starts to make sense. Year-round protection typically costs a fraction of what minor structural repairs would cost. More importantly, termite treatments provide you with more peace of mind that someone is actively watching out for problems you would never have found yourself.
So, the next time you think, “my house could never get termites.” Think again. Any home in these 49 U.S. States are at risk for termites.
Recap
Nobody ever wants to hear the truth, especially when it comes to pests ruining your home. It honestly can ruin your day and we don’t want that for you. Let us help you take some stress off by doing what we do best. And that’s doing whatever it takes to stop these creatures from ruining your beautiful home.
Staying in the know and putting in the effort ahead of time will save you so much time and money. It all starts with choosing to be proactive by scheduling regular inspections.
Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in life. So, guard it like your life depends on it. Because the worst time to learn the truth about termite damage is after it’s already done.
Click HERE to schedule your free inspection with us, or call 615.590.1260 to speak directly to someone on our team.
