Does Home Insurance Cover Termite Infestation?

​Termites aren’t a sudden problem; they stay for some time until they reach the point where they have inflicted damage on your house. It can be costly to repair the termites’ damages, so we usually turn to insurance to cover the issue.

Homeowners insurance provides cover for risks and damages that are from accidents and are unexpected. With termite infestation being an accumulated problem, can homeowners insurance cover the damages from the infestation?

How Can Termites Damage My Home?
Termites can eat wood, meaning they can damage your house and walls. They could also feast on your cabinets, wooden flooring, ceiling, and furniture.

Besides wood, they can even eat their way through metal and plastic. Termites can live inside your house long and inflict too much damage before they are found. This is why it’s usually too late when people find out they have termites, as these pests have already caused too much damage.

Does My Insurance Cover Termite Damage?
A homeowners insurance policy only covers unexpected and accidental damages. So in many cases, homeowners insurance can not cover any damages inflicted by termites because termite infestation is a problem that can be prevented by proper home maintenance, making it the homeowner’s responsibility.

However, there are certain scenarios where your homeowners' insurance policy can cover termite damage to the extent of your policy.

• If termites destroy your wirings and cause a fire
• If the house collapses entirely due to termites
• If the termites come from a covered risk

How to Protect Your Home From Termites
Termites can take a long time before they can do some major damage to your property. But don’t underestimate these pests, as they can destroy almost everything if you let them. Even if home insurance can’t cover most of the damages termites do, you can take preventive measures to stop an infestation.

• Regularly inspect for damages on all wooden items like door frames
• Create a distance of 18 inches between the soil and all wood portions
• Ensure that moisture will not accumulate on your house’s foundation

Conclusion
Termite infestation might seem like a problem that can easily be dealt with, but these pests cause a bigger problem than you think. Although your homeowners' insurance policy typically won’t cover the damages from these pests, it can still cover specific termite damages. With termites, the best solution is to have preventive measures so that termites won’t set foot inside your home.

At Robert Nichols Insurance Group, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (561) 406-6153. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE. Topics and coverage discussed in this article are not guaranteed, consult with your agents to determine what your policy does and does not cover. We are more than happy to help!