When you buy a homeowners’ insurance policy, you expect it to cover different types of damage to your home. It is meant to cover damages caused by events that are accidental or unplanned. The problem with termite damage is that it can be prevented. For termites to cause extensive damage to your home, they must be active for several years. It’s up to you to prevent termites from feasting on your home and causing hard-to-repair damage.

Termites Can Cause Substantial Damage to Your House

Over the course of several years, termites can literally destroy the structure of your home. They will eat anything that gets in their way if it is wood-based. Window jambs, wall studs, floor joists, cabinets, drawers, and pieces of furniture. Nothing is safe once termites gain a foothold in your home, including plaster and metal. From the minute they first gain access, they start to eat, and they are ravenous. They eat constantly and will literally tear your home apart piece by piece.

What to Look for If I Suspect a Termite Infestation?

If you suspect termites may be using your home as their own buffet line, there are specific signs you can look for. Signs of termite damage are noticeable if you know what you are looking for. These include:

• Small tunnels in your foundation that look like they have been recently drilled and appear like vine patterns are common.
• Small patches of wood dust inside your cabinets are also important indicators. You may be able to notice small areas of damage in close proximity to the patches of wood dust.
• Termite damage can also cause floorboards and other wooden boards to bow or sag. Sometimes this might appear similar to water damage.
• You may also notice the bugs themselves. Similar to flying ants, you may notice their wings first. However, unlike ants which have crooked antennae, termites have straight ones.

Can I Buy an Insurance Plan to Protect My Home From Termites?

Homeowners’ insurance will rarely cover damage caused by termites. While you may be able to purchase a policy that will cover termite damage if it was already in the home when you purchased it, you will have to prove that the house inspector overlooked it. Inspectors are trained to identify these types of damage and report it to the real estate agent prior to the sale.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Home from a Termite Infestation?”

Even though your homeowners’ insurance may not protect your home, there are many things you can do to keep termites from causing damage. Have your home inspected regularly and hire a pest control company to treat your home once every other month or so. This will ensure that existing infestations are eradicated and eliminate termites that enter the home so they can’t cause any damage.

Proper maintenance is the key to keeping termites at bay when it comes to your home. If you have questions about insect infestations and some of the damage they may have caused, you should contact your insurance company as well as a pest control company.

Call our team of insurance experts AIMPRO Insurance today to learn more about protecting your home insect infestations! Our homeowners insurance experts can help you find the answers to all of your queries on this subject.