Call/Text (631) 473-7059 ☰ ˟
Logo
Call/Text (631) 473-7059
  • Home
  • Get A Quote
    • Automobile
    • Business & Commercial
    • Commercial Auto Insurance
    • Disability Insurance
    • Flood
    • General Liability Insurance
    • HealthImage of right arrow
      • Long Term Care Insurance Quote
      • Health Insurance Quote
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Homeowners Insurance Quote
      • Homeowner Flood Quote Form
      • Homeowner Insurance Quick Quote
      • Homeowners Insurance Quote
    • Life
    • Long-Term Care Insurance
    • RentersImage of right arrow
      • Renters Insurance Quote
      • Renters Insurance Quote
    • Term Life Insurance
    • Watercraft & Boat
    • Workers Compensation
  • Customer Service
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Auto Policy
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request General Liability Certificate of Insurance
    • Homeowners
  • Claims
    • Automobile
    • Homeowners
  • Blog
  • Make a Payment
  • Resources
    • Secure File Area
    • Refer a Friend
    • Important Links
    • Important Files
    • Free Reports
    • Insurance Glossary
  • About Us
    • About Newbrook Insurance
    • Location Map
    • Employee Directory
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
Icon

Auto

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Get a Quote
Icon

Home

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Get a Quote
Icon

Business

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Get a Quote
Icon

Life & Health

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Get a Quote
Home > Blog > Will Your Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?
MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Will Your Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

Homeowners insurance was specifically developed to cover sudden, accidental risks and damage. And if you talk to any pest control firm, they will confirm one thing:  a termite infestation is not something that happens overnight. Although you may initially be totally unaware that you have uninvited house guests, as long as there’s food and water they will stay. And eventually, they will cause damage far beyond their size.

That is why the average home insurance policy does not cover termite damage. The argument is that the homeowner probably had years to a) discover that he or she had a termite problem and b) do something about it to prevent damage. It’s for the same reason that damage caused by hailstorms, riots, etc., are covered by the average home insurance policy - there isn’t much the homeowner could have done to prevent the damage.

 

How serious can termite damage really be?

The simple answer is: serious enough to cost the homeowner a lot of money.  Termites can in fact be living in a home for years before anyone discovers them, quietly causing damage. By the time most homeowners realize they’ve got a termite problem, the invaders might already have caused huge damage.  Repairs might include opening flooring and walls to fix the virtually destroyed home foundations. And then there’s still the equally large cost of replacing furniture, curtains, clothing, etc., that were damaged. That is because termites don’t just eat wood (e.g. your home’s support beams), they also have an appetite for ceilings, furniture, flooring, cabinets, and even plaster and metal.

According to statistics released by the NPMA (National Pest Management Association) termite damage to property amounts to around $5 billion every year. And pest control companies report that the average cost of repairing termite damage amounts to nearly $3,000.

Are there any circumstances in which home insurance will cover termite damage?

There are very few circumstances under which a home insurance policy will in fact cover termite damage. The first one is when your whole house suddenly collapses and the cause can be traced back to termite damage. There are, however, a few conditions that must be met first:

1. The home actually has to collapse, i.e. it has to fall down and break into pieces. It’s not good enough for it to bow, sag, expand, bulge, shrink, or crack.

2. The termites that caused the damage must have remained hidden to such an extent that a reasonable person would not have known about them. If the homeowner was aware of the infestation (or should reasonably speaking have known), this protection falls away.

The second set of circumstances under which a home insurance policy might pay out a claim for termite damage is when this damage was caused by a covered incident. An example is when a pipe starts leaking in a spot where the homeowner had no way to know about this (e.g. inside a wall). This resulted in the moisture attracting termites. The homeowner will, however, have to prove that there was a link between the leaky pipe and the termites, and that the whole thing wasn’t caused by a lack of proper maintenance.

It has to be said at this stage that there are very few recorded cases of an insurance company ever paying out one of these claims.

How can termite damage to a home be prevented?

By now it should be quite clear that, when it comes to termite damage, prevention is better than cure.

The NPMA (National Pest Management Association) recommends the following steps:

- Regularly check wooden structures such as floors, ceilings, window frames, etc.

- Maintain a distance of no less than 18 inches between the ground and wooden sections of your home.

- Regularly inspect the home’s foundation for wood that has a hollow sound when tapped or paint that form bubbles.

- Prevent moisture from accumulating near the property’s foundations by using proper splash blocks, downspouts, and gutters.

Posted 1:12 AM

Share |


NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011

  • long island homeowners insurance(21)
  • long island flood insurance(8)
  • homeowners insurance(6)
  • homeowner tips(5)
  • ice dam(5)
  • long island auto insurance(4)
  • new york auto insurance(2)
  • new york life insurance(2)
  • long island(2)
  • mount sinai(1)
  • long island insurance impacted by corona virus(1)
  • nys paid family leave(1)
  • auto insurance(1)
  • dogs and homeowners insurance(1)
  • water shutoff(1)
  • protecting your home(1)
  • buildings(1)
  • national flood insurance program(1)
  • dwelling fire(1)
  • property insurance on homeowners insurance policy(1)
  • frequently asked questions about long island homeowners insurance(1)
  • safety(1)
  • homeowner insurance(1)
  • aarp(1)
  • stolen car insurance(1)
  • new york small business insurance(1)
  • dog bites(1)
  • working from home(1)
  • hurricane season(1)
  • contractors insurance(1)
  • vacant dwellings(1)
  • long island homeowner hurricane preparation(1)
  • hurricane sandy(1)
  • security devices(1)
  • frozen pipes(1)
  • stony brook(1)
  • new york city(1)
  • new york general liabilty(1)
  • hurricane irene(1)
  • fire damage(1)
  • safe driving tips(1)
  • long island homeowneowners(1)
  • new york workers comp insurance(1)
  • older homes insurance(1)
  • new york(1)
  • covid 19 relief(1)
  • port jefferson(1)
  • commercial insurance(1)
  • hurrican irene(1)
  • long island home jewelry(1)

View Mobile Version

Contact Us Today!
(631) 473-7059

Social Social Social

Resources

  • Products
  • Customer Service
  • Payment Options
  • Report a Claim
  • News
  • About Us
  • Refer A Friend
  • Our Carriers
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Contact Us

14 Roosevelt Avenue
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

Call/Text: (631) 473-7059 | F: (631) 473-7592 | E:info@newbrookins.com
© Copyright. All rights reserved. | Powered by Insurance Website Builder