Does Home Insurance Cover Termites? (August 2025)

Approximately 600,000 homes in the country suffer termite damage each year. The National Pest Management Association evaluated that termites cost the economy $5 billion in property damage annually. Eliminating a termite infestation cost a homeowner thousands of dollars, and expert home repairs might be necessary. Unfortunately, most homeowners aren't aware of a termite infestation until major damage already occurs, and it will be too late.

Does home insurance cover termites? Every homeowner is curious about this question. In most cases, a home insurance policy does not cover termite damage. Insurance companies consider pest infestations an avoidable maintenance problem that is your responsibility as the homeowner. Eliminating termites from your home can be costly and stressful because they can seriously harm building structures and sometimes collapse.

So, any claims you make to your insurance provider if termites destroy your front porch or kitchen floors are likely to be rejected. So, how can you spot termites in your home? How can you get termite insurance coverage? Continue reading to know in detail about does home insurance cover termites.

Can termites actually damage my home?

Yes. Termites eat wood, including the walls and support beams in your home. They can eat through metal and plaster and furniture, floors, cupboards, and ceilings. Termites can inhabit home and harm for years before being found.

Sadly, termites often inflict extensive damage before homeowners realize they have them. In addition to replacing furniture or other damaged goods, repair may require opening walls and floors to rebuild the damaged housing foundations.

Since, generally, a home insurance policy doesn't cover the damages due to termites, repairs will be too costly. But keep reading to know does insurance cover termites.

How can I find termites in my home?

These are some typical indications that termites are there in your home.

• Termite tunnels: Search for termite tunnels near the foundation of your house and in places where exposed wood is present. These tunnels are tiny tubes that resemble mud, and you can locate them on walls, floors, or outside in the form of a vine pattern.
• Wood damage: A homeowner must check this, including what appears to be a maze cut into the wood. Be aware that not all termite damage to wood follows this pattern, as different termite species cause damage to the wood in different ways. If termites have tunneled within the house without causing obvious outside damage, try tapping on wood with a screwdriver throughout the house and listen for a hollow sound.
• Uneven flooring: Floors that are buckling or sinking may signify termites. What appears to be water damage could instead be termite damage.
• Cracks and holes: Termites can develop small holes in wood and walls and cracks in beams.
• Buckling ceilings and walls: Burrowing termites in wood can cause walls and ceilings to slump and buckle.
• Real termites: They may resemble flying ants.
• Presence of shredded wings: Swarmer termites search for new colonies by breaking off their wings. The presence of discarded wings in your home doesn't necessarily indicate the presence of an infestation. Still, it could indicate the presence of colonies in your yard.
• Droppings by termites: Feces left behind by dry wood termites may look like salt and pepper.

How to prevent termites and termite damage

Does home insurance cover termites? Then, a homeowner won't have to ask if they are aware of termites and how to prevent damage. Unfortunately, termite damage can be difficult to detect. When you notice signs of termite activity, extensive damage might have occurred. Therefore, it is always better to take preventive measures.

Inspecting your home with a termite specialist who can spot existing damage and termite activity and point out potential termite issue areas is a good idea. It is safe to have a yearly inspection for locating termites. Follow these steps to prevent termite damage in your house.

• Check your home's wooden areas regularly for termite damage, especially in areas like door frames and window frames.
• Always keep plants and mulch at a 2-3 feet distance from your house.
• Ensure your storm drains empty a few feet away from the foundation to prevent moisture from gathering close to your home.
• Fix damaged gutters, faucets, and roofs.
• Remove dead plants, limbs, or trees from the area around or near your house.
• Avoid piling firewood close to the home.
• Use treated wood on your deck, fences, and other buildings instead of untreated wood.
• Ensure to schedule yearly pest control checkups.

Can I get termite insurance?

Usually, insurers don't provide termite insurance coverage. However, certain pest control companies provide yearly inspection and treatment plans. It is always safe to have a home's termite infestation checked out before purchasing it. If the house has termite damage, you might negotiate over the price or ask the seller to make repairs before closing. Before you move in, tenting a house for fumigation is simpler.

It pays to be aware of the harm termites can cause and to frequently inspect your home to find any damage as soon as possible. Does homeowners insurance cover termites? Yes, but only in some scenarios. Find out how home insurance covers termites.

Are there any scenarios in which homeowners insurance would cover termites?

Yes. There are two situations where your home insurance policy will cover termite damage.

Unexpected house collapse: Your home insurance policy would provide coverage if termites or other vermin caused your home to collapse unexpectedly. But you must first fulfill the following requirements.

• Your house collapsed and broke into pieces. It excludes bowing, sagging, bulging, shrinking, expanding, and cracking.
• The collapse happened without any prior knowledge, as the termites remained hidden. However, be aware that you won't get termite damage coverage if you know about the infestation and don't try to stop it.

You have coverage for the potential causes of termites: You might get coverage if a covered risk or peril results in the termite infestation. For instance, moisture in the home is one of the main reasons for termites. Your insurance may protect you if that moisture is a direct result of water damage brought on by a pipe leak. It is because standard home insurance policies frequently cover internal leaks. It also applies to other covered risks like fire, tornado, and wind damage.

These occurrences can alter the structure of your house and cause a termite infestation, while it may be challenging to demonstrate a direct connection between the damage and the termites. So, try consulting a specialist to evaluate your claim. You must also file a claim for the actual harm the peril created. For instance, consider the scenario where a strong wind causes your roof's shingles to get torn off, causing a termite infestation. As soon as you discover termites, you should notify them and file a claim for the roof damage.

Filing a claim when you're covered

After speaking with an expert, contact your insurer once you've determined you have a valid home insurance claim. The insurer will send a claims adjuster, who might believe the infestation happened due to carelessness. The insurance company can use this report to reject claims.

If you are protected, you are eligible for compensation up to the policy's maximums. For instance, the typical housing coverage for houses is roughly $250,000; however, it can be greater for homes with higher values. In addition, there will be a maximum amount that the insurer will pay out if termites damage your personal property, including electronics and musical instruments. Be mindful that each policy has different specifics.

What to do if you have uninsurable termite damage

Does home insurance cover termites? If it is a 'no' for your insurer, you should try other methods to reduce the cost of covering termite damage. The following are some ways to decrease the cost of removing termites.

• Use the service of an expert to get an estimate for inspecting and removing the termites. Ensure to get multiple quotes and then compare them.
• You can determine the cost of removing termites by weighing the size of the infestation.

Based on your home's size and the magnitude of the infestation, the cost of removing termites can vary between $500-$5,000. Therefore, it's critical to precisely estimate the size of the infestation if you choose to handle the issue yourself. If you don't get rid of the entire colony, the damage will worsen and cost you more money.

Way.com Summary

Does house insurance cover termites? Unfortunately, the answer will be 'no' from most insurers. So, a homeowner should try to prevent termites from damaging their home. If not, they will damage your home severely, including the beams and walls. So, always ensure a yearly inspection of termites by pest control companies.

It will ensure the safety of your home. However, there are a few situations where house insurance policies cover termite damages. For that, always ensure to check with your insurer while buying a new home.

How to file a claim for termite damage with Way.com?

Your home insurance policy will cover termite damage if it happens due to a pipe leak, wind, tornado, fire, or tornado. But for that, you need a home insurance policy that covers these risks and doesn't drain your wallet. How is that possible?

That's where Way.com can help you. Use our app or website to compare quotes from many insurers and purchase the one with the best price and coverage. Do you require further help? Then our home insurance experts in your area can help you. They will help you understand the most complex homeowners insurance rules, terms, coverages, and discounts and file a claim. So, get in touch with them if you want to file a claim for termite damage.