Is termite damage covered under home insurance?

by Susan Hu 02/16/2025

yellow image with figure of termite

Owning a home can be a wonderful experience. You have your very own space to do as you please. However, there are also many challenges to homeownership. Every year, many homeowners battle termite damage. This guide provides a basic understanding of termite damage coverage and how to protect your home from these critters. 

Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage to your home? 

Unfortunately, home insurance policies don’t offer coverage for damages to your property from termite infestations. Subterranean termites tunneling and eating away at your home is a slow process, whereas homeowners insurance is reserved for unforeseen emergencies and accidents. Insurance companies consider termite prevention as a normal part of home maintenance. 

How do you detect termite damage?

So, how do you detect termites to prevent damage? Doing routine checks a few times a year can greatly help in spotting a termite infestation before extreme damages occur. For example, you may notice a pile of insect wings. A specialist can identify if they belong to termites and examine your home for damages. Hiring a professional usually costs around $50 to $200. 

Defend your home from termites

With the right preventative measures, you can stop termites from invading your home. These include: 

  • Not stockpiling firewood close to your home. 
  • Make sure water from storm drains doesn’t fall too close to your home’s foundation.
  • Check areas around your home for tunneling. 

Termite damage can be an annoyance. However, the right surveillance and being proactive will protect your space. Speak with a local termite specialist today for more information.

About the Author
Author

Susan Hu

Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.

Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.

With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.