Pests are more than a nuisance. They can be damaging to your home.
But can your home insurance help cover the damage?
Here in Florida, there are many things that pose a risk to your home. But even if you don’t fear fires, flooding, or high winds, it’s likely that you are afraid of one thing: pests.
From rodents to insects, pest infestations aren’t just gross and annoying. They can also cause serious damage to your home, personal property, and even your health.
But that’s okay, because your home insurance will cover the cost of extermination and renovation costs, right?
Think again!
In this article, we’ll answer your most burning questions about whether homeowners insurance will cover pest damage as well as how to reduce your risk of an infestation.
Does Home Insurance Cover Pest Damage?
There are a great many natural disasters and risks that are covered by homeowners insurance, but pest damage isn’t one of them.
Home insurance is designed to cover accidental and sudden damage, such as fire, wind, and theft. Pest infestations are considered preventable because the damage tends to build up over time. For instance, if rats are chewing through your insulation or roaches are burrowing through your walls, there will typically be signs of their presence long before the damage becomes severe.
That being said, homeowners insurance may cover damage caused by larger animals, such as deer and bears. Check your policy (or ask your independent insurance agent!) to be sure.
Does Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?
Termites are one of the most terrifying pests for Florida homeowners, as they thrive in our warm, humid climate. However, termites also fall under the umbrella of “preventable pest damage.”
If your home has been invaded by a termite colony, you will likely notice evidence of their frass (i.e. droppings), shed wings, or even mud tubes within your walls. These signs should indicate that you should call a licensed termite inspector to investigate the problem.
It is very difficult to prevent termites from entering your home; instead, your best bet is a termite bond with a professional pest control company. Under this contract, the pest control company will monitor your home for signs of termites and treat infestations as needed.
Does Home Insurance Cover Pest Control?
Because pests like termites, carpenter bees, and rodents pose such a threat to your home, it makes sense to have precautionary measures in place to prevent damage before it starts—just don’t expect your insurance company to pay for it.
All routine maintenance (including pest control) is your own responsibility and not covered by home insurance.
However, don’t let this stop you from taking care of your home! Repairs, upgrades, and pest control prevent damage, and they reduce your risk of claims, which in turn can reduce your premiums.
How To Get Rid of Pests
In most cases, a professional exterminator will be your best bet against damage caused by pests. But even professional pest control can be costly, timely, and downright frustrating.
Your best bet is to prevent infestations from happening in the first place.
How To Get Rid of Mice
Like all rodents, mice reproduce very quickly. In fact, one female mouse can have up to 300 babies in her lifetime!
To prevent mice from moving into your home, make sure there is no food around to attract them. Put pantry items (and birdseed) in mouse-proof containers and sweep up any crumbs.
If you suspect a mouse problem, set out a trap to confirm. (If you’re squeamish, there are plenty of humane traps on the market.)
How To Get Rid of Rats
Taking the above steps to prevent mice should also help keep rats at bay. However, be mindful of their teeth.
Rodent teeth never stop growing. Therefore, animals like rats and mice must constantly chew on things to keep them at a manageable length. (This is why they cause so much damage to your home!)
Furthermore, rats and mice can chew through plastic, wood, soft vinyl, rubber, and even thin aluminum. Keep this in mind when you’re looking for a rodent-proof pantry container!
How To Get Rid of Carpenter Ants
Although they don’t eat wood (like termites do), carpenter ants pose a threat to the structure of your home by burrowing through damp wood to build their nests.
Keeping your home dry will go a long way, since they prefer the softness of moist wood. Remediate any water damage right away to prevent wood destroying organisms.
There are many different species of carpenter ants throughout the U.S., so it can be difficult to distinguish between a carpenter ant and a common black ant. If you can, capture one and put it in the freezer for several hours to kill it. A professional exterminator can identify it and devise a plan of attack.
How To Get Rid of German Cockroaches
They might not cause structural damage, but no one likes the idea of roaches scurrying around their home!
Like rodents, German cockroaches reproduce very quickly, so it is nearly impossible to eliminate them without the help of a professional.
Instead, make your home less hospitable to these critters by sweeping up food and other debris and removing clutter. (They love to hide in a dark space!)
How To Get Rid of Palmetto Bugs
If you’ve lived in Florida long enough, you know why palmetto bugs are so reviled. A larger version of a cockroach—and it can fly?!
Palmetto bugs live throughout Central Florida, so don’t be too surprised if you see them from time to time (especially after a hard rain or a sudden cold snap). You can try to prevent them from entering your home by caulking cracks and crevices. Anything larger than two stacked pennies is no problem for a palmetto bug!
Keep Invaders Out!
Getting rid of a pest infestation can be costly—even more so over time. However, this is one situation where you can’t rely on your homeowners insurance to reimburse you.
In addition to pests, did you know that there are other risks that may not be covered by your home insurance policy? At Harry Levine Insurance, our goal is to understand the risks that pose the biggest threat and help connect you with the policies that can help.
Call us today so we can help identify holes in your coverage and see that you have the protection you deserve.
