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Is Termite Damage Covered by Home Insurance? What Homeowners Need to Know 

Alyssa DiCrasto on 2024-02-26

Is Termite Damage Covered by Home Insurance? What Homeowners Need to Know 

Termites may be small, but they can cause big problems for homeowners. These sneaky insects munch away at the wood in our homes, causing damage that can be costly to repair. Many homeowners wonder: does my home insurance cover termite damage? Let’s explore this question and what you need to know to protect your home. 

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Understanding Termite Damage

First things first, let’s talk about what termites do. These tiny pests love to chow down on wood, and they can wreak havoc on the structure of your home. They tunnel through wood, weakening it over time and potentially causing serious damage to your home’s foundation and structure. 

Does Typical Home Insurance Coverage Cover Termite Damage?

Now, onto the big question: does your home insurance cover termite damage? Well, the short answer is usually no. Most standard home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by termites or other pests. That’s because insurance is typically designed to cover sudden and unexpected events rather than gradual damage caused by pests.

According to Rate Retriever, a trusted insurance comparison site, dwelling coverage typically covers damages caused by fire, lightning, wind, hail, vandalism, and other covered perils. Because termite damage is avoidable through proper car, your home insurance may not cover any termite damage the structure of your home sustains.

Home Insurance Exclusions and Limitations

It’s important to understand that even if your home insurance does cover some types of pest damage, there are often exclusions and limitations. For example, if your home already had a termite infestation before you purchased your insurance policy, the damage may not be covered. Additionally, neglecting to take preventative measures against termites could also affect your coverage. 

Additional Home Insurance Coverage Options

While termite damage may not be covered by your standard home insurance policy, there are additional coverage options you can explore. Some insurance companies offer endorsements specifically for termite damage, which you can add to your policy for an extra cost. These additional coverages can provide peace of mind knowing that your home is protected against termite damage. 

Termite Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

Of course, the best way to deal with termite damage is to prevent it from happening in the first place. There are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of a termite infestation, such as: 

  • Keeping woodpiles away from your home 
  • Repairing any leaks or moisture issues 
  • Regularly inspecting your home for signs of termites 
  • Investing in professional termite inspections and treatments 

Are you worried you already have a termite infestation? Work with one of our partners for a free inspection. 

Making a Termite-Related Insurance Claim

If you do discover termite damage in your home, it’s important to act quickly. Start by documenting the damage with photos and contacting your insurance company to file a claim. Be prepared to provide evidence of the damage and any preventative measures you’ve taken to protect your home against termites. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, termite damage is typically not covered by standard home insurance policies. However, there are additional coverage options available to homeowners who want to protect their homes against termite damage. By understanding the limitations of your insurance coverage and taking preventative measures, you can safeguard your home against these destructive pests. 

Remember, when it comes to termites, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take steps to protect your home today and save yourself from costly repairs down the line. 

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5 Tips to Get Rid of Ants

Alyssa DiCrasto on 2023-04-21

5 Tips to Get Rid of Ants

If you find ants in your home, don’t panic! While these pesky insects can get into your food and certain types of ants can bite, there are ways to get rid of them. Follow these five tips for how to get rid of ants and keep them out of your home for good.

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5 Tips to Get Rid of Ants

1. Caulk cracks and crevices

First, try to determine where they’re coming from. Often, ants will enter homes through cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows. Take a close look around your home for any cracks or crevices that ants might be using to get inside. Once you’ve found them, seal them up with caulk or another sealant.

2. Keep food stored in sealed containers

Ants are attracted to the sweet smell of food, so it’s important to keep anything that might be appealing to them stored in airtight containers. This includes sugar, honey, syrup, and even fruit juices. Don’t leave open food or drink containers on your counter, even for a few hours, as ants can quickly detect and infest your snacks.

3. Clean up spills immediately

Spills are like a beacon for ants, so it’s important to clean them up as soon as they happen. The longer a spill sits, the more ants will come. So, if you want to get rid of ants, clean up spills immediately. Wipe up any crumbs or liquids with cleaning spray and a towel, and put food away so that ants can’t find it. If you start doing this, you’ll notice a big difference in the number of ants in your house.

4. Use ant traps

Stink bugs become a common pest issue in March because this is the time of year when they begin to emerge from their overwintering sites in search of food and shelter. They are attracted to the warmth of homes, buildings, and other protected areas, and can easily enter through cracks and crevices.

5. Try natural remedies to get rid of ants

There are also some natural remedies you can use to get rid of ants in your home. Here are some to try:

  • Use pepper to get rid of ants. Ants don’t like the smell of pepper, so sprinkle black or cayenne pepper around the cracks and crevices of your home to deter ants.
  • Use essential oils to get rid of ants. Some oil scents that deter ants include peppermint oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and lemon eucalyptus oil. 
  • Use coffee grounds to get rid of ants. If you have leftover coffee grounds from your morning pot of coffee, don’t toss them! Brewed coffee grounds can deter ants, so try sprinkling them around window seals, pet bowls, or other areas you see ants gather.
  • Use white vinegar to get rid of ants. You might not like the smell of vinegar, and neither do ants. Try cleaning your floors, countertops, and other surfaces with a mixture of half water and half white vinegar. 
  • Use cornstarch to get rid of ants. If you need to kill and dispose of ants quickly, pour cornstarch over them to smother the ants. Then vacuum up the remains and dispose of the debris immediately.
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Try these methods to get rid of ants today

Don’t let ants run the show at your house! Try one of these five ways to get rid of ants and keep them out of your home. You will be ant-free before you know it. 

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How to Get Rid of Bugs in Your House Naturally 

Alyssa DiCrasto on 2023-04-19

How to Get Rid of Bugs in Your House Naturally 

Having pests in your home can be uncomfortable. Whether you’re a fan of nature or not, some bugs can be too much to live alongside. Most homes have around 100 different types of bugs living in them every day and most of them you won’t even know about. However, some bugs can be unpleasant to have around. Whether your home is filled with ants, spiders, cockroaches, fleas, termites, bed bugs, mosquitoes, or flies, there are ways to get rid of them naturally. Many of the products you can buy to kill bugs in the home contain nasty chemicals. These can be harmful to both humans and pets, so it’s usually best to avoid these where possible.

Here are some natural ways on how to get rid of bugs:

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how to get rid of bugs smarter home and yard

Fleas Hate Salt

If you’ve got fleas in the home, it can make you feel itchy at the thought of them. Seeing a flea on your cat or dog can cause panic, but there are easy ways to naturally get rid of fleas in your home. If you have found a flea on your pet, you may also find them in areas of the home. Throw salt on problem areas and leave it for a day or two, then vacuum it up and repeat.

Soap the Ants

Ants can quickly take over your home. They usually start in the kitchen as they are attracted to food, but they can take over other areas. You may have tried several things to get rid of ants in the past with no success. However, using dish soap is a good way to exterminate them quickly. Ants can damage the wood in your home and can also contaminate food, so it’s best to get rid of them ASAP. Mix dish soap in a spray bottle and spray the solution in areas you’ve seen ants.

Use Herbs Against Flies

Flies can be very annoying, they can also contaminate food. Having flies in your home is rather unpleasant and it can be difficult to get rid of them. One great natural way to keep them away is to use basil. Having basil plants in problem areas can be a good solution as flies hate the stuff. If you don’t want to put basil plants around, dried basil around entrances such as doors and window frames can also be effective.

Get Rid of Spiders With Lemons and Limes

Whether you’re afraid of spiders or you just don’t want them in your home, there’s an easy way to keep them away. Most spiders are harmless, but if you live in an area with poisonous spiders, then it’s best to get rid of them. Squeezing some lemon or lime juice into a spray bottle with some water can be a great way to keep the spiders away. Just spray it in areas where you’ve seen them in your home.

how to get rid of bugs smarter home and yard

Use Baking Soda Against Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are very horrible to have in your home. They can also be very harmful and cover you in bites that can get infected. Many people try a variety of ways to get rid of bed bugs with little success. Instead of using chemicals against bed bugs, why not try baking soda? All you need to do is spread it over the bed and leave it to work its magic. Hoover the mattress every couple of days and repeat the process. The reason baking soda works is because it dries out the moisture in the bodies of the bed bugs, which kills them and prevents their breeding.

Kill Cockroaches With Oil and Syrup

Cockroaches can show up in even the cleanest of homes. If you’ve got them in yours, you’ll probably want to get rid of them fast. Before you reach for a chemical spray, however, why not try a natural solution. A chemical spray isn’t the best thing to use in your home, especially if you’ve got children or pets. Instead, try a natural trap. All you need to do is get an empty bottle and add some syrup to the bottom. Then, rub cooking oil around the top of the bottle. This will attract cockroaches and trap them in the bottle and simply kill them.

Use Garlic Against Mosquitos

Mosquitos are nasty, they spread diseases and they’re very unpleasant to have in your home. Fortunately, there is a natural way to get rid of them, with garlic. Garlic is poisonous to mosquitos and the smell of it also repels them. Crush some garlic and add it to water in a spray bottle. This solution will kill them if sprayed at them and will help prevent others from entering your home.

Orange Oil For Termites

Termites are pests that can cause damage to your home. They are often found in furniture or wooden furnishings and these are the things they can damage. To get rid of them quickly, use a rag to apply orange oil to the areas where you’ve seen them. If you are concerned they are deep inside the wood, then try injecting the oil in any cracks, or drill a small hole and inject it into the hole.

Call In a Professional 

Sometimes, DIY pest control is unsuccessful.

If you have a particularly severe problem then it can be hard to tackle.

The best thing to do when these methods don’t work is call in a professional. 

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