Are termites covered under a home warranty?
Key takeaways:
For homeowners, monsters can come in tiny packages. Termites can quickly wreak havoc in homes, causing extensive and expensive damage if they’re not actively watched for or treated with the help of a pest control company as soon as they’re discovered. A termite infestation can quickly devour wood throughout the walls, foundation and furniture of your home, which will still need to be repaired even after termite treatment. This type of damage can quickly devastate your home and your budget.
We’ll explore what you need to look for to protect your home from termites and what makes regular, careful termite inspections such an important part of being a homeowner.
Is termite damage covered under home warranties?
Termite damage is not generally covered under home warranties, as home warranties are designed to protect certain built-in systems and major appliances, like the excellent coverage offered by Cinch Home Services.
Performing an annual inspection as part of your home maintenance, however, can help you protect your home’s foundation and other areas from these incredible pests.
What do termites typically damage?
The termites that damage homes, including the common subterranean termites and drywood termites, all like to go after wood. The difference is that subterranean termites will eat softwood along the grain, while the drywood variety prefers hardwood and will move against the grain.
When looking for termite damage, there are a few areas where you will want to keep a close eye. Regularly checking these areas can help you find signs of termites right at the start.
Drywood termites can be found in areas like:
- Wooden doors to your home
- Wooden furniture
- Wood framing, such as around windows
One of the first signs many homeowners see when it comes to drywood termites is their droppings. Seeing these small pellets near wood in your home is an excellent indicator that you need to call an exterminator.
When it comes to subterranean termites, these insects depend on mud tunnels that keep them underground until they arrive at a source of wood to feed themselves. Any wooden part of a home that is underground or unprotected will be at the biggest risk for these types of pests.
Termites are found throughout the United States with the one exception of Alaska. They prefer warmer climates, which makes them increasingly more common the further south in the country you go.
How do termites damage your home?
The termites that cause housing damage will eat away at wood, digging tunnels through the wood to feed their colonies. As they progress, they weaken the wood, eventually causing it to crack. When people first see signs of termite damage, they might confuse it for water damage, as it can cause a similar buckling of the wood or drooping in the ceiling that water is known for causing.
If termites go unchecked, they can easily move throughout the home, quickly destroying significant portions of the wooden frame of the home as well as wooden furniture and floors in the house itself. If the damage is allowed to continue, the home can quickly need extensive repairs, particularly if large portions of the frame and walls need work.
How to get rid of termites
The best way to get rid of termites is to prevent them from invading your home in the first place. To achieve that goal, you will want to keep your home free of any continually damp areas, particularly damp wood. This means you don’t want to stack firewood by the house or allow your gutters to get clogged with water and foliage.
You can also prevent any wood from touching the ground when it also touches the home. If you have wood from the house touching the ground, move the soil away from the wood and fill the area with sand to prevent termites from digging. Mulch should also generally not be placed next to the home. Termite-resistant woods for areas where ground and wood must meet will also help with termite control.
If you see any of the following signs, however, there is a good possibility that you already have termites in your home:
- Signs of termite mud tunnels leading up to any wood, such as wooden frames around windows
- Ceilings, support beams or floors that look like they have water damage, but you don’t see any signs of a leak
- Termite droppings
- Termite bodies
- A mildew or mold smell, but you don’t see a leak (Termites can produce a similar smell.)
- Mazes running through your walls
- The faint sound of insects in your walls
- Seeing termite wings anywhere in the home
- Hearing a hollow sound if you knock on the wood
If you discover signs of a termite infestation, you will want to call an exterminator immediately. They will help you discover the extent of the damage and use the appropriate pesticides to make sure the termites are eradicated. You will then want to go back to intensive termite prevention to keep the bugs from coming back.
What is covered under a Cinch home warranty?
While home warranties don’t typically cover termite damage, they can help with prevention by upkeeping regular maintenance and repair.
Cinch offers three coverage options designed to help homeowners protect their homes. These plans offer worry-free protection through benefits like:
- 180-day workmanship guarantee
- Rust and corrosion coverage
- Unknown pre-existing conditions
- Exclusive discounts when buying new appliances
- Easy claim services
Review each of the three plans to see which one suits you best.
Appliances
Cinch’s Appliances Plan focuses on providing coverage for certain major appliances throughout your home. This includes expensive appliances that have a direct and dramatic impact on your quality of life, such as your:
- Clothes washer
- Clothes dryer
- Cooktop, wall oven and range
- Food center (built-in)
- Freestanding ice maker
- Microwave (built-in)
- Refrigerator
- Trash compactor (built-in)
Consider how quickly and dramatically you will be impacted if your refrigerator or oven stops working, and you can see the value that a home protection plan can offer. As a bonus, you even get a free water sensor that can detect a leak or moisture, further preventing attracting termites to your home.
Built-in Systems
Cinch’s Built-in Systems Plan provides extensive coverage for certain built-in systems found throughout your home. These systems can also be enormously difficult and costly to repair or replace if something goes wrong, which makes this coverage a valuable investment. With a home protection plan from Cinch, you can receive coverage for systems like:
- Electrical system, like central vacuums and garage door openers
- Air conditioning system, including the ductwork
- Heating system, including the ductwork
- Plumbing system, like sump pumps, the water heater and jetted bathtubs
This also includes coverage for smaller components that keep you comfortable and safe in the home, such as:
- Toilets
- Smoke detectors
- Garbage disposal
- Ceiling fans and attic fans
- Doorbells
Complete Home
The third plan option from Cinch combines the Appliances Plan and the Built-in Systems Plan to create the Complete Home Plan. With this plan, you can protect your entire house under one plan. Whether it’s your clothes washer, HVAC system or your air conditioning that needs repair or replacement from normal wear and tear, you can rest easy knowing that Cinch and our network of vetted service technicians will be there to help you navigate the situation.
Find the best home warranty coverage for you today
Protecting your home requires careful termite inspections, but it also calls for a trustworthy home warranty. There are many parts of the home that homeowners insurance just won’t cover, but a home warranty can provide you with that valuable peace of mind. Don’t waste any more time. Get a free quote today from Cinch to see how easy it is to give yourself the comfort of knowing that your home is protected from unexpected breakdowns.
* Subject to plan terms and conditions.
*The information in this blog library is intended to provide general guidance on home warranties, and on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
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