California Termite Inspectors Reveal The Real Cost of Termites

Termite Inspection is Important, California Homes Are Not Immune to Termite Damage

There’s no question that termites can be destructive, as termite inspections from San Diego to Sacramento often reveal, but many people underestimate exactly how much damage these pests can do to a home. Termites are a force of nature, and they cause more property damage every year than thunderstorms, blizzards, earthquakes, and floods combined. To make matters worse, termite damage is often not covered by home insurance policies like other disasters are. That means homeowners are often left footing the bill for termite damage repairs.

The Cost of Termites

Termites damage approximately 600,000 homes in the United States every year, and many of these infestations are difficult to detect until the damage is already done without a Sacramento termite inspection. On average, homeowners who discover that their home is infested with termites pay $3,000 to repair the damage and get rid of the pests. Overall, American homeowners spend approximately $5 billion to control termites in their home and repair the damage that they cause.

Who Pays for Termite Damage?

If you’re lucky enough to have a home insurance policy that covers termites, it can cover at least some of the costs of termite damage and control. Sadly, that often isn’t the case. Most of the time, homeowners are on their own when it comes time to repair their home. Depending on the severity of the infestation and the damage it’s caused, you could end up having to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to repair the damage to your home, and that’s assuming the damage can be repaired in the first place. Termite infestations that damage homes beyond repair are rare, but they do happen.

What You Can Do

As with most pests that can infest your home, the best way to deal with termites is to prevent them from gaining a foothold in your home while watching for signs of an infestation. These include quiet clicking sounds coming from your walls, wooden structures in your home that sound hollow or papery when they’re struck, and small tunnels that can be seen in broken pieces of timber. You may also see flying termites or what appear to be small white ants in your home. Keep a close eye on the foundations of your home and your attic since these are the places where you’re most likely to see signs of a termite infestation.

As for preventing termites from gaining a foothold in your home, that can be done by removing favorable conditions around your home. Avoid storing timber in your yard for long periods of time, and try to channel water away from your foundation. This will leave the soil dry and less attractive to subterranean termites.

HomeGuard Termite Inspections Now Serving Southern California

Although there is plenty that you can do to keep your home termite-free, you should never hesitate to contact HomeGuard if you believe that you have an infestation. HomeGuard can complete a termite inspection in your San Diego home and help you remove any of these bothersome pests before they do too much damage. For more information about scheduling termite inspections in Riverside or another locale within our Southern California service area call 855-331-1900 or contact HomeGuard today.

This article is based on the information in an infographic provided to us by KY-KO Pest Prevention in sunny Phoenix, AZ.