Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Carpenter Ant Damage?

Seeing carpenter ants in or around your home can be alarming. These large ants love to burrow into moist, decaying, or hollow wood. Over time, a colony can cause major structural damage if left unchecked. But will your homeowners insurance policy cover the cost of repairs if carpenter ants damage your house?

Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. Homeowners insurance excludes damage caused by insects, rodents, and other vermin in most cases. This means you’ll likely have to pay out-of-pocket to fix any destruction brought on by a carpenter ant infestation.

Read on to learn why carpenter ant damage isn’t covered, typical repair costs, and how to help prevent an infestation in your home.

Why Carpenter Ant Damage Isn’t Covered

A standard homeowners insurance policy contains exclusions for damage caused by birds, vermin, rodents, and insects. This applies to carpenter ants as well. Insurance companies view infestations as a maintenance issue that could have been prevented with proper pest control.

For example, termites can be kept away through annual inspections and treatments. If you choose not to have your home treated and end up with termite damage, the insurance company sees that as negligence on your part. The same logic applies to carpenter ant infestations.

In rare cases, some resulting damages may be covered if the infestation was hidden and caused a covered loss like a collapse. But the infestation itself still wouldn’t be covered.

The bottom line: Don’t expect your homeowners insurance to pay for repairs if carpenter ants destroy parts of your home. Maintaining your house and preventing infestations is considered your responsibility as the homeowner.

How Much Does Carpenter Ant Damage Cost to Repair?

Since carpenter ant damage isn’t covered, you’ll be stuck paying the repair bills out-of-pocket. And those costs can add up quickly depending on the extent of the destruction.

According to Modernize, carpenter ants like to nest in insulation and walls at first. Over time, large colonies can spread to the home’s siding, floors, and structural timbers. To fully repair carpenter ant damage, you may need to:

• Replace damaged siding, sheathing, and structural wood
• Repair or replace damaged insulation and drywall
• Refinish hardwood floors or replace carpet and flooring
• Conduct structural repairs if support beams, joists, or trusses are compromised

In addition to physical repairs, you’ll also need to pay a pest control company to completely exterminate the carpenter ants. Treatment plans may include targeted spraying, setting out baits or traps, and outdoor preventative spraying.

The total costs can range from a few hundred dollars for minor damage to $10,000 or more if you have extensive repairs. Keep in mind these out-of-pocket costs can be avoided with preventative pest control measures.

How to Prevent Carpenter Ant Infestations

While carpenter ant damage can be expensive, the good news is that infestations can be prevented in most cases. Here are some tips to help keep these destructive pests away from your home:

• Eliminate wood/moisture sources – Get rid of old tree stumps, firewood piles, mulch, and other wet wood resting near your home’s foundation. Carpenter ants are attracted to moist wood.

• Prune trees/bushes – Trim back any tree limbs or shrubs touching your roof or siding. Carpenter ants use these branches to access your home.

• Fix leaky plumbing – Repair dripping faucets, pipes, and other water leaks. Carpenter ants love wet wood and damp spots.

• Improve ventilation – Make sure crawl spaces and attics have adequate airflow to avoid moisture buildup.

• Get regular inspections – Have a pest management professional inspect for carpenter ants each year. Early detection makes treatment easier.

• Apply preventative spray – Some pro exterminators will do a preventative outdoor spray around the foundation. This helps deter ants.

• Use baits/traps – Placing boric acid baits or installing carpenter ant traps can help reduce populations around your home.

With diligent prevention and annual inspections, you can avoid the frustrations and costs of repairing carpenter ant damage. Keeping your home dry and free of decaying wood goes a long way toward preventing an infestation.

Filing a Claim for Carpenter Ant Damage

Even though carpenter ant damage is not covered in most cases, you can still file a claim and let your insurance company review the details. Who knows – they may find some coverage based on specific policy language or unique circumstances.

To start the claims process:

• Document the damage – Take dated photos and make detailed notes of all destruction.

• Save ant samples – Capture a few carpenter ants in a baggie to verify the cause of damage.

• Get a restoration estimate – Ask a contractor for a written repair estimate to submit to the insurer.

• Call your insurance agent – Notify your agent of the damage and find out how to file a claim.

• Fill out company claim forms – Provide information on what happened and the damage incurred.

Your insurer will send an adjuster to inspect the damage. They will compare your documentation to the policy terms to determine if any coverage applies. But again, don’t get your hopes up too high. The vast majority of carpenter ant damage claims are denied due to the standard vermin and insect exclusion.

Key Takeaways

Carpenter ants can destroy wood structures, walls, and floors over time. But contrary to popular belief, homeowners insurance does not cover the cost of repairs in most cases. Here are the key points to remember:

• Carpenter ant damage is usually excluded due to the insect/vermin exclusion in home policies.

• You’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for any repairs or treatments needed to fix the destruction.

• Preventative pest control through inspections and spraying is crucial to avoid infestations.

• You can file a claim, but expect that the damages won’t be covered based on standard policy exclusions.

• Taking steps to keep your home dry and free of old wood helps deter carpenter ants.

While the lack of coverage for carpenter ant damage is disappointing, you can take proactive measures to detect and prevent infestations before they destroy parts of your home. With diligence and prevention, you can avoid thousands in repair bills and keep these destructive pests away.