If you think that termite damage only affects people with wood homes, think again. While we commonly think of termites as being pests that strictly eat wood, the fact is that termites will eat anything that contains cellulose. That means wallpaper, clothing, cardboard, paper, carpet and even drywall are susceptible to termite damage.
Termites hollow out wood and other structures from the inside out leaving cracks and tunnels in their wake. Termite damage results in peeling paint and discolored drywall with small holes. A wall that sounds hollow when tapped and warped wood are other signs of potential termite damage.
Termites make clicking sounds when eating and leave discarded wings, two common signs of a termite infestation. They also tend to leave a dark black powdery substance behind when eating which is another sign to look for.
Other than the fact that termite damage may occur over years without you knowing about it, another issue is that your home insurance policy may not cover the damage.
Is termite damage covered by insurance?
Since termite damage is considered a problem that homeowners can prevent on their own with maintenance, it may not be covered by your home insurance policy.
How big a problem is termite damage each year? Here’s what the National Pest Management Association says:
Termites alone cause over $5 billion in property damage annually, a cost not covered by homeowners insurance.
Subterranean termites eat 24/7, making them the most destructive species of termite found in the U.S.
National Pest Management Association
A further $2 billion
is estimated to be spent each year to control and get rid of termite infestations and since serious termite damage typically takes 3 – 8 years to occur, you might not find out about it until it is severe.
Pest control company Orkin suggests that the average bill to repair termite damage is around $3,000 and that 600,000 homes are affected each year.
Three main types of termites
While over 2,000 known species of termites exist, there are three types that are most commonly experienced by homeowners.
Subterranean
Subterranean termites live below the ground in busy colonies but do come above ground at times. They cause more damage than the other two main types of termites combined and thus is the worst infestation to have. They are found in every US state except for Alaska.
These hard workers munch wood 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and don’t sleep. They have been known to seriously damage building structures to the point of collapse.
Dampwood
Dampwood termites are physically the largest found in North America but also live in the smallest colonies. These termites need water and high humidity to survive so keep those two factors in mind when figuring out how to avoid attracting them.
Dampwood termites are probably the ones the average person thinks of when they hear the word “termite” because they live on dead wood, tree stumps and trees that have been chopped down.
Drywood
Drywood termites are the ones that leave a sawdust-like substance in their wake called frass. In fact some people mistake it for sawdust and don’t necessarily realize at that point that they have termites. Unlike their dampwood counterparts, drywood termites don’t require moisture and humidity to survive and thus tend to be attracted to dry wood. So you can find them in the home, in wood fences and on trees among other places.
They tend to like the softer parts of wood and since drywood termites eat across the grain, they have been known to cause trees to fall over as a result of their eating pattern.
How to spot a termite infestation
If you have a termite problem you may see a range of symptoms:
- Wood damage such as hollow wood or walls, blistered wood and other types of unexplained damage.
- Drywall damage such as hollowed walls or small pin-sized holes.
- Cracking and tunneling in wood panels, swollen, blistered or buckled wood floors and ceilings.
- Floor tiles which have been loosened through moisture from termite damage.
- Uneven, bubbled or peeled paint that looks like water damage.
- Pest droppings or piles of a black or brown substance that may look like sawdust.
- The presence of insect wings lying around which are discarded by termites.
- Mud tubes which are produced by Subterranean termites to travel in.
How to reduce the chances you experience a termite infestation
- Eliminate moisture: Repair leaks inside and outside the house.
- Keep humidity in check and within range inside the house.
- Ensure gutter downspouts are properly in place and are directed well away from the foundation of your home.
- Get rid of standing water around the house ie. puddles and pools of water on the ground.
- Store firewood as far away from the house as possible and keep it away from the soil and ground.
- Get rid of waste wood around the outside of the home that you don’t need.
- Keep outdoor vents open but sealed so that insects can’t get inside.
- Seal gaps around entry points to your home ie. gas and water pipes leading inside the home.
- If you find you have termites, remove any furniture that has been infected and put it in the sun for several days as termites hate sunlight.
- Have a yearly inspection from a certified termite inspector if you’ve had problems in the recent past.
If you suspect you have a termite infestation, get a professional to take a look as soon as possible to be sure. The sooner you determine what you’re facing the sooner you can correct it.
Termite hill vs ant hill
If you live in a hot climate in parts of Africa or Australia, you may further have to deal with termite mounds that they build out in the open to protect themselves from the elements.
One of the things to be aware of is how to spot termites so you can deal with the problem. Termites tend to build mounds or hills when they live in hot climates like in Africa or Australia to protect themselves from the hot sun. If you live on a farm, in a forest or around well-drained areas in these continents, you might see termite hills like the one shown above.
Unlike ant hills which are made from dirt or soil, termite hills are made from dirt along with their saliva and feces.
So unless you live in one of the areas where termites build noticeable mounds or hills, termite infestations that you face won’t be as noticeable. In that case, termites are more low key burrowing and building colonies inside wood and other structures safe from human eyes.
How to deal with a termite infestation
The short answer is: Get professional help. Ridding yourself of termites isn’t a DIY project. Contact several local pest management companies and have each inspect your house for a complete diagnosis and plan that you can compare against one another.
While you want to deal with the problem when you find it, you shouldn’t feel rushed. As mentioned above, chances are the problem has been there for awhile – possibly years – so you want to ensure you take the right course of action to get rid of it completely the first time.
It’s unlikely that termites will cause significant damage in the few days that you might need to speak with several companies and decide the best course of action to move forward.
How much does it cost to treat a house for termites?
Expect to pay about $565 on average to treat a termite infestation in your home. Pest control companies often charge by linear foot to rid your home of a termite problem so the bigger the house and potential problem areas, the more you’re likely to pay. Expect to pay around $3 – $5 per linear foot but as we’ll see below, your chosen remediation method determines the cost.
Popular methods to kill termites include:
Fumigation
Fumigation (or tenting) is where your home is wrapped in a large tent and sprayed with gas. This is the most expensive option only used when the whole house is infested but it won’t work on subterranean termites. The process will take from several hours up to one week to complete depending on the severity of the infestation. Plus you will have to leave your home for around 72 hours on average while the work is being done and so that it can air out afterwards.
Cost: Expect to pay $10 – $15 per linear foot. An average home can cost $1,200 – $2,500.
Pesticides
Pesticides like termiticides are often utilized but can only be applied by a trained professional. The liquid termiticide is sprayed into the foundation of the home to both repel and kill termites.
Termidor is a termiticide that pest companies use to create a barrier around the home. This is a common option for treating subterranean termites and involves applying it completely around and underneath the structure to cover all areas that the termites might enter through. It may involve drilling into the structure and then applying the Termidor.
Cost: A termiticide treatment typically costs $4 – $16 per linear foot. An average home can be expected to cost $1,500 to treat with a typical range of $600 – $2,400 depending on the size of the house.
Termite bait
Termite bait stations or traps may be used and some pest companies may use it in combination with a liquid product or on its own. In this case, a substance that termites like to eat such as cardboard, paper or wood is treated with a slow-working lethal substance and is buried away from your house but close enough that the termites will find it. They eat the poison and bring it back to the colony which will slowly die off as a result of consuming it.
Popular bait poison brand names include Sentricon, Taurus SC, Bifen XTS, Spectracide Terminate and Termidor Foam.
Cost: Depending on the number of bait traps to be set, you may pay between $800 – $3,200 with an average cost of around $2,000.
Natural methods
Several natural methods such as orange oil may also be used to kill termites. With an increasing movement away from chemicals and pesticides, a natural product like orange oil may be considered instead. Orange oil contains d-limonene which when consumed or encountered by termites, effectively dissolves the termite’s body and thus kills it.
The efficacy of orange oil to kill termites is somewhat questioned however. A University of California study concluded that it is only 77% effective in killing termites. Since it is biodegradable, repeated treatments might be needed and orange oil is believed by many to be suitable only for spot treatment of small infestations.
Cost: Expect to pay $1,200 – $1,500 for a full orange oil treatment depending on the size and location of your termite infestation.
Other termite service costs
The cost to have your home inspected for termites may cost $120 – $300 or more per visit. They may include the inspection if you utilize their termite removal services.
Some pest control companies also offer yearly inspection plans or termite warranties. Expect to pay $300 – $400 per year which usually includes a yearly inspection for termites.