Dealing With Pests? Here’s What Home Insurance Might Cover

Dealing with pests can be frustrating, so it’s critical to be proactive in preventing an infestation since your homeowners insurance is unlikely to cover you in helping get rid of them. While there may be rare cases when your insurance will cover pest-related damages, your best defense is keeping them from infesting your home to begin with.

Keep reading to learn when homeowners insurance does cover pest control, when it doesn’t and how to deal with infestations.

On This Page

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  Does Home Insurance Cover Pest Control?

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  Scenarios Where Home Insurance May Cover Pest-Related Damages

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  How To Prevent Pest Infestations While Maintaining Insurance Coverage

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  What To Do if Home Insurance Won’t Cover Pest Damage or Pest Control

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  FAQs

Does Home Insurance Cover Pest Control?

Your homeowners insurance policy is unlikely to cover pest control.^[1] General upkeep and cleanliness of the home that would help deter pest infestations is considered the responsibility of the homeowner. In contrast, most insurance coverage is designed to protect against sudden and accidental events like a home break-in or fire — not preventable damage. 

It can take time before a small pest colony turns into a destructive infestation. For example, termites may take three to eight years before they can cause structural damage, giving homeowners plenty of time to react and deal with them before it's too late.^[2] Much like a leaky pipe that leads to mold growth, you’re typically responsible for any claims that were the result of negligence.

Likewise, if you need to vacate your home due to extensive pest control or fumigation, you will not be eligible for your policy’s loss of use coverage, and you will need to cover alternative temporary living expenses yourself.

Scenarios Where Home Insurance May Cover Pest-Related Damages

While pest removal is typically not covered, secondary damage caused by pests might be. For instance, if a mouse or rat chews through an electrical cable and starts a fire, the resulting fire damage could be covered, as fires are listed as a covered peril. However, you would likely need to pay for pest removal yourself, and future claims for pest-related damage might be denied since the issue is now known. Unexpected single incidents, like a bird flying into your window and breaking it, may also be covered as they are unforeseen events.

One exception to this rule is if the pest infestation happened as a result of a peril covered in your home insurance policy.

For example, burst pipes are covered under insurance, and if a pipe bursts and saturates part of your home with moisture, which can attract pests like termites, your insurance may cover removing the bugs alongside repairing the pipe and damaged areas.^[3]

However, you may not get coverage if you could have proactively prevented the pest damage. For example, if you file a fire claim caused by a mouse chewing electrical wires, and an adjuster comes in person to assess the damages and finds months’ worth of mouse droppings around your home, you may not qualify for coverage. The fire could be considered preventable if the pest issue had been addressed earlier.

How To Prevent Pest Infestations While Maintaining Insurance Coverage

While your insurance coverage may cover secondary damage, it's best to be proactive to avoid risking a denied claim or dealing with the resulting frustrations from pest damages. Below, we’ll discuss some ways pests can gain a foothold in your home and provide tips on keeping infestations out.

Clean Your Home

Pests often thrive in dirty homes, as they can have more access to food and shelter. Crumbs, dropped food and piled piled dirty dishes are havens for ants and other pests looking for a meal. Likewise, litter throughout your home can provide them with hiding places.

Vacuuming, sweeping and wiping down surfaces regularly can help prevent food residue from accumulating and make your home less inviting to pests. Ensure you wash your dishes and clean any spills as soon as possible. Regularly check your refrigerator to ensure all food is sealed and isn’t expiring, as forgotten food left in the fridge can become a pest goldmine if they can get inside it.

Also, change your bed sheets regularly and consider getting a protective cover for your mattress or boxspring to help prevent bed bugs. If you have a chimney, ensure it’s cleaned annually and keep a chimney cap on, which can help prevent small animals like rats from climbing inside and building nests.^[4]

Prevent Moisture Accumulation

Fixing water leaks as soon as you notice them is already good practice for preventing water damage and pest-inviting mold. Multiple species of termites prefer water-damaged wood and moist or humid environments to survive.^[5] Ensuring you’ve patched any leaks can help prevent moisture-loving pests from finding a spot to thrive.

Also, check that your gutters and downspouts effectively drive rainwater away from your home so that they don’t pool too close to your dwelling. Pooling water might bleed into your home’s foundation, causing rot that termites and other pests love to nest in.

Maintain Your Yard

Keeping your yard pest-free reduces the chances of pests moving into your home, making a pest-free yard one of your first-level deterrents. Mow your yard’s grass and rake leaves into bags for disposal, as tall grass and exposed piles of leaves can shelter insects and small animals. Try to keep spreads of mulch away from your home since piles of wood scraps may invite pests.

Keep your trees or other foliage trimmed so they don’t reach your home. Not only could this potentially damage your siding, but it could also provide a bridge to otherwise inaccessible areas. If you keep firewood for a winter fireplace, ensure it's stored in a dry and waterproof space like a covered shed, as pests may make nests here before moving into your nearby home. Be careful installing bird and squirrel feeders, as food may invite pests to spend more time around your home.

Inspect Your Home for Pests

Check your home for potential entry points, such as cracks or gaps in doors, windows, vents and pipes. Look for signs throughout your home, such as droppings, food or materials used to make nests, like shredded paper or cardboard. 

Pay attention to any signs of hallowed-out wood in your walls or floors, as this may indicate beetle or termite infestation. Regularly check crawlspaces, attics and basements, as these dark and damp places might be more inviting to pests. If you have a hunch there may be some pests hiding in your home but still can’t find them, consider contacting a professional to make a more thorough inspection.

What To Do if Home Insurance Won’t Cover Pest Damage or Pest Control

Your options will vary depending on the type of pests and level of infestation. For example, if you have rats, you may be able to deal with them by removing available food sources and laying down traps. However, if the pest infestation is in a difficult space to reach, you aren’t sure what the pest is or they’ve returned after previous extermination attempts, you’ll likely need to contact a professional pest control company.