Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Carpenter Ant Damage?

Carpenter Ants are one of the most common wood-destroying insects in the northeast. They help break down rotting and decaying wood in the wild, which makes them an important part of the ecosystem.

However, they can cause serious property damage if left unchecked in your home. They do this damage because they dig holes in wood to build their nests, which can weaken the wood in your home’s structure.

Carpenter ants can cause extensive damage to your home But will your homeowners insurance policy cover the repairs if these pesky insects infest your house?

Unfortunately, the answer is generally no.

In this article, we’ll explain why standard home insurance excludes insect damage and the limited situations where some coverage may apply. We’ll also provide tips to prevent carpenter ant infestations so you can avoid expensive repairs in the first place.

Home Insurance Usually Doesn’t Cover Carpenter Ants

The vast majority of homeowners insurance policies specifically exclude damage caused by insects, rodents and other vermin. This includes carpenter ants.

Insurers view infestations as maintenance issues that homeowners should prevent through regular inspections and pest control measures. If you neglect these responsibilities and end up with damage, they won’t pay claims.

Some key points on why home insurance excludes carpenter ant damage

Insect damage is considered preventable. Homeowners are expected to proactively protect their homes from pests. For instance, by getting annual termite inspections and treatments.
Claims involving negligence aren’t covered. If you don’t take proper precautions and end up with carpenter ant damage, insurers see that as negligence on the homeowner’s part.
“Vermin” are specifically excluded. Home insurance policies have exclusions listing various animals and pests. Carpenter ants fall under “vermin,” which are not covered.
Infestations are maintenance issues. Insurers view the ongoing work to keep pests out of your home as maintenance that’s your responsibility as a homeowner.

While exclusions for insects are standard, you should still verify your specific policy’s details. Contact your insurer or agent to confirm carpenter ant damage is excluded.

Limited Situations Where Coverage May Apply

In rare cases, homeowners insurance will cover some secondary damage related to a hidden pest infestation. This potentially includes carpenter ants.

For example, say carpenter ants secretly eat away at a support beam underneath your home. The damage eventually causes your floor to collapse.

Your policy likely won’t pay to replace the compromised beam. But it may cover repairs to the surrounding walls, floors or ceilings that collapsed.

The key is that the initial insect damage was unknown to the homeowner and caused additional structural damage as a result. Only those secondary consequences could potentially be covered.

Other examples of rare situations where limited coverage may apply:

An infestation leads to a fire that spreads through your home. The fire damage would be covered, but not the original pest destruction.
Pests secretly eat away at your roof, compromising its integrity and eventually causing it to cave in. The roof repairs may be covered, but not the areas initially swarmed by bugs.

If you suspect hidden pest damage led to larger structural issues, it’s worth filing a claim. Just understand carriers will likely limit payouts to secondary damage exclusively.

Beware of Potential Claim Pitfalls

Two complications can quickly torpedo any chances of successfully claiming insect damage coverage:

Prior knowledge of an infestation – If you knew about an active pest problem and failed to remediate it, your claim will almost certainly be denied. Insurers expect homeowners to promptly address infestations.

Lack of documentation – Without photographic evidence and professional reports detailing hidden damage preceding major structural failures, carriers likely won’t pay out. It’s difficult to prove a sound structure suddenly collapsed absent underlying damage.

To even have a shot at coverage, be sure to document pest infestations and resulting damage extensively. But know that it’s still an uphill battle, so prevention is truly your best solution.

How Much Does Carpenter Ant Damage Cost to Repair?

If left unchecked, carpenter ant damage adds up fast:

Structural repairs – Carpenter ants burrow into insulation, walls, under floors and elsewhere. Repairing those areas is expensive. According to Modernize, extensive repairs often exceed $2,000.
Pest control – You’ll need to hire exterminators to fully eliminate carpenter ant infestations, at a typical cost of $500 or more. Otherwise they persist and continue damaging your home.
Ongoing maintenance – Annual preventative treatments, diligent inspections and addressing minor issues before they escalate all help avoid major carpenter ant problems down the road.

Considering the potential costs, preventing carpenter ant damage is a wise investment that can save you thousands in repairs. A few hundred dollars annually is a bargain compared to a four-figure fix you may have to fund out of pocket later on.

7 Tips to Prevent Carpenter Ants and Other Pest Damage

Keeping your home pest-free is the ultimate way to avoid repair costs related to carpenter ants. Here are seven tips to deter infestations:

1. Clear debris piles around your home’s exterior. Eliminate potential nesting spots by keeping wood, mulch, leaf piles and other organic matter far from your house’s perimeter and foundation.

2. Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s exterior. Caulk windows, doors, siding joints and trim to eliminate pest entry points. Use weatherstripping and door sweeps too.

3. Fix any leaks. Moisture attracts termites, carpenter ants and other insects. Repair leaky plumbing and foundation cracks that allow water intrusion.

4. Store food in sealed containers. Don’t give pantry pests easy access. Keep human and pet food secured.

5. Take out the trash regularly. Curb appeal matters to pests too. Keep the area around your home free of garbage.

6. Inspect regularly. Watch for early signs of infestations, like frass or wood tunneling. Catch issues before they escalate.

7. Hire a pest control pro annually. They’ll complete preventative treatments, thorough inspections and address any problems promptly.

Ongoing prevention reduces the chances your homeowner’s insurance will need to cover extensive pest damage down the road. An ounce of protection is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to eliminating carpenter ants and other unwelcome visitors.

The Bottom Line

In most cases, homeowners insurance excludes damage caused by pests like carpenter ants. It falls on you as the homeowner to prevent infestations through maintenance like annual termite inspections.

But in very rare situations where hidden pest damage causes secondary structural failures, your policy may pay for some resulting repairs. Just don’t count on insurance coverage – your best bet is keeping carpenter ants out of your house completely.

Preventing infestations saves you money on expensive structural repairs down the road. And doing so ensures you won’t have to battle your insurer over limited damage claims related to carpenter ants and other unwelcome pests.

What do they look like?

Carpenter Ants are a large ant, larger than most other ant species and can be black or red in color. If you notice these type of ants in your home or see any signs of carpenter activity in your home, call a professional at Modern Pest Services to do an inspection.

Does Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

FAQ

Are carpenter ants covered by home insurance?

Carpenter ant damage follows the same rule of thumb as termite damage. Insurance companies view it as a matter of general home maintenance. Even if you didn’t know you had an infestation, insurance companies typically won’t cover damage resulting from the ants, such as damaged walls, floors, or ceilings.

What to do if your house is infested with carpenter ants?

If you’re concerned about an infestation, the best course of action is to hire a licensed pest control professional who can help locate the nest and create a plan to keep these pests out of your home.

How quickly do carpenter ants cause damage?

Generally speaking, carpenter ant damage occurs slowly, often taking years before the problems are noticeable.

Do carpenter ants do as much damage as termites?

While carpenter ant damage shouldn’t be dismissed, it doesn’t tend to be as extensive as termite damage because carpenter ants don’t consume wood; they create tunnels and galleries to dwell in. They’re not motivated to eat every inch of the wood they’re infesting, so damage will always be less extensive.

Do carpenter ants cause structural damage?

Carpenter ants cause distinct damage even when it is typically confused with termite damage. These ants hollow out the wood in order to nest inside it. As a result, homes with carpenter ant infestation may have structural damage. Unfortunately, most home insurance excludes coverage due to animal damage.

Does homeowners insurance cover carpenter ants?

Homeowners insurance generally doesn’t cover pest related damage, though there are some exceptions. Standard homeowners insurance policies don’t usually cover pest-related damage, including the damage done by carpenter ants, though there are some rare exceptions.

Does home insurance cover ants & termite damage?

Because your home insurance won’t pay out for repairs, you will be financially responsible for any damages. Carpenter ant and termite damage are not covered by homeowners insurance. Damage from insects is considered a maintenance issue, and as such is generally excluded.

Do carpenter ants eat wood?

Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood, but the damage they cause to the structure of your house can be just as significant and costly. Prevention is key to dealing with carpenter ant home damage, especially since pest infestations including carpenter ants are not covered by your homeowners insurance.