Did You Know That Homeowners Insurance Is Unlikely To Cover Termite Damage?

Did You Know That Homeowners Insurance Is Unlikely To Cover Termite Damage?

Destructive? Yep. Expensive? You bet. Not covered by your homeowners insurance? Probably also a yes.

Termites cause extensive damage to homes all across the Knoxville area, with species ranging from destructive drywood termites to dirt-loving subterranean termites.

No official numbers are collected by a government body, but the National Pest Management Association estimates that United States home and business owners pay out over five billion dollars a year because of termites. Without an insurance policy or a preventative pest control plan, termite infestations can become dangerous to your health and your wallet.

Termites won’t just effect furniture and firewood, but will weaken the very structure of a home. Some forms of termite damage include:

  • Buckling, hollow walls
  • Weakened support beams
  • Ruined furniture
  • Unsafe attic spaces
  • Drooping floors

Without immediate assistance from a qualified pest control company, your home could be facing a very real threat without the comforting support of an insurance policy.

Why Insurance Doesn’t Cover Termite Damage

Insurance companies don’t usually cover termite damage for a number of reasons that vary from provider to provider. It’s important to remember that insurance policies in general will apply to circumstances that are:

  • Accidental
  • Rapid or sudden
  • Unpreventable
  • Immediately perilous

While a termite infestation may feel like all of these things after an unfortunate discovery, the fact is termite invasions can be prevented with regular maintenance work and inspections completed by a certified pest operative. Reading up about termite behavior is a snap, especially through the informative blog posts found right here at Russell’s.

It might be surprising to learn that homeowners insurance won’t aid policy holders with termite-related property damage, but the result is very clear: Knoxville residents need to be aware of what kind of pests are around their home. To start getting more information about the types of termites and termite activity you should be aware of, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control today.

 

Russell’s Pest Control is Here for You

Pest control doesn’t need to be difficult to get. That’s why Russell’s Pest Control is proud to offer East Tennessee residents some of the most effective, safe, and results-driven techniques on the market for pest control companies today.

Termite protection is a cinch under one of Russell’s powerful residential care plans. With programs that cover more than thirty outdoor pests with quarterly visits, it’s impossible to miss infestations that may be creeping around your property.

Are you ready to protect your home from termites for the fall season and beyond? Contact our Knoxville office today to get the ball rolling. With or without homeowners insurance policies, Russell’s Pest Control is here to help.

Why Homeowners Insurance Will Not Protect Your Knoxville Home From Termites

Why Homeowners Insurance Will Not Protect Your Knoxville Home From Termites

Have you ever had to file a claim for home damages? It is usually a fairly simple process. You call your insurance company. Someone from the insurance company takes a look. The claim is filed, and you get paid. Simple, right? But it doesn’t always work like this. Sometimes, you find out that insurance companies don’t always payout. There are circumstances that can leave you holding the repair bill. Subterranean termite damage is often one of them.

Insurance companies view termite damage as preventable with routine maintenance. Why? Because termite damage is preventable with routine maintenance. The problem is that most homeowners don’t have the knowledge and tools to perform this routine maintenance. So it turns into a sort of catch-22.

Insurance companies perceive their role as protecting homeowners from sudden and unforeseeable diseases, like house fires and bursting water pipes. On a side note, if termites chew through your wires and cause a house fire, which can happen, you’re probably going to be covered. But insurance companies have very little pity when they think you’re responsible for the damage. If the damage is considered the result of neglect, you’re going to pay for it.

Imagine buying a home in a flood zone and not getting flood protection. Imagine buying a home on the tip of Florida without paying for hurricane insurance. It doesn’t make sense, does it. Well, living in Tennessee without subterranean termite insurance doesn’t make sense either. Those insects can be a serious threat to properties here.

How do you get termite insurance?

You invest in termite protection that comes with a termite-damage warranty.

If you live in the Knoxville area, we can help you with this. At Russell’s Pest Control, we deploy the Sentricon System with Always Active to protect man-made structures from the threat of these wood-destroying insects. This system targets termites, and only termites, and does not require trenching or drilling. It works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it is backed by a $1,000,000 termite-damage warranty. Best of all, it doesn’t just protect you from the financial impact of finding termite damage, it keeps termites from damaging your property. Let’s see your insurance policy do that!

If you have questions or you’d like to meet with one of our licensed professionals, request a free, no-obligation estimate. We’ll take a look and give you the information you need to protect your equity.

Did You Know That Most Homeowners Insurance Policies Will Not Cover Termite Damage?

Did You Know That Most Homeowners Insurance Policies Will Not Cover Termite Damage?

Many homeowners have the impression that home insurance covers everything. But it doesn’t. In areas where there is regular flooding, you have to request flood insurance. If hurricanes are an issue, you may need to make sure you have coverage for hurricane damage. And if a threat is considered to be preventable through routine maintenance, many insurance companies will leave you holding the bill. Termites fall into this category. This kind of damage can be prevented through routine maintenance. The problem is that most homeowners aren’t equipped to perform this maintenance. Protecting a home from termite damage requires termite control knowledge, experience with this form of pest control, and access to the right products for the job. That is why homeowners turn to certified termite control professionals who offer a termite damage warranty. This type of warranty is like investing in termite insurance. Here are some things you should know.

4 Reasons to Add Termite Insurance in Tennessee

  • Termites in Tennessee are destructive. The termites we deal with are subterranean termites, the most destructive type of termite in the United States.
  • Termites are sneaky. If you don’t apply termite control correctly, you may not realize your efforts have failed until it is too late and you are left holding a significant repair bill that could wipe out a lot of your savings.
  • Termites are persistent. If you have a hole in your termite protection, it is likely that termite workers will find it. They never stop searching for food sources and they can travel as far as the length of a football field in search of food.
  • A termite warranty means security. Not only will your termite damage warranty pay for termite damage, it also comes with ongoing termite service from a professional who has the experience and training to make sure they don’t have to pay that money out.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we protect Greater Knoxville homes and business with the Sentricon® System with Always Active technology. Sentricon® is backed by a $1 million termite damage warranty and is scientifically proven to eliminate termite colonies. On top of this, the Sentricon® System makes the detection of destructive, sneaky, persistent termites a piece of cake. When termites try to attack your Knoxville area home, not only will your technician know it, you’ll know it. You can’t put a price on that. With liquid termiticide barriers, you never know if the money you spent on termite control was worth it. This causes some property owners to give up on paying for this essential protection.
 
Get your property protected. Get Sentricon®. Get real peace of mind. Russell’s Pest Control is a Certified Sentricon® Installer for the Greater Knoxville area. Contact us for a free consultation to get started.  

Everything You Need To Know About Homeowners Insurance & Termites

Everything You Need To Know About Homeowners Insurance & Termites

What does your home insurance protect you from? Across the country, insurance policies protect property owners from floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and more. When catastrophes happen, insurance companies step in to relieve the pain of financial burdens. So, how about subterranean termites? Experts estimate that these insects cause more damage to properties in the United States than floods, fires, hurricanes and earthquakes combined. This type of damage is definitely covered, right? Well, obviously, from the heading of this article, it isn’t. Only in rare cases will insurance companies foot the bill for termite damage. This is because most cases of termite damage are considered by insurance companies to be the negligence of property owners, even though most property owners do not possess the education or training to protect their property from these silent and destructive pests. So if you think your Knoxville home is protected, you may want to look at the fine print on your insurance policy.

There is a reason insurance companies don’t want to get into the termite-damage protection business. The damage these insects cause is often extremely difficult (or impossible) to fix. When the structure of a home is weakened by termites (feeding on the inside of wood) it can create cascading issues such as warping and twisting. And since these insects are so secretive about the way they feed, this damage can go on for years and completely total a home without the homeowners realizing it. This would result in many large payouts for those insurance companies.

How can you protect your home if insurance companies won’t insure you? Well, we have good news for you; there is a way to protect your home that is better than insurance. When you invest in year-round termite protection from a licensed and trusted professional, not only do you get a guarantee of termite damage repair, you get ongoing service that works to stop termites from damaging your home in the first place.

Your insurance company can’t do that for you. Can you imagine if they did? It would be nice if a fire broke out in your basement in the middle of the night and a team of firefighters from the insurance company rushed into your home and doused it while you were sleeping. That’s kind of what we do at Russell’s Pest Control—minus the entering your home in the middle of the night part. Any time termites attack your home, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, your termite protection will immediately start working to destroy the colony that sent them.

If you live in the Greater Knoxville area, contact us right here on our webpage to schedule a visit with one of our termite control professionals. No Tennessee home should be without termite protection. Get yours in place today.

Why Eastern Tennessee Homes Need Spring Termite Protection    

Why Eastern Tennessee Homes Need Spring Termite Protection    

Ever wonder why termites get away with so much damage? The total yearly cost of termite damage in the U.S. is in the billions! Perhaps termites are not even on your radar. It’s easy to go about the day and not think about whether our homes are being attacked on the inside without us knowing. Termites are tiny and so hard to detect that homeowners can go months, or even years, without knowing they have a termite infestation. It’s not something that typically crosses our minds until it’s too late and the damage has already been done.

Unless, of course, you deal with pests every day. Russell’s Pest Control knows what termites can do and we want to keep homes in Eastern Tennessee safe from termites. We’ve seen the damage firsthand, damage that can cost homeowners thousands of dollars and can pose a threat to families. Termites, when left alone to breed and eat away at wooden structures, can make a home unsafe to live in. If you’re a home or property owner, or if you’re looking to buy a new home, you want to make sure it’s protected from termites.

Unfortunately, Tennessee has the perfect conditions for termites to thrive. That nice spring weather we enjoy, well, termites love it too. Spring also brings moisture and dampness, factors termites need to really thrive. Damp wood is the preferred food source for this pest. Since termites thrive in Tennessee and since they are so hard to detect until it’s too late, this means protection is absolutely necessary for Eastern Tennessee homes.

Prevention Tips for Homeowners

  • Clean up wooden debris in the yard.
  • Prevent moisture build up by cleaning out gutters and trimming back vegetation so the sun can dry things out.
  • Fix leaks.
  • Repair damaged wood.
  • Use dehumidifiers to cut down on humidity and moisture inside.
  • Always be looking for the signs termites!
  • Seek professional termite control.

The best way to prevent termites is through professional termite control. Russell’s Pest Control uses the Sentricon® System with Always Active™, a system that is scientifically proven to wipe out termite colonies invading your home and yard. Not only will it eliminate current infestations in a safe way, but it is proven to prevent future termites from invading. Want to know how it works? Learn more about the Sentricon System for termite defense. Contact Russell’s Pest Control today to ensure termites aren’t infesting your home. You can have peace-of-mind like many other Sentricon users.

How Russell’s Pest Control Protects Homes In Eastern Tennessee From Termites

How Russell’s Pest Control Protects Homes In Eastern Tennessee From Termites

Tennesse is home to what might be the most destructive insect pest that walks the earth, namely subterranean termites. These silent wood destroyers are responsible for over $5 billion dollars in prevention and repair costs every year, in the United States alone.

Termite damage can occur in a variety of areas where wood is present. It is important to know what types of wood termites invade. This includes wooden fencing in your yard, and wooden studs in your walls, of which you might not see the damage until the wood starts to crumble. Termites can eat away at your exterior wood siding and window shutters. This might look like wavy mazes of eaten wood and/or holes that go right through the wood.

Other signs of a termite infestation include:

  • Winged termites flying out to develop new colonies.
  • Discarded wings on windowsills.
  • Mud tubes around foundations and basement walls.
  • Termite nests in the soil, wood, or attics.
  • Warped floors, sagging ceilings, and peeling walls that look like they’ve been damaged by water.
  • Hollow sounding support beams.
  • Dull clicking sounds caused by termites banging their heads against tunnel walls in order to communicate with each other. You might hear this if you put your ear close to the wood that you think is infested.

Most termite damage will occur without a sound or a sighting of actual termites. This makes termites hard to detect and, therefore, extremely dangerous to the wood of your home. Tennesse homeowners are at high risk for termite infestations due to our ideal temperatures and weather conditions. The state has been ranked moderate to heavy in the Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) rating.

All homeowners including new homeowners in Tennesse should consider investing in professional termite protection to avoid costly termite damage. Being proactive can save you the headache of cleaning up and repairing the destruction after the fact.

Russell’s Pest Control offers professional termite control using the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This system effectively protects homes in an environmentally friendly way. It will assure you that your home is continually protected from termites and allows the termite technicians to detect any new termite activity. Bait stations are discreetly installed around the perimeter of your foundation. These lure worker termites to consume the bait and bring it back to their colonies which will eventually eliminate the entire colony.

Give the experts at Russell’s Pest Control in Eastern Tennessee a call for more information about termite control options and get started today protecting your property from these silent wood-destroying pests. You will be glad you did.

Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Winter is coming to a close and whether you experienced termites throughout the winter or not, it’s time to start looking ahead. You can start preparing your Knoxville home for the spring termite swarmers that are about to emerge. If you plan ahead you can avoid a lot of stress, headaches, and serious damage to your home.

In the spring mature termite colonies send out swarmers. You will only see them for a short period of time (if you see them at all) as they are going out to develop new termite colonies. They will typically present themselves as winged insects gathered in a large mass on windowsills and around the walls of your foundation.

Once these new colonies develop, the once small termite problem you may have encountered previously is bound to get much larger. Large populations of termites can damage the structure of your home and any wood inside including furniture and personal items. Signs of damage are hollow or damaged wood, as well as, bowing floors, warped walls, and sagging ceilings. If structural beams are affected by termites, it could compromise its strength. Simply put, termite damage can be serious and the repairs can be very costly.

To get started, follow these preventative measures, but in the end, you will want to seek professional help for an active infestation:

  • Keep your home dry by using dehumidifiers in damp areas around your home, especially the basement. You should also make sure your attic and crawl spaces are well ventilated. Repair leaks inside and outside of your home as soon as possible. Finally, don’t allow standing water too close to your home.
  • Keep piles of firewood, debris, and junk up off of the ground and at least 20 feet away from your home. You should also leave an 18” space directly around your home by using crushed rock or other non-wood material.
  • Repair any rotted wood or damaged siding found on your home.
  • Routinely inspect your property for termite mud tubes.

If you have tried your hand at prevention and you are still experiencing termite-related problems, or if you’d rather get the professionals onboard from the start, call on the experts at Russell’s Pest Control in Eastern Tennessee. Give us a call today to learn more about termites, the problems they cause and the termite control options Russell’s Pest Control offers to help protect your home from these damaging pests.

Preventing Winter Termite Infestations In Eastern Tennessee Homes

Preventing Winter Termite Infestations In Eastern Tennessee Homes

The nice thing about living in Eastern Tennessee is that we get to experience all four seasons without experiencing the extremes of weather in other areas. Yes, summer does get hot, while our winters are mild. Spring and fall are both beautiful.

The problem with living in Eastern Tennessee is that along with our mild winters we end up with pest problems that last throughout the year. Pests that live underground can survive cooler temperatures. This means we must be on our guard against them no matter the season.

Termites are one kind of pest we need to the lookout for in the winter. Their colonies are deep enough underground that they can survive the colder months. If the colony is close enough to our homes, termites will benefit from the heat emanating from our foundation, allowing them to easily remain active all through the winter season. There is a good chance they will end up inside our homes and, in that climate-controlled environment, they can work at full capacity twelve months a year.

The Damage Termites Cause

When we say you don’t want termites in your home, it’s not just because they’re bugs and no one likes the idea of bugs in their house. Termites are some of the most destructive pests on the planet, causing $5 billion in damage to homes in the United States alone every single year. When termites get into your house, they dig tunnels and build new nesting sites within the beams of your home. Given enough time, termites can ruin entire sections of your home. They may even cause dangerous structural damage, making your home unlivable until repairs are made.

How to Prevent Termites from Getting Inside Your Eastern Tennessee Home

Certain conditions can make your residence more attractive to termites. Consider the following when trying to keep them out of your home:

  • Termites prefer water-damaged wood. Be sure to repair any water leaks or broken pipes immediately. Replace any wood that is damaged in the process, including the wood inside and outside your home.
  • Any wood that has direct contact with soil acts as a beacon for termites. Fences are often attacked by termites. Consider alternatives for any wood-to-soil contact. Replacing a wooden fence with a composite material, and using crushed stone instead of mulch in your landscaping may be a satisfactory compromise.
  • Since termites seek moist living conditions, make sure your home has good ventilation and that outside drainage systems are in proper working order.

The Best Way to Keep Termites from Getting Indoors

Even with these prevention methods, termites still sometimes manage to gain entry to your home. Your best bet to ensure year-round termite protection is to install a termite prevention system.

Russell’s Pest Control provides the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. It is scientifically proven to eliminate current termite infestations and prevent the occurrence of future invasions. If you’re not sure whether termites have taken up residence in your home, give Russell’s a call. We will conduct a detailed inspection and discuss Sentricon® with Always Active™ with you to determine whether it meets your needs.

Call us for more information or to set up your first inspection. We are here to serve you!

Are Termites Still A Threat In Tennessee?

Are Termites Still A Threat In Tennessee?

Termites are a pest that should never be ignored. The damage that occurs when termites are left alone can become severe. All you have to do is search for termite damage online and you’ll find an assortment of scary articles and unappealing photos. Tennessee has the perfect climate—moderate temperatures and humidity—for termites to thrive. The dropping temperatures of the fall season do not stop them from staying active, either.

Termite colonies are very efficient. They’re made up of different members that perform different duties within the colony to keep it functioning. There are workers, soldiers, and reproductive termites. Each of these members looks a little bit different. The workers are white in color. The soldiers look similar but have an elongated head and large jaws. The reproductive termites are bigger, darker, and have wings. The workers will forage for food to bring back to the other colony members who are doing their jobs. Cellulose found in wood, soil, and other organic matter is what they feed on. This is why the damage to your home can be so severe, they are eating away at the wood bit by bit. Termite colonies are very large in number, so with many mouths eating away, the damage can be quite extensive and costly. Termites are responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage each year in the United States.

One of these reasons termites are so destructive is that they can survive year-round. Their nests are built underground allowing them to escape cold temperatures. This means that during the fall they are still as active as ever. Don’t be fooled and think they are dormant. It’s extremely important to watch out for the signs of termites to catch them as early as possible.

Signs

  • A sure sign is seeing termites crawling in your home, though this is only likely to happen if you tear out a termite-infested wall.
  • Termites create mud tubes that may be noticed around the foundation of your home.
  • Small piles of sawdust could also be a sign of termites.
  • Tunnels in any wooden structure of your home could be termites. The structures could be crumbling or breaking apart. This is also a behavior of carpenter ants. Either way, it’s advised to contact a professional.
  • Any damaged or damp wood can easily attract termites.
  • Checking for termite activity outdoors could give you hints to what’s indoors. If you find damp wood infested with termites outside, it’s possible they’ve made their way in the house or are going to soon. Termite colonies grow fast and are always looking for more food sources.
  • Any damage done to your home could potentially be because of termites. If you’re noticing a sagging floor or unstable ceilings, seek a professional right away.
  • With some infestations, you can actually hear the termite activity in the walls. Try tapping on the wood and listening for a clicking sound.

It’s never too late to contact pest control. If you are struggling with a termite infestation, or if you’d like to prevent one, contact Russell’s Pest Control today. Our termite control plan provides the best termite protection in East Tennessee. At Russell’s Pest, our technicians will install the Sentricon® System with Always Active™, which is scientifically backed and proven to work. Check out our video on how Sentricon® with Always Active™ works and contact us today to get started!

Signs Of Termite Infestation Tennessee Homeowners Need To Be Aware Of

Signs Of Termite Infestation Tennessee Homeowners Need To Be Aware Of

When it comes to pests, there is a wide range of dangers associated with them, depending on what type of pest they are. Some pests are simply nuisances meaning that they don’t transmit illnesses and don’t do a great deal of damage, but are simply annoying to have around. Other pests are dangerous to humans and may bite, sting, or transmit serious diseases. Then there are the pests that don’t transmit diseases, but cause damages to homes that can be expensive and in some cases, irreparable.

The greatest offender of this third type of pest is the termite. While termites rarely cause bodily harm to humans in the form of bites or stings and are not known to spread diseases, they do cause billions of dollars in damage to homes in the United States every single year!

The biggest problem with termites and the reason they can cause so much damage is that they usually remain undetected for far too long. Oftentimes, by the time homeowners recognize that they have a termite problem, the termites have been causing damages to their homes for years!

In order to avoid termites and the damage they cause, it’s vital that you are proactive in taking measures to prevent them from invading your home, but you should first look for the signs of termites to make sure you don’t already have a termite problem.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

If you have a termite problem, the chances that you’ll see an actual termite are very slim. The greatest chance you have of seeing termites is when they are swarming. This typically occurs in the spring when a large number of the reproductive members of a colony come into plain view to find a mate and form a new colony. You can identify swarmers by their two sets of long white wings and by the fact that you’ll likely see a large cluster of these winged termites. If you see a termite swarm outside your home, your home may be at risk of a termite infestation.

Other signs of a termite infestation are so subtle that even some trained home inspectors or other professionals may miss them! One sign is long grooves created inside of the wood of your home. You typically wouldn’t notice this unless you’re doing renovations to your home. If you knock on a wooden beam and it sounds hollow or break off a piece of wood from your home and it feels light or hollow, you may have a termite problem.

Finally, if you have a major termite problem, you may notice peeling wallpaper, sagging floors or ceilings, windows and doors that won’t open or close properly, and bulging walls. If you see any of these warning signs, it may be time for a termite inspection.

How to Prevent Termites

Termites are attracted to moisture so it is very important to keep your home and surroundings as dry as possible. Establish good drainage systems around your property, repair any leaky pipes immediately, and replace any water damaged wood. In addition, here are a few other things you can do to deter these wood-destroying pests:

  • Keep wood and brush piles a distance away from your home and as dry as possible.
  • Remove dead trees from your property.
  • Keep your gutters cleaned out and free of debris.
  • Keep mulch at least two feet away from your home.
  • Most importantly, consider taking preventative measures in the form of termite prevention from Russell’s Pest Control!

Russell’s offers a comprehensive termite control service built around the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. As its name suggests, this system not only eliminates current termite colonies, it also constantly works to prevent future colonies from forming and invading your home.

Take action today to prevent costly damage tomorrow. Give us a call at Russell’s Pest Control today!