What Is a Termite Warranty and Do You Need One in Florida?

A termite warranty is a written promise from a pest control company that if termites come back after a treatment, the company will return and treat again, and in some cases pay for the damage they cause. In Florida, where subterranean and drywood termites are active all year, a warranty is the difference between a one time job and ongoing protection.

The two kinds of termite warranty

Re treatment warranty. This is the most common type. If live termites are found in the covered structure during the warranty period, the company treats the problem again at no charge. It does not pay for damage.

Repair warranty. This goes further. If termites return and cause new damage, the company pays to repair it, usually up to a stated dollar limit. Repair warranties cost more, require a clean inspection to start, and often exclude areas the inspector could not reach, such as sealed crawl spaces or finished attics.

What a Florida termite warranty should spell out

• Which termites are covered. Subterranean and drywood termites are treated differently. Many warranties cover only one. Ask for both if your home has wood framing and a shingle roof.
• The renewal fee and term. Most warranties run one year and renew annually for a fee. The fee keeps the coverage alive, so budget for it.
• The annual inspection. Nearly every warranty requires a yearly inspection by the company. Miss it and the coverage can lapse.
• Exclusions. Water damage, moisture problems, wood to soil contact you were told to fix and did not, and additions built after the treatment are the usual exclusions.
• Transferability. A warranty that transfers to a new owner is a selling point when you list the house. Ask whether it transfers and what the transfer fee is.

Do you need one?

If you own a home in Pinellas or north Hillsborough County, the honest answer is yes. Termite pressure here does not stop in winter. A single colony can cause thousands of dollars of hidden damage before you see a mud tube or a swarm, and homeowners insurance almost never pays for termite damage. A warranty turns an unpredictable repair bill into a small, known annual cost.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. Is this a re treatment warranty or a repair warranty?
2. What is the repair limit, and what does the company need from me to keep the coverage valid?
3. Does it cover drywood termites, subterranean termites, or both?
4. What is the yearly renewal fee, and can it increase?
5. Will you put every exclusion in writing?

At Uprooted Weed and Pest Control we treat termites throughout Dunedin, Clearwater, Palm Harbor and the surrounding area, and we explain the warranty terms before any work starts. If you have a termite warranty from another company and are not sure what it covers, bring it along to your inspection and we will walk through it with you.

Related reading

• How do I get rid of termites
• Should I worry about termites
• How can you know if you have termites