What Is a Termite Warranty? (And Other FAQs)

May 15, 2025

A termite warranty goes beyond standard pest control treatments by providing financial and legal protection if termites damage your home or commercial property. If you live in Middle Georgia, termite protection is a year-round necessity, and a termite warranty helps you maintain that protection and provides relief in the event of an active infestation. Termite warranties generally include annual professional termite inspections and are available in retreat-only, retreat and repair, and warranty-only forms.

As a homeowner or commercial property owner, you want to make sure that you’re protected against the possibility of a termite infestation damaging your property. But what do we mean by “protected?”

On the surface of it, the termite solutions that your local pest control company apply protect your home against the physical threat of termites. But what happens if that frontline protection fails and you end up with termite damage anyway? What protects you – in a financial sense – against the financial burden of repairing your property should termites get past the physical defenses?

Enter the termite warranty. Your termite control company can provide a guarantee that offers several different legal and financial protections that mitigate against the cost of cleaning up and repairing termite damage in a treated property.

This month, we’re exploring the types of protections you can enjoy as we answer the question “What is a termite warranty?” and a few others.

What Is a Termite Warranty?

A termite warranty is essentially a guarantee from a pest control company (or a pesticide manufacturer) that the termite control solutions they apply to your home or commercial property will be effective.

While there may be different levels of protection offered by a pest control company – more on that below – all termite warranties provide the property owner with some amount of compensation in the event that treatment fails and the structure is damaged by termites.

Why Do I Need a Termite Warranty?

There are two different levels of “need” involved with termite warranties, depending on whether you own your property outright or if your mortgage lender still has a lien on it.

If Your Lender Still Has a Lien

If you’re still making payments on your home or commercial property, then you need a termite warranty the same way you need liability coverage on your car – it is a legal requirement.

While your home or business is still under lien from the mortgage company, you have a legal duty to maintain that property’s resale value. If something were to happen, and the bank were to repossess a property that’s been damaged or rendered unusable by termites, they’d have no way to recoup their investment.

If You Own the Property Outright

If you own your property outright, with no outstanding liens, then you need a termite warranty the same way you need collision coverage on your car – it’s not required by law, but by common sense.

If your treated property suffers termite damage while you’re covered by a termite warranty, some or all of the costs associated with remedying the situation and restoring your property to its pre-damaged condition can be covered by the warranty.

What Are the Different Types of Termite Warranty?

Depending on the level of protection you need (or are required to have), you may be able to select from a few different types of termite warranties.

“Retreat-Only” Termite Warranties

With this type of warranty, only the cost of your actual termite treatment is protected. Should your property suffer damage from termites, your warranty will cover the costs associated with retreating the property with termiticide and termite repellents. Any costs associated with repairing the damage itself come out of the property owner’s pocket.

“Retreat and Repair” Termite Warranties

Most termite warranties take this form. A retreat and repair warranty covers both the cost of retreating an infested home or commercial property, as well as some or all of the costs of required repairs. If your property is still under lien to a lending agency, the terms of your mortgage agreement may require you to carry a retreat and repair warranty.

“Warranty-Only” Termite Warranties

This class of termite warranties is less common than the others, and some pest-control companies will not offer warranty-only protection. Warranty-only protection is just what it sounds like – the pest control company is only providing the warranty, not any actual termite treatment. Generally, the pest control company will require proof of recent treatment before they will issue a warranty-only termite warranty.

What Else Is Included in a Termite Warranty?

All termite warranties should include at least one inspection each year to ensure that no termites have made their way past the termite defense systems and into the wooden structure of your home or business.

These annual inspections provide other levels of protection for your home or business. During the inspection, the pest control expert will look for signs of termite activity in or near the structure. They’ll also look for things that could attract termites or even assist them in getting past your termite protection.

For example, if you’ve had work done under the house and a worker accidentally left a piece of untreated wood in your crawlspace, that wood could attract subterranean termites into your crawlspace. If you’ve gotten a new fire pit and stacked firewood against the wall, termites can use that stack as a ladder to get over the protective belt of termiticide and into your home.

With an annual inspection to spot termites before they can gain a foothold and help you avoid potentially costly mistakes, your termite warranty isn’t just a passive document – it’s a proactive process that actively combats these wood-destroying insects.

“Termite Season” Lasts All Year in Middle Georgia! Let National Exterminating Protect Your Middle Georgia Home or Business. Call Us at 478-922-1410.

Your Middle Georgia home or business needs a pest control partner you can trust. National Exterminating is ready to earn that trust with our exceptional customer service and cutting-edge pest control solutions.