What happens if you don't get rid of termites?

If you don't get rid of termites, they will continue to feed on wood 24 hours a day and cause progressively worse structural damage that can become extremely expensive to repair and potentially make your home unsafe over time. Subterranean termites, which cause most damage in the United States, eat cellulose from the inside out, hollowing out studs, floor joists, support beams, and window frames while leaving the outer surface intact, so damage often goes undetected for years until floors start to sag, walls sound hollow when tapped, doors and windows stick, paint bubbles like water damage, and mud tubes appear on foundation walls. A single colony can have several million members and consume about one foot of a 2x4 per year, and multiple colonies can attack a home simultaneously. After 3 to 8 years of active feeding, structural failure can occur, requiring major repairs including replacing framing, sistering joists, and even jacking up floors, with costs ranging from a few thousand dollars for minor damage to $10,000 to $50,000 or more for severe cases, and most homeowners insurance does not cover termite damage. Additionally, moisture conditions that attract termites can lead to wood rot and mold growth that trigger allergies. The value of your home can drop significantly, and you may be required to disclose termite history when selling. Termites will not go away on their own and will keep expanding, so early professional treatment with liquid barriers or bait systems costing $1,000 to $3,000 is far cheaper than ignoring them.