When it’s hot, it’s hot! And when it’s not, it’s not. That’s what happens when you have a malfunctioning heating and cooling system.
Optimally, you want to be cool when it’s hot out and warm when it’s cold out. So, when it comes to protecting your home, you’ll want to have a comprehensive home insurance policy that covers your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and AC (air conditioning) unit — critical components of your home that provide comfort and safety for you and your family.
It All Depends
Many homeowners wonder if their home insurance policy will cover their HVAC and AC units in the event of damage or malfunction. The short answer is that it depends on your specific home insurance policy.
Make a mental note to read the fine print of your homeowners policy because not all home insurance policies cover all risks. But in general, most home insurance policies will cover your HVAC and AC units if they are damaged or destroyed by a covered event, like fire, lightning, wind, hail, and other natural occurrences.
They typically will not cover normal wear and tear. And they especially will not be covered if they’ve been neglected and you haven’t performed proper maintenance on them.
What About Theft?
Interestingly, home insurance policies will cover your HVAC and AC units if they are stolen. Because these units are expensive — and include valuable metals like copper that criminals can easily sell — HVAC systems can be a target for thieves. And they’re somewhat easy to steal because the placement of HVAC and AC units are usually in very accessible areas like side yards and alleys.
Additionally, the theft of an HVAC unit can create a domino effect, making a major repair or a complete system replacement necessary. If your unit is stolen, you’ll need to file a police report and provide proof of ownership to your insurance company in order to make a claim.
Will The Entire System Be Covered?
Keep in mind that home insurance policies typically have limits on coverage for certain items. This means that there may be a maximum amount that your policy will pay out for HVAC and AC units.
Older units:
- If your units are older or have a lower value, you may be able to get by with a lower coverage limit. It’s also important to keep up with regular maintenance and repairs for your HVAC and AC units.
Newer units:
- If your units are newer or have a higher value, you may need to purchase additional coverage to ensure you’re fully protected. This may be in the form of a separate policy or endorsement added to your existing policy. Speak with your insurance agent to understand exactly what is covered and what additional coverage you may need to purchase.
Don’t Be Neglectful
Most home insurance policies will not cover damage or malfunction resulting from general wear and tear, owner neglect, or old age. So you probably won’t be reimbursed for any repairs if your 20-year-old heating or AC unit starts acting up.
Similarly, if you rarely change your air filter or accidentally drop something on your new HVAC or AC equipment — or you drop it while installing it — damages incurred would probably be considered owner neglect and not be covered under a typical homeowners insurance policy.
Maintenance Is Your Responsibility
How do you avoid neglect? With regular maintenance, of course.
Sticking to a routine maintenance schedule can help prevent significant problems and ensure your HVAC and AC units function efficiently. Most home insurance policies will not cover damage or malfunction resulting from neglect or failure to properly maintain your units.
That’s why we created an HVAC and AC maintenance blog just for you. It does a deeper dive into why it’s necessary to clean the unit, oil the motor, clean the coils, check the air filter, and more.
How Do I File A Claim For My HVAC / AC System?
If you want to claim insurance for HVAC damage, there are a few things you need to do. First, get all the essential information like your unit’s model and serial number, pics of the damage, and a copy of the police report if someone broke in.
Then, call your insurance provider and give them the particulars about the damage. it’ll help to have receipts for when you purchased the unit. If the unit came with the house when you bought it, you might have documentation from the seller as to when the unit was installed initially.
If your policy covers the damage, they’ll send someone to check it out and figure out how much it’ll cost to fix or replace it. You’ll want to meet with them so they don’t miss anything. Once they’ve checked it out, your insurance provider should pay you back for the costs to repair or replace your HVAC unit — remember, older units may get repair costs or partial reimbursement, while newer units may get closer to total replacement. Just keep receipts of the labor costs and give them to your insurance provider to get your money back.
Don’t Get All Hot And Bothered: Keep Your Cool!
Whether or not your home insurance policy covers your HVAC and AC units depends on the specifics of your policy. It’s important to carefully review your policy, understand what is covered and what is not, and speak with your insurance agent to ensure you’re fully protected.
Ready to connect? Request a free, personalized home insurance quote now.