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This is considered neglect and isn’t covered under homeowners insurance policies. For this reason, it’s vital to stay on top of HVAC maintenance as a homeowner. Now, if that AC-generated water seeps into your home and damages wall and floor, that will be dubbed as maintenance glitch on your part. So, naturally, in such situations, your home insurance policy won’t take care of the repair bills. Homeowners insurance policies don't cover AC malfunctions caused by lack of maintenance, general wear and tear or accidents. An air conditioner that fails after 10 years of use or is dented by an errant baseball during a backyard game of catch won't be covered by your home insurance.
Home insurance may cover air conditioner replacement if the damage necessitating a new AC system was caused by a covered peril. If your system breaks down due to expected wear and tear, your provider won’t pay for a new one. Below, we’ll take a look at when air conditioner repairs and replacements are covered by your insurance. We’ll also go over when water damage from your air conditioner to your house is covered by your policy.
Ensure That Your HVAC Is Working Properly
Do not rush to call up your insurer the moment you encounter a damaged AC. First, you will survey, check the causes and then make an estimate of repair costs. Then, if the damage is eligible for home insurance coverage- compare the repair costs with the estimated repair amount from the insurer.
The editorial content on Clovered’s website is meant to be informational material and should not be considered legal advice. And, in some cases, it can cover some of the costs to upgrade to a more energy-efficient or environmentally friendly appliance. To help when something goes wrong, not when something stops working when it reaches the end of its expected life.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Smoke Damage?
It may also be a good idea to look into home warranty plans, which offer coverage that insurance won't. A standard policy should provide coverage for many of the common causes that could affect an air conditioner. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers.
Direct strike on the AC may lead to fire accidents, ruining the different electrical components inside the device. If you ever find yourself in such a mishap, make sure to inform your home insurer. The company will reimburse the repair bills that you incurred while fixing the destroyed electrical stuff. So, when will you be able to claim coverage from your home insurance company if your AC unit is damaged? According to experts, there are 3 main cases where you can ask for coverage from your insurer for your damaged or broken air conditioner.
So, When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Central Air Units?
Home insurance covers AC units and heat pumps in a similar way that the rest of your home is covered. Damage caused by fires, falling trees, vandalism and lightning strikes are all covered in standard homeowners policies. Lightning strikes and fire If a fire destroyed your AC unit, your homeowner’s insurance policy would cover AC repair or replacement. Your home insurance policy would also pay for replacement if lightning were to strike your AC unit and damage the electrical components. As a part of the home’s structure, the insurance company covers the central HVAC unit on an open peril, or all-risks, basis. This means unless the policy specifically excludes the peril, like earthquakes, flooding, and normal wear and tear, the policy will cover the damage.
On average, homeowners insurance costs $175 per month, but that amount can vary depending on your belongings. You can use MoneyGeek’s personal property calculator to estimate how much coverage you need. Although your homeowners insurance covers your AC unit, you should protect it as much as possible from getting damaged. Whether you have a centralized or standalone model, your AC will have components located inside and outside your home.
Home warranties can be a valuable supplement to a homeowners insurance policy by providing financial compensation for items that deteriorate over time. Home warranty claims are typically only denied because of owner neglect, improper servicing or installation or because the damage is covered by a homeowners insurance policy. If you fail to properly maintain your HVAC system and it breaks down, you may not be covered.
Additionally, a home warranty will not typically cover unexpected events like lightning. But if a component or even your entire unit needs to be repaired or replaced due to wear and tear, home warranties are designed to cover the expense. In many areas of the country, a working HVAC system is an essential system for comfort and quality of living. Insurance covers problems with an air conditioner only if they are caused by a covered peril. For example, an insurer might pay to replace an AC unit damaged by fire or a falling tree.
Home insurance companies generally provide coverage to damages on home caused by falling trees. So, if a big falling branch has shattered your AC unit, you can certainly ask for reimbursement from your insurer. Mechanical breakdown coverage can financially safeguard your AC if it stops working due to improper installation, or if it fails after a power surge.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content manager with MoneyGeek specializing in insurance. Mark has years of experience analyzing the insurance market and creating original research and content. He graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts and Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Arts. This will protect your unit from malfunctioning while ensuring it runs efficiently. Ask a professional how often AC units should be serviced in your area. Take photos of the HVAC damage and any damage caused to your home or belongings.
These are not perils; instead, they are expected occurrences over time. No object lasts forever, and periodic replacement of parts and the eventual replacement of the entire appliance or structure eventually occurs. Central air conditioners are covered as part of the main structure, while window units count as personal property. Your AC unit is not covered if it malfunctioned due to normal wear and tear, maintenance issues or mechanical breakdown from improper installation. If the insurer can prove your negligence caused the damages, your claim will be denied. Additionally, damages from earthquakes and floods are usually not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.
Home warranties, also called home repair insurance, cover the cost to repair your home's systems and appliances, including your air conditioner, for a set fee. And damages its electrical components, your home insurance policy will pay to replace it. Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. If either of these caused your AC’s demise, you can submit a claim to your insurance company for coverage. However, if the damage wasn’t due to either of these, you likely cannot submit a claim.
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If your air conditioning will cost $400 to repair and you have a $1,000 deductible, it's not worth making a claim. Also, filing a claim might lead to a rate increase when you go to renew your policy. So if you're only getting a small amount after the deductible, it might not be worth the potential rate increase. Home insurance will usually cover window AC units for fire, vandalism, theft and other problems covered by the policy. As with central AC units, window units aren't covered for wear and tear, floods, earthquakes and other policy exclusions. Window units are also usually covered for theft, just like other possessions such as furniture.
Never overpay for car insurance Jerry automatically shops for your insurance before every renewal. Ife without air conditioning for homeowners in southern states seems like an impossibility. Steamy springs and scorching summers quickly take a toll on even the bravest souls. So, when your air conditioner breaks down, you’ll probably be looking for relief as quickly as you can. Be specific and provide details about what damage occurred and what you believe caused the damage when you file the claim.
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