Your home’s air conditioner and heating system are major components of the dwelling. They also are integral to keeping it comfortable, safe and healthy for you and your family. Still, like all appliances, your air conditioner does have a risk of breaking down or failing from time to time. It's only natural in these cases to wonder if your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of repairs.
There will be clauses under your homeowners insurance that cover damage to your HVAC system. However, coverage is not unlimited, and you must meet the conditions set by your plan before you can file a successful claim. Here’s some insight on how to judge your ability to take such action.
The Cause of Damage Determines Your Coverage
When you buy homeowners insurance, your policy will agree to cover your dwelling against unpreventable or unavoidable problems. Because your HVAC system is part of the home’s structure, it is usually covered as part of your dwelling insurance.
Most policies clearly outline what damage scenarios are considered covered. Usually, they will cover A/C unit damage from hazards like storms, fires, weather, vandalism and similar hazards.
Imagine what might happen if your air conditioner were to fail suddenly. A pipe might burst, the condenser might break down or a problem in the firing might lead to a house fire. The damage done to both the unit and the home will usually be covered in these cases.
All the same, there will be strict limits on when coverage will be provided. For example:
- The damage cannot occur due to any type of destruction you or someone living in your home causes. Outside acts of vandalism might have coverage, though.
- Some policies only cover the damage the air conditioner causes to other property (rather than to itself). This may include damage done to both the rest of the dwelling and your possessions.
- The policy may cover some type of mold damage caused by the system. This applies only when you could not know the mold was there, and the mold was caused due to a covered incident.
- The policy may cover some costs related to replacing or repairing the unit following a catastrophic breakdown. To attain this coverage, you will need an equipment breakdown rider on your policy. The failure also must not be due to neglect.
The most common causes of air conditioner issues relate to wear and tear, along with the simple problems that require standard upkeep and maintenance. Even with constant care, units will eventually wear out as they age. Under these circumstances, your homeowners insurance will not cover them, given that this is just part of owning an A/C system. It’s your responsibility to pay for the upkeep.
To get proper coverage for your air conditioning unit risks, speak to one of our homeowners insurance agents. Don’t put off getting the assistance that your property truly deserves.
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