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Since homeowners insurance is designed to cover unexpected perils, it is not intended to help if your window unit or AC system needs to be repaired due to general wear and tear. 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.
You can buy homeowners insurance from most major insurance providers, such as State Farm, Progressive and GEICO. Smaller insurance companies, like Hippo and Lemonade also offer homeowners insurance. Hail is another weather-related incident that will trigger homeowners’ insurance coverage. If your external AC unit gets battered by hail, it can damage the unit. Hail can also damage or disconnect the power cables and freon carriers from the unit, which can cause serious damage.
Home Insurance Tips
If you notice moisture damage signs or condensation in your home, it’s best to tackle the issue right away to avoid more significant damage. Contact your insurance company to find out the specifics on if your homeowners policy covers condensation damage. The insurance adjuster assigned to your claim will contact you to set up a time to come survey the damage and work on an estimate for the cost of the damage, repairs, or replacement.
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.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover AC Units?
Homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover damage resulting from wear and tear or resulting from neglect. For example, if an air conditioner wears out because it has reached the end of its normal shelf life, repairs or replacement would not be covered. Do not rush to call up your insurer the moment you encounter a damaged AC.
To answer the question, does homeowners insurance cover AC, it is important to review the fine print on an insurance policy. Homeowners can read their policies to find out exactly what perils are covered. If the AC damage results from any of the problems the policy covers, then the insurer will repair or replace the AC. Homeowners insurance is an important purchase for property owners. But does homeowners insurance cover AC or other components of an HVAC system?
Which types of appliances are covered by insurance?
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. Centralized AC systems are covered by dwelling coverage, which normally protects you against most damages except those expressly excluded, such as war, earthquake or flooding. Meanwhile, personal property coverage insures standalone AC units. This kind of coverage offers protections from specifically-described perils, such as fire, wind, vandalism, theft and more.
You will need to take pictures of the damage and submit them to your insurer for vandalism. You may also need to get estimates for repairs from a licensed HVAC contractor. Mechanical breakdown coverage can financially safeguard your AC if it stops working due to improper installation, or if it fails after a power surge.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover An AC Unit or HVAC System?
It’s good to have maximized your investment, but in a case like this, buying your new unit has to come from your own pocket. When you operate your heating or air conditioning system with non-specified installation, wiring or power supply, you have a clear case of negligence and poor maintenance. If your HVAC system is damaged by a fallen tree either by a storm or any other cause, the underlying circumstance would have to be determined by your underwriter. If the tree in your yard is healthy, there would be very few issues to settle. But if the tree is diseased, it can be construed as negligence on your part because you could have prevented the damage by dealing with the situation beforehand.
This guide will provide insight into when a home insurance policy will pay for repair or replacement of an air conditioning unit. Your standard homeowners insurance usually covers your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning . An HO-3 insurance policy covers your home from common disasters including damage from reasons other than a deliberate action, negligent use/handling, or normal wear and tear. Knowing what your policy specifically covers gives you peace of mind against expensive repairs or purchases that may arise due to covered conditions. Yes, your homeowners insurance will cover an air conditioner replacement if the unit was damaged by a covered peril, such as the ones we’ve listed above. But your insurance company won’t replace your air conditioner if the damage was due to wear and tear or another non-covered peril.
It can help you make an informed decision on coverage types and limits, and what may be excluded from the policy. Homeowners have a few options to get more coverage on appliances and other home equipment like HVAC systems. That’s why it’s so important to stay up to date onregular home maintenance.
Your homeowner insurance policy will cover an air conditioner if it’s damaged or destroyed in a house fire. It’s also protected in the event that lightning strikes a part of your system and damages its electrical components. In the event where your AC is damaged by bad weather such as lightning, hail or winds, your AC may be covered by your home insurance depending on your policy limits.
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. Thankfully, those who live in floodplains or near fault lines can purchase supplemental policies that cover flood or earthquake damage. However, these options can come with fees of their own, so make sure you know what you’re getting before signing any dotted line. Reaching out to an insurance company to inquire about homeowner’s insurance is a must for anyone who owns their house.
Just like earthquakes, flooding, and neglect aren’t covered, neither is rodent or pest damage. If a tree falls on your external AC unit or falls into your roof and damages the ducts, it will be covered under homeowners’ insurance. Tree falls are one of the most common ways for homes to get damaged, and they are covered by homeowners’ insurance. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site.
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