Homeowners insurance covers mechanical systems, including your air-conditioning units. However, your AC units may not be covered if the damage they suffer results from owner neglect. Here’s more on homeowners insurance and AC systems, along with what you can do to make your policy more beneficial to your air conditioner.
How Are AC Units Covered?
Homeowners insurance covers air conditioners when they suffer damage due to a covered disaster or peril, such as a fire, a fallen tree, high winds, theft, and power surges. Centralized AC units are covered under the dwelling section of your policy, while ductless, wall-mounted, and window AC units are covered under personal property coverage.
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover your air conditioner if it suffers damage due to lack of maintenance, general wear and tear, or old age. Therefore, your claim is likely to be denied if your home experiences water damage from an AC-related leak that resulted from a drain line that clogged up due to years or months of neglect.
Similarly, your insurance policy won’t cover damage from improper installation or your failure to change the air filter. Your AC unit is also unlikely to be covered if it’s lasted 15 years and has started malfunctioning.
Making Homeowners Insurance and AC Work Together
It’s crucial to keep up with regular maintenance to ensure your homeowners insurance covers your air conditioner. Replace your air filter regularly and schedule seasonal preventive maintenance. It’s also important to perform home maintenance like sealing potential entry points of rodents and pests that can chew through AC components.
If your air conditioner is between 10 and 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. When you’re looking to replace your system, make sure you work with an experienced HVAC contractor to determine your new system’s optimal size and to make sure it’s installed correctly.
Doing your part to ensure your HVAC system runs properly is crucial to making your homeowners insurance and AC system work together. Contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning to handle all your HVAC needs in the Lorain area when it comes to homeowners insurance and AC.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area