If you’re a homeowner, the last thing you want to deal with is a broken air conditioning unit. Naturally, you’re probably wondering, does homeowners insurance cover AC units? We’re not going to sugar coat it, there are many cases where it is not covered but we’ll walk through everything you need to know.
Overview of Homeowners Insurance
Many insurance companies use a standard form for their homeowners policy and adjust it by adding enhancements and/or exclusions. While this can be a good thing for customization, it can make understanding the policy pretty confusing.
We always advise consulting your agent before making any assumptions about your coverage. It’s kind of like everything else, don’t believe everything you read on the internet!
What Is Covered by Homeowners Insurance for AC Units?
Your air conditioner is usually going to be covered for the same perils as the rest of your home. Perils just means the thing that caused the damage. Most policies will cover:
- Lightning
- Fire
- Hail
- Windstorms
- Water (Excluding flood)
- Vandalism
- Theft
However, these are not guaranteed. For example, if you didn’t purchase Sewer Backup coverage, that would be a type of water claim that is not covered.
Flood Insurance isn’t offered on any homeowners insurance policy. It must be purchased as a separate policy.
What is NOT Covered by Homeowners Insurance for AC Units?
Here is a quick list of things that can cause damage to your AC unit that are not typically covered:
- Wear and tear
- Lack of maintenance
- Failure to promptly fix damage to the home
- Home is now vacant but you didn’t report the change
If your AC unit has some years on it and is just gradually going out your homeowners is not going to provide coverage. According to Bob Vila, the average air conditioner lasts about 12-17 years. And who doesn’t trust Bob Vila, am I right?
If a claims adjuster sees there is a lack of maintenance it’s likely your claim is denied. This would include things like very dirty air filters, leaves clogging up the unit or insulation peeling off the lines.
Equipment Breakdown Coverage
Your insurance company may offer an optional coverage known as Equipment Breakdown. This will provide some coverage for your air condition as well as other items in you home such as heating, refrigerators, water heaters, riding lawn mowers and more.
This coverage can apply to your air conditioner for mechanical or electrical breakdowns. This is not covered on your base homeowners policy.
Filing a Claim for a Broken AC
We recommend contacting your agent first before calling in the claim. It’s always good to have someone in your corner and help position you for the best outcome.
Don’t wait to notify your agent or claims adjuster. Your claim can be denied if you don’t immediately notify them. The reason is the damage that is already done could lead to more damage if not fixed in a timely manner.
Your claim will be subject to your policy deductible.
So, does your homeowners insurance cover AC units? As you can see, a lot is going to depend on what caused the damage and whether or not you opted for equipment breakdown coverage.
Tips to Prevent Air Conditioner Breakdowns
One of the best ways to prevent AC breakdowns is to stay on top of maintenance.
Here are some things you can do to help improve the life of your air conditioner:
- Clear the area around the unit, removing any debris or foliage that could potentially fly around in strong winds
- Properly anchor the unit to prevent it from being toppled over by winds or floods
- Replace air filters monthly
- Check lines for any blockages
- Check insulation around outdoor lines
- Clean the gunk out from in between the fins
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