The investment in a new home furnace or air conditioner can be a sizable one. These are some of the most important systems within your home. Most last for several decades. When they fail, you may wonder if home insurance will cover the cost to replace them. The answer to
this really depends on why you need to replace them and the details of your plan. Here’s some additional insight.
Routine Failures and Repairs
Most home insurance policies do not cover repairs or replacements of systems that fail due to normal wear and tear. These systems need routine maintenance to keep them working. Failure to provide that could mean damage to the system that leads to replacement needs. Home insurance generally does not cover instances like this. It also doesn’t cover cases where the system is just older and needs to be replaced for efficiency.
Ice or Storm Damage to Your System
One of the instances in which home insurance may cover the loss and replacement of your home’s heating and cooling system is this. If ice builds up on the unit, causing it to stop working due to a significant drop in temperature, you may have financial support. If storm damage causes the condenser or outside units to have damage, that can also fall under some coverage.
Vandalism
Another instance in which you may have coverage may involve when vandalism occurs. Perhaps someone decided to tamper with your heating units or air conditioning system. A person breaks into the home and damages it, perhaps trying to salvage materials for other uses. Home insurance coverage with vandalism protection may help in this case.
Falling Trees
A tree falls onto your air conditioning unit. It creates significant damage to the structure. That component needs replacement. In this case, you may have some coverage. This can also cover an exterior heat pump that may suffer the damage.
Keep in mind that you may have some limitations here. If the tree fell as a result of a storm, coverage may apply. If you failed to care for the tree and a branch fell because it was dead, you may have some limitations in obtaining the claim.
For normal wear and tear, home insurance is not likely to help. However, in some cases, your agent can help you to file a claim. If you are unsure, call and verify the coverage you have.