Privacy & Security Protected Whether or not your HVAC is covered by your homeowner's policy depends on what is wrong. If the unit was damaged or destroyed by one of the named perils in your home insurance policy, it is probably going to be covered. If it simply stopped working for apparent reason, then you are probably going to have to pay for the repairs out of pocket. Insurance is not meant to pay for the repair or replacement of personal property for any reason, only for reasons covered by the policy. You can still try to submit a claim, but don't be surprised if it gets denied. There is a huge difference between a damaged HVAC and one that is nonfunctional, in the eyes of the insurance company. Typically, the working status of your household appliances is covered under a home warranty, not by your homeowners insurance. Home warranties are special kind of insurance that guarantees your appliances for the period of time listed in the policy, while home insurance is limited to protecting you against lost or failed appliances in the event of a covered peril.

In the first case, appliances will break down and need to be repaired, while the second case is reserved for things such as fire, wind storms and other perils named specifically in your homeowners policy. One example would be where the compressor on your HVAC unit goes out. While this could lead to some uncomfortable evenings, and it does lower the value of the home, the HVAC unit is not considered a necessary appliance for being able to live in the home. If the HVAC is not covered under a regular warranty and you did not purchase a home warranty when you bought the home, then you will need to find and pay a contractor out of pocket to get the compressor replaced or repaired. If you believe that the HVAC unit should be covered under your home insurance, contact your insurance agent and find out. If it is covered, the insurance company can tell you how to proceed. If it is not covered, the insurance will tell you so. The same information is available in your policy, so be sure to start there, looking for specific exclusions to home appliances.

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Only if the loss is a sudden accident will homeowners insurance pay. When they do, homeowners insurance usually pay. When appliances in the home wear out, homeowners insurance does not pay. This general rule applies to furnaces and air conditioning units. The reason for replacement dictates whether insurance companies pay claims. Insurance pays when a tree falls in a storm and strikes an outdoor unit. Insurance does not pay when the same unit stops working after 10 years. combination air conditioner and heater window unitTypical Homeowners Insurance Insurance companies offer three standard homeowners insurance policies known as HO-1, HO-2 and HO-3. HO-1, which is seldom used, is a basic policy covering 11 perils such as fire, windstorm and theft. The typical policy is either HO-2, which covers the same 11 perils plus 7 more, or HO-3, which covers most perils including those 18. Both provide the same coverage, or non-coverage, for furnaces and air conditioning units.

Wear and Tear Wear-and-tear does not make the list of perils covered under the typical homeowners insurance policy. Furnaces and air conditioning units wear out. Constant use of the parts leads to unit failure. Parts must be replaced, and eventually so does the unit. Homeowners insurance does not pay for these losses. Accidents An outdoor unit like a heat pump is susceptible to wind and storm damage which is among the listed perils of a homeowners insurance policy. Besides fallen trees, high winds toss objects through the air and tear parts of a home loose. Any of these striking the unit could damage it too much to be repaired. The homeowner would be entitled to a new heat pump. Sudden Occurrences Homeowners insurance pays when pipes freeze. If this happens to a furnace or air conditioning unit, the homeowner has a valid claim. Electrical surges, a covered peril, damage wiring which could require the replacement of a furnace or air conditioning unit. Another covered peril is the sudden cracking or breakup of hot water pipes.

That occurrence could lead to a new furnace. Alternatives An alternative, or more precisely, additional coverage for a homeowner involves buying equipment breakdown coverage. This policy covers the gap in homeowners insurance for general wear and tear. Furnaces and air conditioning units, among other items, are specifically covered. The policy covers repairs if feasible to keep the unit operational. It also pays to replace the unit if the repair costs exceed the reasonable value. : Home Insurance BasicsLiberty Mutual Insurance: Home Insurance CoveragesAmPmInsure: Water Leak Damage: Will You Be Covered? Should I cover my air conditioner for winter? It's difficult to find an appropriate cover, but finding a cover for an evaporation cooler is easy (and because they allow for air flow from the outdoors, it makes sense). See this answer for things to do before winter hits, where it's not clear whether an air conditioner should be covered or not. I don't want to let water build up inside and given my climate, it will freeze and thaw repeatedly which can be very damaging.

On the other hand, I don't want to create a moisture barrier that leads to other problems. Any official word on this? I have never covered mine and this article also seems to recommend not covering it: Your central air conditioning unit consists of a compressor and condensing unit placed outdoors in aThese units, built to resist the weather, generally do notIn fact, covers can cause problems because they trap moisture and create an inviting winter home for small animals. Professionals who service the units tell me that most of the damage they see in spring was caused by rodents living in the units and chewing on If your air conditioner is subject to falling ice or other debris, you could cover its top with a piece of plywood, plastic or metal held in place by a They make a great point that a cover would provide a perfect winter home for animals which would cause damage to your air conditioner.

I cover mine in the winter using a single unopened trash bag and some duct tape. The bag is the right size to cover just the top and not much of the sides. This allows ventilation on the sides while keeping snow and ice from entering from above. With the duct tape, it's just a strip down each corner and then I run a band of tape around the perimeter of the bag to reduce the risk of it blowing away. I think the important tip that Jeff's link mentions is to not completely seal the unit, but simply prevent damage from above. Most people who advocate covering mention that debris, ice, and snow can get into your air conditioner in the winter if it's not covered. Plus it'll end up more weather-beaten if left uncovered. Never covered mine in the 31 years I've had it and I live-in upstate New York--brutal winters. no need to cover it.It's designed to be outdoors.Around here there's more damage done in the spring with the cotton wood seeds plugging the condenser. It is good to cover the top 1/4 to 1/2 of the air conditioner.