Do homeowners insurance cover AC units and potential leaks? An air conditioner leak is the last thing you want to deal with as a homeowner. In fact, AC leaks are one of the worst nightmares you can ever have.
What seems like a minor AC leak may lead to water damage that will result in costly repairs and lots of headaches. If there is a leak in your air conditioner, you might be left wondering if your homeowner’s insurance can be of any help to you.
Will your homeowners insurance policy cover AC leaks?
It is only understandable that you are wondering whether or not your homeowner’s insurance policy is going to cover air conditioner leaks. Well, the answer to this question is not really easy. This will actually depend on the specific policy that you have and what caused the damage to your AC unit.
Generally speaking, if the leak in your air conditioner is due to damages covered by your policy like damages from lightning strikes, vandalism, fire, or falling objects like trees, your homeowner’s insurance policy may offer coverage to get the damages fixed.
On the other hand, an AC leak that was brought about by the normal wear and tear of your unit will no longer be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. But, while you cannot expect the policy to pay for the unit’s repair, it might still pay for the repair of the water damage caused by the leak.
How to document claims for AC leaks
Documentation is crucial when filing claims for AC leaks. Proper and thorough documentation can spell the difference between settling for a low-balled claim and getting an accurate and fair claims settlement for the air conditioning leak. The documentation for the AC leak starts from the first time that you inform the insurance provider regarding the issue. It is recommended that you gather all possible evidence regarding the AC leak for you to build the correct file for a claim.
An expert air conditioner technician will be able to help your claim through diagnosis and documentation of the problem. The insurance company will request documentation coming from a professional since the coverage depends on the cause of the leak in your AC. Another best practice if you are dealing with an AC leak is to take photos or videos to document the damages. It is critical to record the damages brought about by the AC leak prior to starting any remediation or repairs.
This is also the time when it will help to hire the services of a public adjuster who can help you out in documenting the damages due to the AC leak. A public adjuster can also help you in filing a claim with the insurance company. Remember that public adjusters are claims professionals who work on behalf of the policyholders like yourself to ensure that you will receive a fair settlement for your claim. These professionals are experts in home repair and claims processes.
Always keep in mind that what takes place during the early stages of the claim can significantly affect the outcome. Public adjusters will be able to help you ensure that you submit the right documentation to the insurance provider and that the settlement is sufficient for repairing the damages brought about by the AC leak.
Air conditioner leaks are not always minor problems
Leaks in your air conditioner may end up damaging other parts of your house. AC systems usually run all throughout the year in most parts of the country. Wear and tear and constant use can result in a leak in your AC unit or other issues with the HVAC system.
Air conditioner leaks may come from various issues in the AC system. Deteriorating or cracked drain pans may leak. The condensation pans may malfunction and the condensation may cause leaks in the unit. The drain lines may also turn loose and get disconnected from the unit that can cause an AC leak. More often than not, the evaporator coils may freeze from the air conditioning unit as it works to retain a cooler temperature. Finally, the drain lines may get clogged that can result in the buildup and ultimately a leak in the AC unit.
Air conditioner leaks and water damage
If your home has water damage, it is not always easy to identify the source. Water can move around and most of the time, the signs of damage are not anywhere close to the origin of the leak. If you think that there is an AC leak, you might want to call an HVAC expert to help you to pinpoint the leak’s source.
When you are dealing with AC leaks, water damage usually shows up in other parts of the house and doesn’t remain confined to the location of your AC unit. Water tends to follow paths with the least resistance. Usually, an AC leak may show water damage in other parts of your house such as dining rooms, closet spaces, living areas, bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Any wall or area in the home that is in contact with the AC unit may suffer from water damages because of the AC leak.
How to discover AC leaks
AC leak insurance claims tend to be stressful and complicated. Homeowners must make important decisions and make themselves familiar with the different parts of their house that they probably didn’t give much thought and attention to before. AC leaks can include repairs to damages to walls, ceilings, drywall, flooring, insulation, and baseboards.
What may appear to be a simple AC leak may end causing serious and extensive damages and most homeowners may require the assistance of their insurance provider. Claims for AC leaks don’t just stop with the places with water damage. There is still a need for homeowners to deal with other problems connected to the AC leak itself.
Common issues may include identifying the leak’s source in the unit and getting rid of the water both from the surrounding area and the AC unit.
Can we use ac when water is leaking?
Dr Geoffrey Clements, Natural Law party
