Find out if AC ductwork is covered under a home warranty. You don’t want to get stuck with expensive AC bills. Learn more.
Your home’s ductwork is a vital part of your AC system. In the summer, it keeps cool air from your air conditioner moving through your home, and in the winter, it keeps warm air from your furnace moving through your home. But, just as with any other of your home’s systems, your HVAC ductwork can develop problems.
In fact, many AC problems are caused by issues with ductwork. These issues aren’t covered by homeowner’s insurance, but if you have an American Home Shield® home warranty, we’ll pay some or all of the cost of fixing your AC ductwork.
When you get your HVAC tune-up, the technician does not inspect your HVAC ductwork. American Home Shield can help you get in touch with the right kind of service technician and come up with a plan to get you comfortable again if you think your ductwork is giving you trouble.
Your homeowners insurance won’t cover cleaning, repairing or replacing your ductwork. How does a home warranty cover AC units and ductwork? Your home warranty includes an air conditioner warranty that covers many parts of your AC unit and ductwork if they break or need to be fixed. The level of coverage depends on the type of unit you have.
However, many common types of AC units, including ducted package and central electric split units, are fully covered. Learn about the differences between home insurance and home warranty in our blog post.
In other words, if you think there are issues with your AC ductwork, you should call American Home Shield right away to set up a service call. If you don’t want to call, that’s okay — you can request service online, too. We’ll send a service technician from our network to look at the problem. Depending on what they find, your ductwork will either be fixed or replaced, and we’ll pay for it up to the limits of your plan. You’ll pay the trade service call fee as established by your plan tier.
A/C ductwork is very important to the health of you and your family as well as the air quality in your home, so it is important to keep it in good shape.
Inspect your ductwork yearly to identify possible problems. Look for dust or debris coming out of your registers. For a better look inside your ducts, take off the vent covers and use a flashlight to look around. Check for mold and mildew, as well as signs of an infestation, such as dead bugs or rodent droppings. Check for leaks on the outside of your ductwork, if and where it can be seen. If you find any, tape them up.
Most likely, you don’t need to have your ductwork cleaned unless it’s clogged, letting out too much dust and debris through the vents and registers, or you find signs of rodents, insects, mold, or mildew inside the ducts. To keep your ductwork clean, change your HVAC filters every one to six months. Change them more often if you have pets, or someone in your home has respiratory problems or allergies.
Your air conditioner cools the whole house. The outdoor compressor unit makes cold air, and the ductwork moves that air around the house to keep you cool and comfortable in the summer. But when problems arise, things can really start heating up. But if you have an American Home Shield home warranty, you don’t have to worry about your ductwork trouble. Compare plans today to choose the best one for your family’s needs.
AHS is not responsible for how you use any of the information on this page and specifically disclaims all liability.
Having properly functioning ductwork is essential for keeping your home’s heating and cooling system running efficiently But what happens if your ductwork gets damaged? Will your homeowners insurance policy cover the repairs?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain exactly what ductwork is, what can damage it, and most importantly – whether homeowners insurance will pay for ductwork repairs or replacement when the inevitable damage occurs.
What is Ductwork?
Ductwork refers to the sheets of metal and flexible plastic tubing that distribute heated or cooled air throughout your home. Most ductwork is located in crawlspaces, attics, and basements. The ducts connect to vents that allow air to flow into each room.
Ductwork is a critical component of your home’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. It allows your furnace and AC unit to heat or cool your home by circulating the air properly. Without functioning ducts, you’d have rooms that are way too hot or cold because the air isn’t getting where it needs to go.
What Can Damage Ductwork?
Ductwork is susceptible to several common hazards, including:
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Age and wear Ducts deteriorate over time especially if they haven’t been properly maintained. Old ductwork is prone to cracking, tearing, and collapsing.
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Rodents: Mice, rats, and squirrels love to chew through ductwork. Their sharp teeth easily puncture soft metal and plastic.
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Weather damage: Extreme weather like hail, high winds, ice, and snow can batter ducts located outside the home.
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Moisture: Dampness causes ducts to rust and degrade. Condensation buildup inside the ducts can also breed mold and bacteria.
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Poor installation: Ducts that aren’t properly installed or sealed tend to come apart at the seams. Improper insulation leads to sweating and moisture damage.
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Collapse: Over time, gravity takes its toll and causes ducts to sag. The added weight and stress lead to collapse. This is common in attic installations.
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Accidents: Ducts can be crushed and ruptured during remodeling projects or storage of heavy items on top of them. Car accidents and falling tree limbs can also damage exterior ductwork.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Ductwork?
The short answer is yes – standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage to ductwork caused by most hazards and accidents.
Specifically, your policy will pay for ductwork repairs or replacement when the damage stems from these covered causes of loss:
- Fire
- Lightning
- Windstorm
- Hail
- Explosion
- Riot
- Aircraft
- Smoke
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Falling objects
- Weight of ice and snow
- Electrical surge
Additionally, damage from frozen pipes, water leaks, and appliance malfunctions is covered under the water backup and overflow protection included in homeowners insurance.
For example, if a storm blows a tree onto your home and it crushes your ductwork, your policy would pay to repair or replace the damaged ducts. Or if the ducts are punctured by a rodent infestation, those damages would also be covered.
When Ductwork Damage Isn’t Covered
While homeowners insurance is great for covering sudden and accidental damage to ductwork, there are a few scenarios where your claim could be denied:
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Wear and tear: Gradual deterioration of ducts due to aging and normal use is excluded. Your insurance only covers damage from abrupt, accidental causes.
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Improper maintenance: If you fail to properly maintain your ducts and damage occurs as a result, your claim will likely be denied. Regular duct inspections and cleanings are your responsibility.
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Faulty installation or construction: Insurers won’t pay for damage caused by improper duct installation or other construction defects. That falls back on the builder or HVAC contractor.
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Pre-existing damage: Any duct damage that occurred before your policy term started or was already evident at the time you purchased the policy would be excluded as pre-existing damage.
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Freezing pipes: Burst ducts caused by failure to maintain adequate heat are not covered. You’re expected to keep your home heated to prevent frozen pipes and related damage.
The key is to differentiate between sudden damage from an unexpected covered cause vs. damage from long-term wear, faulty installation, or failure to perform maintenance. Homeowners policies only cover the former.
How Much Ductwork Coverage Do You Need?
Since ductwork damage is covered under standard homeowners insurance, you don’t need to purchase any extra coverage.
Repair and replacement costs for damaged ducts are paid out from your dwelling coverage limit, which equals the replacement cost of your entire home.
For example, if you have $200,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible, your policy would cover up to $199,000 for a major ductwork replacement project, minus your deductible.
The standard dwelling limits provided by most insurers are sufficient to fully repair or replace ductwork in homes of average value. But for large, custom, or high-end homes, increased dwelling coverage may be required to fully cover potential ductwork claims.
Tips for Insuring Your Ductwork
Here are a few tips to make sure your homeowners insurance has you covered in the event of damaged ductwork:
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Inspect ducts regularly: Check for leaks, blockages, and deterioration. Perform maintenance to prevent damage.
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Clean ducts annually: Hire an HVAC pro to deep clean your ducts and sanitise them for better indoor air quality.
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Seal ducts properly: Use mastic sealant on all duct joints and connections to prevent air leaks and moisture damage.
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Insulate ducts: Wrap ducts in insulation to reduce sweating, condensation, and energy loss.
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Provide enough coverage: Make sure your dwelling limits are sufficient to fully replace your home’s ductwork if needed.
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Review exclusions: Understand wear/tear and maintenance-related exclusions that could apply to ductwork.
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File claims promptly: Don’t delay filing a claim after sudden duct damage, like storm, water, or rodent damage occurs.
FAQs About Ductwork and Homeowners Insurance
Let’s recap the key points about homeowners insurance and ductwork:
Does homeowners insurance cover damage to ductwork?
Yes, homeowners insurance will cover damage to ductwork caused by most covered causes of loss. This includes fire, lightning, wind, hail, water damage, rodents, and more.
What damage is not covered?
Gradual wear and tear, deterioration due to lack of maintenance, faulty installation, and pre-existing damage are common exclusions. You must properly maintain your ducts.
Is additional ductwork coverage available?
No, ductwork is covered under standard dwelling limits, so extra coverage isn’t needed. But make sure your dwelling limits adequately cover a full duct replacement.
What can I do to protect my ductwork?
Regular duct inspection, cleaning and sealing, rodent-proofing, insulating exterior ducts, and filing claims promptly for sudden damage will all help safeguard your ductwork.
How are ductwork claims paid?
The cost to repair or replace damaged ducts is paid from your dwelling coverage, minus any deductible, up to your policy limits.
Does duct cleaning count as maintenance?
Yes, having your ducts professionally cleaned is considered a normal maintenance task that helps prevent duct damage and is required by insurers.
The Bottom Line
Properly functioning ductwork is essential for a home’s HVAC system and comfort. The good news is that homeowners insurance provides robust coverage for ductwork under standard dwelling limits. This covers damages stemming from most common accidents and hazards, minus exclusions for maintenance issues and wear and tear.
By understanding exactly how ductwork is covered, and implementing proactive maintenance steps, you can make sure your homeowners policy has you covered in the event your ducts are ever damaged.
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Find out if AC ductwork is covered under a home warranty. You don’t want to get stuck with expensive AC bills. Learn more.
Your home’s ductwork is a vital part of your AC system. In the summer, it keeps cool air from your air conditioner moving through your home, and in the winter, it keeps warm air from your furnace moving through your home. But, just as with any other of your home’s systems, your HVAC ductwork can develop problems.
In fact, many AC problems are caused by issues with ductwork. These issues aren’t covered by homeowner’s insurance, but if you have an American Home Shield® home warranty, we’ll pay some or all of the cost of fixing your AC ductwork.
Do You Have Problems with Your AC Ductwork?
When you get your HVAC tune-up, the technician does not inspect your HVAC ductwork. American Home Shield can help you get in touch with the right kind of service technician and come up with a plan to get you comfortable again if you think your ductwork is giving you trouble.
Some signs that you have problems with your AC ductwork include:
- Your home is stuffy, doesn’t have enough airflow, or has bad air circulation
- Some rooms are stuffy and hot, while others are cool or cold.
- Weird smells, which could be from mold or mildew growing in the ductwork or even rodents living (or dying) there.
- More allergies or other breathing problems, which could mean the air quality inside the house isn’t good
- HVAC filters getting clogged unusually quickly
- Popping, whistling, or cracking noises coming from the ducts
Your homeowners insurance won’t cover cleaning, repairing or replacing your ductwork. How does a home warranty cover AC units and ductwork? Your home warranty includes an air conditioner warranty that covers many parts of your AC unit and ductwork if they break or need to be fixed. The level of coverage depends on the type of unit you have.
However, many common types of AC units, including ducted package and central electric split units, are fully covered. Learn about the differences between home insurance and home warranty in our blog post.
In other words, if you think there are issues with your AC ductwork, you should call American Home Shield right away to set up a service call. If you don’t want to call, that’s okay — you can request service online, too. We’ll send a service technician from our network to look at the problem. Depending on what they find, your ductwork will either be fixed or replaced, and we’ll pay for it up to the limits of your plan. You’ll pay the trade service call fee as established by your plan tier.
Sounds like a plan. Find the warranty that fits you best. Zip Code
Protect Your AC Ductwork with Regular Maintenance
A/C ductwork is very important to the health of you and your family as well as the air quality in your home, so it is important to keep it in good shape.
Inspect your ductwork yearly to identify possible problems. Look for dust or debris coming out of your registers. For a better look inside your ducts, take off the vent covers and use a flashlight to look around. Check for mold and mildew, as well as signs of an infestation, such as dead bugs or rodent droppings. Check for leaks on the outside of your ductwork, if and where it can be seen. If you find any, tape them up.
Most likely, you don’t need to have your ductwork cleaned unless it’s clogged, letting out too much dust and debris through the vents and registers, or you find signs of rodents, insects, mold, or mildew inside the ducts. To keep your ductwork clean, change your HVAC filters every one to six months. Change them more often if you have pets, or someone in your home has respiratory problems or allergies.
Your air conditioner cools the whole house. The outdoor compressor unit makes cold air, and the ductwork moves that air around the house to keep you cool and comfortable in the summer. But when problems arise, things can really start heating up. But if you have an American Home Shield home warranty, you don’t have to worry about your ductwork trouble. Compare plans today to choose the best one for your family’s needs.
AHS is not responsible for how you use any of the information on this page and specifically disclaims all liability.