The Risk of Malfunctioning AC Units in Rental Homes

ac units renters insurance

When summer arrives in Texas, most people rely heavily on their air conditioning. No one wants to see the HVAC system malfunction not only because of the discomfort it might cause, but also because of the potential damage risks. If the system in your rental home fails, then it poses risks not only to the property, but also to your possessions. The good news is, renters insurance might help you out in cases of catastrophic HVAC problems.

The Risks of Malfunctioning HVAC Systems

Your HVAC system provides heat, ventilation and air conditioning to your home (as the acronym suggests). However, it’s not there only for your own comfort. As an essential home system, it plays a role in the household’s stability and safety. HVAC failures could put homes and residents at risk of problems like:

Fire hazards

Mold growth
Air pollution
Personal health risks
Structural damage

Sometimes, you won’t even notice these problems until it is too late. However, once a unit falls through the ceiling, floods the home or causes a fire, the damage might spread quickly. And even though you rent a home, you stand to lose out.

Renters Insurance and HVAC Malfunctions

Your renters insurance might provide a couple of benefits following a problem in the A/C system. For example, your possessions coverage can help you replace belongings damaged in the incident. Living expenses insurance will help you pay if the damage is so severe that you can no longer live in the home.

In some cases, faulty maintenance or negligence by the residence’s owner might be the cause of the issue. As a result, you might be able to file a claim on that person’s landlord liability insurance. Coverage helps pay when tenant damage is the landlord’s fault. However, landlord liability coverage is not a substitute for renters insurance.

Still, it’s better to prevent problems with your HVAC unit than to wait until a problem starts. As the tenant, you can do your due diligence to look out for these problems in time to notify the landlord. Some issues that might signal a problem in the system include:

Failure to heat or cool properly.

Smoke coming through your vents.
Strange odors (chemical, electrical, burning).
Noises when the system starts or stops.
Failure to respond to thermostat adjustments.
Leaks around vents or the main unit.

When you notice a problem, immediately contact your landlord. It’s a good idea to turn off the system as well. Keep documentation of when you reported the problem and remain in contact with the landlord until someone comes to repair the system.

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