Insurance for air-conditioning and HVAC contractors

Air-conditioning businesses can combine public liability, completed-work, property, tools, vehicles and contractual exposures. We can assist contractors involved in residential, commercial and industrial installation, servicing, maintenance, ducting, refrigeration and HVAC work, subject to insurer appetite.

Why some HVAC risks are harder to place

Insurers may focus on the size and type of projects, work at heights, roof access, hot work, refrigerant work, electrical connections, subcontractor use, shopping centres, industrial sites, hospitals, data centres and other higher-risk locations. Large commercial contracts or work involving critical plant can materially change insurer appetite.

Public liability and completed operations

Liability insurance is often central to an HVAC program. Insurers may consider accidental property damage, personal injury allegations and completed-work exposures after installation or servicing. The scope of work, maximum contract size and any design or specification responsibility should be clearly disclosed.

Tools, vehicles and equipment

Depending on the business, insurance may also be relevant for tools, portable equipment, stock, vehicles, plant and goods in transit. Businesses holding significant air-conditioning units or components should consider maximum stock values and storage locations.

Information insurers commonly request

Useful information includes annual turnover, split of installation and service work, residential versus commercial work, maximum contract value, largest project, height exposure, hot work, subcontractor costs, electrical work, refrigeration work, work locations, claims history and any design or professional services.

Policy scope and exclusions to review

Check work at height, commercial and residential activities, subcontractors, hot work, damage to property being worked on and completed operations. Rectifying faulty work, assumed contractual obligations and equipment under installation can require separate review.

Air conditioning installers: insurance questions

Does public liability cover design errors?

Public liability and professional indemnity cover different exposures. Advice, design, specification or certification may need professional indemnity consideration. We review whether your declared activities include those services or installation to another party’s design.

What information helps with a quotation?

Turnover split by installation, servicing and repair; project types and maximum heights; design or specification services; subcontractor payments; equipment in transit or under installation; tools; and losses.

Can Mercantile review cover after a claim or non-renewal?

We can assess the current operations, loss history, reason for non-renewal and available insurance markets. An alternative quotation or equivalent terms cannot be guaranteed. Include the current schedule, endorsements and claims details with your enquiry.

Request an insurance review or read about insurance after claims or non-renewal. Cover depends on insurer acceptance and the policy wording, schedule, endorsements, limits and excesses.

How Mercantile can assist

We present the actual contracting activities to insurers and can approach markets that consider more complex contractor risks. Cover remains subject to underwriting and the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and deductibles offered.

General insurance information only. This page does not provide electrical, refrigeration, building, contractual or legal advice.