Insurance/ AC

[skipperDawg]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

If you have that insurance that claims to be a decent neighbor, don’t waste your time. It will only cause more frustration. Also, change insurance providers asap.

 

[GloryDawg]

Call your agent and asked him does lighting strike on HAVAC covered. If he says yes put in a claim. Hell, why have insurance if you not going to use it.

 

[patdog]

Could lightning make the unit go out a week later? What does your A/C contractor say about the old unit? How old was it?

 

[mstateglfr]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

Did the storms cause the damage?
...I wouldnt try top claim thunder caused damage because that isnt how reality works.
But if lightning hit your AC unit or struck something and fried the unit, its certainly worth opening a claim. If it isnt covered, it will be closed quickly and you arent out anything.

 

[MStateU]

Did the storms cause the damage?
...I wouldnt try top claim thunder caused damage because that isnt how reality works.
But if lightning hit your AC unit or struck something and fried the unit, its certainly worth opening a claim. If it isnt covered, it will be closed quickly and you arent out anything.

You've been.......

THUNDERSTRUCK!!!!!

 

[horshack.sixpack]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

I had a number of things that legit got zapped by lightning years ago, and insurance replaced them.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Could lightning make the unit go out a week later? What does your A/C contractor say about the old unit? How old was it?

Yes.

 

[00Dawg]

We lost an oven, a microwave, and a garage door opener over 72 hours following a storm. Electrical surges can definitely take a while to fully show their impact.

 

[johnson86-1]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

No experience with the insurance issue, but definitely get another quote. My quotes last time I replaced a system ranged from $6k to $13k I think. The ones heavy on advertising seem to have figured out people have no clue how much a new unit should cost and that it makes more sense to spend on advertising and mark their prices up 100%.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Call your agent and asked him does lighting strike on HAVAC covered. If he says yes put in a claim. Hell, why have insurance if you not going to use it.

Heating Alcohol, Ventilation & Air Conditioning?

 

[Bowdawg]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

We have replaced two of the 3 units on our house in Louisiana in the past 3 yrs. It wasn’t insurance but we had American Homesheild. One unit ran around $10k and we paid $5,600. The other was around $8,500 and we $3,700. They can be a pain because the processing is slow but I will take he savings we got. We also replaced two tankless water heaters in the same period and had around the same type savings.

 

[DerHntr]

We have replaced two of the 3 units on our house in Louisiana in the past 3 yrs. It wasn’t insurance but we had American Homesheild. One unit ran around $10k and we paid $5,600. The other was around $8,500 and we $3,700. They can be a pain because the processing is slow but I will take he savings we got. We also replaced two tankless water heaters in the same period and had around the same type savings.

I’m glad it worked for you, but that’s a part of the insurance/warranty industry that I’d like to see burned to ground. They are some of the worst companies in the country.

 

[GloryDawg]

Heating Alcohol, Ventilation & Air Conditioning?

The A is for *** because you need it covered when HVAC goes out in the Summer.

 

[Predestined]

Did the storms cause the damage?
...I wouldnt try top claim thunder caused damage because that isnt how reality works.
But if lightning hit your AC unit or struck something and fried the unit, its certainly worth opening a claim. If it isnt covered, it will be closed quickly and you arent out anything.

UH, have you never heard "Thunderstruck"?

You've been.......

THUNDERSTRUCK!!!!!

glad I checked the rest of the posts before hitting POST REPLY. Hate to be a repeater.

PS You're demented.

 

[Bowdawg]

I’m glad it worked for you, but that’s a part of the insurance/warranty industry that I’d like to see burned to ground. They are some of the worst companies in the country.

Oh I agree. I wouldn’t have purchased it myself but we knew when we bought the house one unit potentially on its last leg. The condition of the purchase the seller had to pay for 2 yrs of the top tier warranty plan. We cancelled it as soon as their portion of the contract was done.

 

[Predestined]

We have replaced two of the 3 units on our house in Louisiana in the past 3 yrs. It wasn’t insurance but we had American Homesheild. One unit ran around $10k and we paid $5,600. The other was around $8,500 and we $3,700. They can be a pain because the processing is slow but I will take he savings we got. We also replaced two tankless water heaters in the same period and had around the same type savings.

Interesting how long did it take? We are on week three of waiting for a coil for the main part of the house. Hired someone to come look at the other side which went down yesterday and they fixed it, and said they could get a coil and install tomorrow. American's contractor told us today be at least one more week.

made up the premium for a year o the tankless heater that died last month, though still had to pay almost 1000 for upgrades to the twenty year old system which naturally weren't covered.

 

[DerHntr]

Interesting how long did it take? We are on week three of waiting for a coil for the main part of the house. Hired someone to come look at the other side which went down yesterday and they fixed it, and said they could get a coil and install tomorrow. American's contractor told us today be at least one more week.

made up the premium for a year o the tankless heater that died last month, though still had to pay almost 1000 for upgrades to the twenty year old system which naturally weren't covered.

My elderly parents waited nearly 2.5 months in the MS summer 2 years ago for those scumbags to get anything done. It was a constant circle jerk to talk to a human. Finally, dad gave in and took their $1800 offer to find his own contractor to have it replaced. He was waiting for their contractor to do the work. Jokes on them. When a legit contractor came in (the warranty company sent a moron), he realized it was just some faulty old wiring. So, dad got $1800 and paid the contractor $200. He also immediately cancelled that BS.

ETA: I think that was the offer. I know it was under 2 grand.

 

[Buddy324]

Had my A/C replaced last week…replaced the whole system including the furnace and inside coils. $9200 for a 5 ton unit.

 

[Bowdawg]

Interesting how long did it take? We are on week three of waiting for a coil for the main part of the house. Hired someone to come look at the other side which went down yesterday and they fixed it, and said they could get a coil and install tomorrow. American's contractor told us today be at least one more week.

made up the premium for a year o the tankless heater that died last month, though still had to pay almost 1000 for upgrades to the twenty year old system which naturally weren't covered.

Oh we weren’t happy with the time. It was terrible. Our first one went out in the game room and my office above the garage. It took about 2 months. That was in April. We had a month all good then The second unit went out in July in the master, my wife’s office and our 10 month olds room. It was September when they got it fixed. Then they installed a pipe backwards so it went out again 2 weeks later. Burned up the entire new unit. Took another 2 months to get that fixed. Not sustainable in the Louisiana heat. We had 3 separate portable air conditioners, vented out the windows, running non stop just to be able stay on that side of the house. Pretty damn awful.

 

[DerHntr]

Oh we weren’t happy with the time. It was terrible. Our first one went out in the game room and my office above the garage. It took about 2 months. That was in April. We had a month all good then The second unit went out in July in the master, my wife’s office and our 10 month olds room. It was September when they got it fixed. Then they installed a pipe backwards so it went out again 2 weeks later. Burned up the entire new unit. Took another 2 months to get that fixed. Not sustainable in the Louisiana heat. We had 3 separate portable air conditioners, vented out the windows, running non stop just to be able stay on that side of the house. Pretty damn awful.

This is the crap I’m talking about with these companies. I hate yall dealt with that.

 

[WrapItDog]

In the 90s the home owners insurance industry would have your AC contractor fill out a lightning affidavit stating the AC unit was damaged by lightning. HO insurance would then pay for a replacement AC. Much fraud occurred.

Now days the insurance co will send out an independent AC expert to preform an autopsy on your AC unit to determine the cause of death. I would guess their payout on AC units damaged by lightning dropped about 90%.

 

[mcdawg22]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

Aren’t you on the coast too? I do not claim anything I don’t need to claim in fear they are gonna drop me and I’m gonna be stuck with someone charging me double. I don’t know if Alabama is as bad as Florida though.

 

[patdog]

Oh we weren’t happy with the time. It was terrible. Our first one went out in the game room and my office above the garage. It took about 2 months. That was in April. We had a month all good then The second unit went out in July in the master, my wife’s office and our 10 month olds room. It was September when they got it fixed. Then they installed a pipe backwards so it went out again 2 weeks later. Burned up the entire new unit. Took another 2 months to get that fixed. Not sustainable in the Louisiana heat. We had 3 separate portable air conditioners, vented out the windows, running non stop just to be able stay on that side of the house. Pretty damn awful.

Former coworker & friend had a similar experience on the time. Took nearly a month to replace a unit that went out mid summer. Fortunately they had relatives they could stay with.

 

[FormerBully]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

How big is your unit? I replaced the system at my old house about three years ago with help from a friend who was an HVAC technician. The 3.5-ton unit cost me around $3,500, and I paid him $500 to install it.

I would definitely get at least three quotes. Personally, if I knew a qualified HVAC technician who did side work, I would ask what he would charge to handle it over a weekend. You may also be able to purchase the equipment directly through a local supply house, although some will only sell to licensed contractors.

One thing I learned working on the commercial side of the HVAC business is that residential HVAC pricing can carry some extremely high markups. That does not mean every company is ripping people off, but a lot of companies have under the table agreements to keep pricing high.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

How big is your unit?

 

[dawgstudent]

I'm curious of how this ends up.

 

[DenisThatcher]

I had this exact scenario occur back in May on a Sunday morning. It was a no-doubter, flash, bang boom all at the same time. It took out the outside AC unit, pool control board, salt chlorinator, pool vac, GFCI plug. Allstate investigated the lighting claim by checking the weather history for lighting strikes, so time up your lighting strike online before making the claim. I have an AC buddy that got them on the phone and showed them the burned up components, so I got new unit. They didn't send a investigator.

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

No experience with the insurance issue, but definitely get another quote. My quotes last time I replaced a system ranged from $6k to $13k I think. The ones heavy on advertising seem to have figured out people have no clue how much a new unit should cost and that it makes more sense to spend on advertising and mark their prices up 100%.

This. Quotes can vary by 1000's for the same equipment. If you are replacing just the condenser unit it should run you $3K - $5K based on size. A complete cool + furnace should be $5K - $10K. So shop around.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

We have four 6-ton units in our house. Hope like hell they do not all go out at once.

 

[johnson86-1]

We have four 6-ton units in our house. Hope like hell they do not all go out at once.

WTF? You have like an 12,000 sq ft house? Or just a really old one with no insulation?

 

[aTotal360]

 

[horshack.sixpack]

How big is your unit? I replaced the system at my old house about three years ago with help from a friend who was an HVAC technician. The 3.5-ton unit cost me around $3,500, and I paid him $500 to install it.

I would definitely get at least three quotes. Personally, if I knew a qualified HVAC technician who did side work, I would ask what he would charge to handle it over a weekend. You may also be able to purchase the equipment directly through a local supply house, although some will only sell to licensed contractors.

One thing I learned working on the commercial side of the HVAC business is that residential HVAC pricing can carry some extremely high markups. That does not mean every company is ripping people off, but a lot of companies have under the table agreements to keep pricing high.

 

[vhdawg]

My elderly parents waited nearly 2.5 months in the MS summer 2 years ago for those scumbags to get anything done. It was a constant circle jerk to talk to a human. Finally, dad gave in and took their $1800 offer to find his own contractor to have it replaced. He was waiting for their contractor to do the work. Jokes on them. When a legit contractor came in (the warranty company sent a moron), he realized it was just some faulty old wiring. So, dad got $1800 and paid the contractor $200. He also immediately cancelled that BS.

ETA: I think that was the offer. I know it was under 2 grand.

When we listed our old house for sale we put it under a home warranty during listing. Week or so later I was taking a shower and water started backing up in the tub....called the home warranty (I think it was American, but I'm not 100% certain) and they sent Draingo out, who opened up the cleanout, looked in it (using only their eyeballs), and then proclaimed we had roots and would need to replace the sewer line all the way to the street for several thousand dollars, and since it wasn't under the slab, it wouldn't be covered by the warranty.

We left and went to Chick-fil-A kids night to decompress after that and I think we ran into DS who recommended another plumbing company, who came out the next day, actually ran a camera, said the problem was at the cleanout t-joint, and had it fixed an hour later for only a few hundred.

Moral of the story: Just say no to Draingo.

Also on our current house we called them for the AC cycling when we first moved in and they sent some idiot who just cut the wires to the temperature sensor on the AC. Never again. I'd rather pay more for competent people.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

WTF? You have like an 12,000 sq ft house? Or just a really old one with no insulation?

Nah

 

[fedxdog]

my irrigation system was hit by lightening. My electrician installed surge protectors in my electrical panels which I hope will prevent future major issues...about $300 each.

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

AC went out about four days ago. Getting the whole shebang replaced for about $13,000.
We had terrible storms with lightning and thunder the week before. My friend suggested I turned this into Insurance and they would probably pay some on it. Anyone ever had any experience with this?

Yes, my homeowners insurance covered my unit under these same circumstances.