HVAC insurance questions, answered

At minimum, general liability. Once you hire, add workers' comp (required in most states), and once you drive for work, commercial auto. Your state license or a contract may require specific limits, so check those first.

Usually not. Most GL policies exclude damage to the specific property you're working on and to your own work. An installation floater is built for the new equipment until it's accepted.

That's what completed operations coverage, part of most general liability policies, is for: damage that traces back to work you've already closed out. Limits and exclusions vary, so check yours.

Often not by general liability, because of pollution exclusions. Contractors pollution liability is designed for many of those exposures. Whether a specific leak is covered depends on the policy wording and the facts.

Commercial auto usually covers the van, not the tools inside it. Tools coverage (inland marine) is designed for that loss, often with conditions such as signs of forced entry.

What you pay depends on your payroll by class code, your annual revenue, your mix of installation and service work, residential versus commercial jobs, the vans you run, your claims history and the limits you pick. See our cost guide for published ranges.

Three common reasons: the payroll you really ran beat the estimate on the policy, the auditor moved some payroll into a pricier class, or subs without their own coverage got counted as your employees. Our comp audit guide explains how to avoid it.

Sometimes. A business owner's policy or placing several policies with one carrier can help, but it isn't always cheaper or a better fit. We compare both ways.

In some states, yes. Several states require proof of liability insurance, a bond or workers' comp to issue or renew an HVAC or mechanical license; others license locally. Check our license requirements guide and your state's page.

Yes, if they work on refrigerant circuits. EPA rules say technicians who open systems that could leak refrigerant into the air must hold Section 608 certification for that type of equipment. See our EPA 608 guide for what it means for your shop.

In most cases, yes, by endorsement to your general liability policy. The exact wording matters, so send the contract's insurance section when you request the certificate. More on certificates

No. The carrier that issues your policy pays claims. We're the independent agency in between: we compare carriers, place your coverage and help you service it.

Expect a licensed agent to reach out within one business day (requests sent on a weekend are answered the following Monday).

If you're already a client and the certificate is for coverage you have now, yes. Brand-new policies and new endorsements take longer.

We're licensed in 28 states. See the state list to check yours.