Business owners have a responsibility to ensure they are protecting that business to the full extent.
This is particularly true for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors because the risks associated with HVAC are substantial. These risks can include driving to and from job sites, potential damage to client property when installing a new heating or air-conditioning unit, and even a break-in of your work vehicle leading to the loss of important tools and materials.
If these risks are ignored, they can lead to serious financial, and even legal, repercussions for your business. If you are an HVAC contractor, it is important to have insurance that helps protect your HVAC business and the people associated, like employees and clients.
What types of insurance are important for HVAC Contractors?
There are many types of coverages HVAC contractors should consider. The following are some of the most important coverage types.
The first type of insurance is called commercial vehicle insurance. This insurance is crucial if you are traveling between job sites and hauling your equipment because your personal auto policy doesn’t cover your commercial use. If you are driving from one client’s house to the next and you are involved in an accident, only a commercial policy could cover any losses that happen as a result of that accident. You could be liable to pay out of pocket for damages caused in an accident if you were found at fault, even if the vehicle is titled in your name. Therefore, it is important to get a commercial policy protecting yourself, your business, and your employees.
The second type of insurance that can be beneficial to carry is general liability insurance. The general idea of general liability insurance is similar to vehicle insurance. When carrying this coverage, if certain things related to your business cause damage, whether that is property damage or bodily injury to a client, your general liability policy can help cover costs associated with some of these accidents. This type of insurance can also include potential “advertising” accidents such as a copyright infringement lawsuit.
The third insurance type and perhaps possibly one of the most important types of insurance for HVAC contractors is called, inland marine insurance. Inland marine insurance goes together with your commercial vehicle policy because it covers equipment you carry between job sites and helps pay for damages as a result of a covered accident. Depending on your policy, this can include things from entire air-conditioning units to cordless drills, pliers, wrenches, and other tools in your vehicle.
Don’t sacrifice everything you have worked to cultivate because you didn’t know what type of insurance you needed. Reach out to our team to get a free insurance quote today.