Why Standard Liability Insurance Isn’t Enough
for HVAC and Plumbing Contractors

You’ve got insurance—but does it actually cover what you do for a living?

If you’re in HVAC or plumbing, you’ve probably got general liability insurance. Great start! It’s like having a hammer on your toolbelt—essential, but not much help when you need a pipe wrench.

Here’s the deal: standard liability coverage is designed to protect your business from common claims like property damage or bodily injury. But what about your tools? Your trucks? Your team? Your temperamental mini-split that might leak coolant onto a $12,000 hardwood floor?

Let’s walk through why basic coverage isn’t cutting it—and what your policy really needs.

Your general liability policy isn’t going to save the day when someone breaks into your work van and walks off with $15,000 worth of tools.
Solution: You need inland marine (yep, that again). It covers tools and equipment while they’re on the go or parked at a job site. Think of it as insurance that actually understands your Tuesday.

Let’s say you finish an install, everything looks great, but two weeks later the client calls about a leak… and it turns out something wasn’t sealed right.
If your policy excludes “completed operations,” that claim might not be covered. That’s a huge gap if you install or repair anything that could later go haywire.
Solution: Add completed operations coverage to your liability policy.

Whether it’s refrigerant, cleaning chemicals, or even sewer line backups, pollution is part of the gig. But many general liability policies exclude all pollution-related claims. Solution: Consider a contractor’s pollution liability endorsement. It’s not just for big industrial jobs—small leaks can cause big lawsuits.

This one’s straightforward: general liability doesn’t cover your employees. So when Joe drops a water heater on his foot, your general liability policy won’t help.
Solution: You need workers’ compensation. Period. Even if Joe’s your cousin.

Using your pickup to haul equipment? If it’s insured under a personal auto policy, don’t expect coverage when something goes wrong on a job.
Solution: A commercial auto policy is built for work use—and the claims that come with it.

You wouldn’t fix an HVAC unit with a butter knife—so don’t protect your business with a one-size-fits-all insurance plan. Let’s get you covered like a well-wrapped pipe in winter.

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