Is AC pan overflow ceiling damage usually covered by insurance?

[lokiju]

My AC overflow drain pan overflowed tonight and destroyed my ceiling in my guest room. The sheet board/Dry wall is about to fall off and all the insulation is soaked.

We called our home owners insurance company but of course since it's the weekend the call center told us a claim will be made and the soonest someone will be out here is Monday, which sucks.

We took a ton of pictures, got the wet/dry shop vac up there and sucked up all the water we could, bagged up all the wet insulation and stuck a box fan up there to dry things out.

I sucked out the drain pipe on the outside and blew it out with my compressor also.

I was wondering if any other home owners on here have had the same thing happen before and what happened with the home owners insurance?

Was it covered?

Did it take a long time to get the repairs done?

Is there any tips or advice you can share?

 

[dartworth]

It should be covered...

as far as getting repairs done and a time line, that all depends on your insurance company and contractor

 

[Evadman]

Was it covered?

Yes

Did it take a long time to get the repairs done?

No

Is there any tips or advice you can share?

Don't let your A/C pain drain clog.

 

[bctbct]

insurance water claim- bad idea.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: bctbct
insurance water claim- bad idea.

How so? Our homeowners covered ceiling damage and new attic insulation when the roofer left our roof uncovered.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: bctbct
insurance water claim- bad idea.

How so? Our homeowners covered ceiling damage and new attic insulation when the roofer left our roof uncovered.

I should have said minor water damage. Mold is a big issue for insurers these days. I also tend to think they may deny the claim for improper maint. and the damage may not be more than his deductible.

Why did your HO cover a contractors neglect?

 

[OdiN]

Not putting A/C on the roof FTW!

 

[mugs]

Doesn't seem like it'd be worth making a claim on your homeowner's insurance... how much drywall was damaged? You could probably repair it all by yourself for less than $100.

 

[Squisher]

There are many alarms out there that are tripped by the presence of water. It might be a good idea to install one up there.

I have one in a second floor laundry that shuts off the water to the clothes washer and sounds an alarm if the washer overflows.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Squisher
There are many alarms out there that are tripped by the presence of water. It might be a good idea to install one up there.

I have one in a second floor laundry that shuts off the water to the clothes washer and sounds an alarm if the washer overflows.

I should add that I do have a floater sensor in the secondary drip pan and apparently it's either defective or wired wrong.

I did some testing with it last night and lifted up the floater piece and it did nothing to cut the AC off.


I'm going to go to Home Depot today and buy a replacement sensor and also look for an alarm as well.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: mugs
Doesn't seem like it'd be worth making a claim on your homeowner's insurance... how much drywall was damaged? You could probably repair it all by yourself for less than $100.

It's probably two full sheets in the ceiling that are going to have to be replaced.

It also dripped down the inside of the wall so that will need to be ripped open and repaired.

It also soaked into the door to the guest room and caused damage, so that'll need to be replaced also.

I'm worried about mold for one thing and I'm not sure I have the skills required to replace drywall on the ceiling and make it look seamless.

I just checked up there this morning after having the AC run all night and it's dry as a bone, so it looks like I got the clog fixed.

I had the box fan running all night also up there and everything else seems to be pretty well dried out, which is good.

I wonder if there's something I can spray on everything that got wet to reduce the chances of mold and mildew from growing?

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: lokiju
I wonder if there's something I can spray on everything that got wet to reduce the chances of mold and mildew from growing?

Inside, in a living space

Outside, probably not for you

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: mugs
Doesn't seem like it'd be worth making a claim on your homeowner's insurance... how much drywall was damaged? You could probably repair it all by yourself for less than $100.

It's probably two full sheets in the ceiling that are going to have to be replaced.

It also dripped down the inside of the wall so that will need to be ripped open and repaired.

It also soaked into the door to the guest room and caused damage, so that'll need to be replaced also.

I'm worried about mold for one thing and I'm not sure I have the skills required to replace drywall on the ceiling and make it look seamless.

I just checked up there this morning after having the AC run all night and it's dry as a bone, so it looks like I got the clog fixed.

I had the box fan running all night also up there and everything else seems to be pretty well dried out, which is good.

I wonder if there's something I can spray on everything that got wet to reduce the chances of mold and mildew from growing?

Bleach and water solution sprayed will keep mold from growing, but you'll need to make sure it doesn't get on everything else.

As for insurance, what is your deductible (pardon me if it's already been posted)? If you have a large enough deductible, it won't be worth a claim unless you can guarantee that your rates won't go up because of the claim (and they tend to raise the rate after a claim).

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Bleach and water solution sprayed will keep mold from growing, but you'll need to make sure it doesn't get on everything else.

As I understand it, although bleach will kill mold, during its "death by bleach" mold will release a multitude of spores to await some moisture so it can spring back to life.

 

[skywhr]

if you want it to be

 

[BUTCH1]

I make it a point to suck out the drain pan at the start of the AC season, A lot of
nasties can easily clog the condensation PVC..

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: bctbct
insurance water claim- bad idea.

How so? Our homeowners covered ceiling damage and new attic insulation when the roofer left our roof uncovered.

I should have said minor water damage. Mold is a big issue for insurers these days. I also tend to think they may deny the claim for improper maint. and the damage may not be more than his deductible.

Why did your HO cover a contractors neglect?

Bolded was what I was thinking.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
I make it a point to suck out the drain pan at the start of the AC season, A lot of
nasties can easily clog the condensation PVC..

that's a smart thing, make sure you refill the drain line with some water. However, the drain from the unit to the pan can also get a ton of nasties. Have to go to the unit to clean this one. Along with the drain tracks of the coils inside can also grow stuff that exterior flushing never reaches.

A good attic inspection once a year is a smart move.

 

[Eli]

You shouldn't need to spray anything anywhere to keep mold from growing. The box fan was a good call. I would keep it running for another couple of days even if everything looks dry.

Mold only grows where there is moisture. If you eliminate it, no mold will grow.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: bctbct
insurance water claim- bad idea.

How so? Our homeowners covered ceiling damage and new attic insulation when the roofer left our roof uncovered.

I should have said minor water damage. Mold is a big issue for insurers these days. I also tend to think they may deny the claim for improper maint. and the damage may not be more than his deductible.

Why did your HO cover a contractors neglect?

Bolded was what I was thinking.

Hmm, that could be very hard to prove. If the pan was all rusted out and the water leaked through the holes, maybe.

Besides, with such a small claim this seems to be, I would bet it'd be cheaper for the insurer to cover it, keep on good terms with their customer and move on.

How long has the area been wet? (Might have been covered already)

Mold spores are everywhere in the air. The problem is when they have a warm, moist/humid environment to grow in that they can become a problem. Eliminate the moisture and you won't have a problem.

If you can get it dry within 48-72 hours you shouldn't have a problem.

If you do find mold, get some BIN (comes in a gallon container or a spray can) and just cover the area. That will seal in anything that is growing and prevent it from being a problem.

 

[NoShangriLa]

I wouldn't go with insurance for such a simple fix.

Make sure the drain isn't plug and/or failed pump if there is one. Pump float tend to be water logged over time, or the contact fail.

Cut out replace dry wall if it is sagged or moldy, throw out the wet insulation and replace with new insulation.

Good luck!

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Squisher
There are many alarms out there that are tripped by the presence of water. It might be a good idea to install one up there.

I have one in a second floor laundry that shuts off the water to the clothes washer and sounds an alarm if the washer overflows.

I should add that I do have a floater sensor in the secondary drip pan and apparently it's either defective or wired wrong.

I did some testing with it last night and lifted up the floater piece and it did nothing to cut the AC off.


I'm going to go to Home Depot today and buy a replacement sensor and also look for an alarm as well.

Sensor fail all the time and should be test every 6 months, other wise it will give home owner a false sense of security. And, the float is design to start the pump when water reach a certain level instead of shut power off to the AC.

Best security is to educate yourself with the appliances that you own, and regular check/maintenance will reduce repair/disaster.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Eli
You shouldn't need to spray anything anywhere to keep mold from growing. The box fan was a good call. I would keep it running for another couple of days even if everything looks dry.

Mold only grows where there is moisture. If you eliminate it, no mold will grow.

good luck with that between layers of building material.

Sort of like carrying a battery on your passenger floor unsecured or containered.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Eli
You shouldn't need to spray anything anywhere to keep mold from growing. The box fan was a good call. I would keep it running for another couple of days even if everything looks dry.

Mold only grows where there is moisture. If you eliminate it, no mold will grow.

good luck with that between layers of building material.

Sort of like carrying a battery on your passenger floor unsecured or containered.

If the mold area is minor then bleach or hydrogen peroxide can be use to clean the area, however the ceiling over a garage that contain living space above tend to be double drywalled that seal in the mold where you can't get a it.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Eli
You shouldn't need to spray anything anywhere to keep mold from growing. The box fan was a good call. I would keep it running for another couple of days even if everything looks dry.

Mold only grows where there is moisture. If you eliminate it, no mold will grow.

good luck with that between layers of building material.

Sort of like carrying a battery on your passenger floor unsecured or containered.

What? lol

Was that some sort of jab? lol

Obviously it depends on where it is, but I wouldn't worry about mold and mildew in an area that got wet once and shouldn't continue to receive moisture.