Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Earn CE credit toward your adjuster license while gaining a better understanding of the more complex HVAC systems found in claims through Alpine Intel’s Beyond the Basics: Advanced HVAC Systems webinar.
Go beyond split systems and package units to learn more about evaporative coolers, geothermal systems, make-up air units, economizers, and refrigeration systems, which are used by commercial and residential policyholders.
Fill out the form to join Alpine Intel’s Technical Education Manager Jay Dykstra as he presents:
An overview of more advanced HVAC systems, such as geothermal systems, economizers, and evaporative coolers, and how they work
Descriptions of how perils and damages affect this equipment
The significance of advanced HVAC system claims
Results from real-life claims
Adjusters who participate throughout the webinar are eligible for CE credit for their Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas licenses.
Register now to save your spot for this webinar. If you can’t attend, you’ll still receive the webinar recording and presentation handouts after it takes place; however, previously recorded webinars are not eligible for CE credit.
Summer months see an uptick in HVAC claims as many policyholders turn on their air conditioning for the first time all year. Resolving these claims without an expert assessment may lead to inaccurate settlements based on wrong causes of loss; in 2022, following an HVACi inspection. Make sure you know the actual cause of loss and get repair vs. replacement recommendations before you close the claim. Here’s some background on the most commonly reported causes of loss between June and September – lightning, hail, and wind – and what evaluations reveal.
Policyholders – and you – want quick resolutions to summer HVAC claims. An expert assessment could prevent inaccurate settlement without prolonging the life of a claim.
Lightning
Lightning is a commonly reported cause of loss throughout the year. In the summer months, it’s the stated cause of loss for about one-fifth of HVAC system claims assessed by HVACi but is the actual cause for only about 1% of them.
According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes about 25 million times each year in the United States. Though direct strikes to property are rare, equipment can sustain collateral damage from nearby strikes. Evidence of a lightning-caused fire in the attic introduces the possibility of smoke and soot damage throughout the system.
Direct and collateral damage from a lightning strike may include soot and charring to condensing units and other system components.
If lightning strikes a house, low voltage issues like control boards failure or malfunctioning thermostats are also potential indicators of collateral damage. Other visible lightning evidence includes arcing, ghosting, damage to structural components like the chimney or siding, evidence of direct strikes to nearby trees, and wiring insulation that has melted from the inside out.
For each loss, an expert assessment is necessary for more than just confirming the cause. Repair vs. replacement recommendations from a team familiar with the equipment support an accurate settlement decision. Coupled with verified market value pricing, these recommendations can also help you avoid indemnity leakage.
Average Summer Lightning Claim Accuracy for Residential Claims: $7,024
Reference this guide and Find the Cause of Loss in a Flash when you’re faced with a claim in which lightning is the reported cause of loss.
Hail
Hail is most common between April and August, with most summer HVAC claims reporting hail as a cause of loss coming in during June and July, then tapering off. Residential equipment assessments confirmed hail was responsible for about 5% of summer losses. More importantly, almost 80% of hail-impacted equipment can be repaired without a replacement.
Other causes of loss may be mistaken for hail damage, but experts familiar with the equipment in question can tell the difference. Many perils can dent or flatten the coil and/or aluminum fins within the condensing unit. However, if this damage is randomly spaced out and there are dents in the coils, fins, or casing, hail is a likely cause of loss. Sometimes the outline of the impacting hail is visible in the damage.
Dents in the fins that are random rather than linear are evidence of likely hail damage.
Average Summer Hail Claim Accuracy for Residential Claims: $4,735
You’re most likely to see summer wind claims later in the season. Last year, HVACi determined 13% of HVAC losses that occurred in August and September were caused by wind.
Wind can cause direct damage to condensing units by shifting them out of position or blowing them over. However, high winds may also lead the environment around the equipment to cause damage, such as blowing airborne particles, light debris, and even branches and uprooted trees into the HVAC equipment. Wind-damaged fins may be able to be combed out and condenser coils cleaned, but any damage should be assessed by an expert familiar with the equipment to ensure an objective, accurate claim resolution.
While some damages may be as small as particles clogging the fins, HVAC equipment can sustain impact damages as the result of high winds.
Average Summer Wind Claim Accuracy for Residential Claims: $5,639
To see how HVACi experts offered one adjuster the best next steps for two residential split systems in lieu of an unnecessary settlement for two residential split systems, read our Wind Claim Case Study.
Don’t forgo an expert assessment of HVAC and refrigeration equipment because the cause of loss seems obvious. The HVACi team confirms the actual cause quickly and accurately, with an average cycle time of 5 days for residential assignments. We also provide repair vs. replacement recommendations supported by evidence and verified market value pricing. Submit an assignment today.
Download the Wind Damage to HVAC Condensing Units Guide
Many kinds of commercial properties may have kitchens, from small delis with single grills to full-service restaurants and beyond. Proper ventilation and grease management are essential in operating them safely. Kitchen HVAC equipment is responsible for managing grease vapors, odors, contaminants, moisture in the air, and combustible gases. Adjusters should know about this equipment because when it operates correctly, the system controls the kitchen’s temperature, humidity, and airflow, and prevents smoke and fire incidents and associated claims.
Each commercial kitchen requires ventilation appropriate to the volume and type of food preparation that occurs there.
Commercial Kitchen HVAC Equipment
Exhaust hoods are one of the most important pieces of HVAC equipment within a commercial kitchen. Hoods remove smoke, grease-laden vapors, fumes, and odors. Type I, also called grease hoods, are installed above equipment that generates grease or smoke, like grills or fryers. They contain devices that pull in grease from the air and remove it from the kitchen. Type II hoods, or condensate hoods, are installed above appliances like ranges or ovens. Adjusters should expect to see them in places that generate steam, heat, or combustion byproducts where grease and smoke are not present.
Commercial hoods include important components like upblast exhaust fans, which pull the air and any airborne cooking byproducts from the kitchen into the hood and through filters. Air is blown out of the top, and a sealed compartment, such as ductwork, protects the motor from the heat, moisture, and contaminants being removed. Additionally, a secondary grease trap captures condensed grease to prevent it from getting onto the roof. If ductwork penetrates a fire-rated wall or ceiling, the air duct must have a continuous enclosure or be protected with a listed duct-through-penetration system, or the fire rating will be compromised. Downblast exhaust fans eject air down toward the fan base and roof, which could be a fire hazard if grease accumulates there. They should never be used in a commercial kitchen. Regardless of type, 41% of commercial exhaust fans HVACi assessed in 2022 were impacted by hail; nearly 16% of them were impacted by wind; and 19% of commercial exhaust fans were non-damaged at the time of assessment.
Make-up air must also be brought in to replace the air taken away by the kitchen exhaust at approximately the same rate as the air removal. This balances the air pressure in the kitchen and throughout the rest of the commercial facility and contributes to overall Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Depending on the size of the kitchen, this may require a separate make-up air unit. In 2022, 33% of commercial make-up air fans and commercial make-up air units were non-damaged at the time of the assessment, 20% of them had been impacted by wind, 13% had been damaged by fire, and 13% were damaged by foreign object impact.
These components work together to make the environment comfortable for the kitchen staff, but good ventilation also reduces the risk of smoke and fire damage.
Commercial kitchen hoods exhaust contaminated air and grease.
Smoke and Fire Damage
As described above, commercial kitchen exhaust can help prevent losses by removing grease vapors from the air, but grease accumulation is one of the most common causes of smoke and fire damage in commercial kitchens. If filters and grease traps are not cleaned regularly or otherwise properly maintained, grease can accumulate, overheat, and combust. The National Fire Protection Association advises that hoods should be inspected for buildup monthly, quarterly, annually, or semi-annually, depending on the volume and type of food production. Backed-up grease traps may generate flammable or toxic gases, like methane or carbon monoxide, which can also cause a fire in a hot kitchen.
Commercial kitchen smoke and fire incidents may result in extensive property damages to costly equipment. When losses occur, an expert familiar with the equipment should inspect the site to verify the cause of loss, the extent of the loss, and what Like Kind and Quality equipment would restore the kitchen to pre-loss condition. However, it’s also possible some claimed equipment may be non-damaged, requiring no action from the adjuster or policyholder to return the equipment to pre-loss condition.
Commercial kitchen fires don’t just affect cooking equipment. This furnace was damaged by smoke and heat when a fire occurred in a restaurant kitchen.
HVAC Investigators (HVACi) provides the leading HVAC and refrigeration system assessments and desktop pricing reviews for residential and commercial claims nationwide. HVACi’s team of qualified subject matter experts can provide the information that adjusters need to settle a claim for commercial kitchen HVAC equipment quickly and accurately. Submit an assignment to see how HVACi’s fact-driven approach, extensive in-field network, and quick cycle times can help you settle commercial kitchen claims.
Download the Complex Residential and Commercial HVAC Systems Guide
