The October 2010 hail storm that struck the Phoenix area caused a lot of damage to many outdoor HVAC units. AC units that were rooftop mounted were the most exposed to the hail and were particularly susceptible to HVAC hail damage. Golf ball sized hail was reported in many parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area including Glendale, Peoria, Sedona, and Scottsdale.
If your AC unit was damaged in the hailstorm and you haven’t already filed a claim with your insurance company, you should get your claim filed quickly before it is too late. Time limits for filing claims vary depending on the insurer, but the most common time limit is one year. That means that your insurance claim for your hail damaged AC unit should be filed by October 4, 2011 or you risk losing the opportunity to have your air conditioner replaced.
Thousands of Phoenix area residents had their air conditioners replaced under their homeowners insurance policy following the October 2010 hail storm, but many more are not aware that their AC units were damaged.
Hail dents and deforms the soft metal cooling fins on your air conditioner. In most cases, the air conditioner continues to function, but it will be far less efficient and cause the compressor to work much harder to cool your home. The compressor will soon wear out, usually in few months.
If your area was hit by hail, have your air conditioner inspected by a trusted local HVAC contractor. Many good local contractors offer free hail damage inspections so it won’t cost you a thing to find out if your air conditioner has hail damage. Don’t delay – time is running out!
