Refrigerants
Air-source and ground-source units contain refrigerant, and some systems use flammable or higher-pressure refrigerants. Handling, charging and leak testing require appropriate competence. Underwriters may ask about qualifications for refrigerant handling, the refrigerants used and whether you work on sealed monobloc units only or on split systems requiring site connection.
Pollution or contamination clauses can affect refrigerant release, so ask how a leak would be treated rather than assuming.
Hot work and brazing
Split systems and pipework often involve brazing or soldering inside occupied buildings. Hot work is a recognised fire cause and many policies attach hot-work conditions: permits, fire watch, extinguishers and cooling-down periods. Failing to follow a condition can prejudice a claim.
Tell us if hot work is carried out by you or by subcontractors, and whether you use cold-joint methods where possible.
- Hot work permit procedure
- Fire watch and post-work checks
- Subcontractor competence and insurance
Commissioning and handover
Commissioning can include flow temperatures, controls and weather compensation. Cost and comfort complaints can concern both design and commissioning. A record of settings, customer demonstration and written handover can help explain the work undertaken, but these records are not insurance.
Complaints that a system does not heat the house are performance disputes, which liability policies often exclude, although associated damage may be considered.
Water damage
Heating circuits hold water. A failed joint, unvented cylinder fault or frozen condensate or pipework can cause serious escape of water, and sometimes in properties left unattended. Damage to the building and contents may be covered under public liability subject to exclusions, whereas the cost of correcting the faulty joint is commonly excluded. Check any limits on water damage and any specific excess.
Design, sizing and heat-loss calculations
Choosing unit capacity, sizing emitters and specifying cylinders can involve heat-loss calculations and design responsibility. If these form part of your work, discuss PI, its claims-made terms, reporting requirements and retroactive date. An undersized system or inadequate emitters can raise a design or performance dispute.
If you rely on a third party's calculation, say so and ensure your contract records it.
Grants, warranties and contract terms
Funding scheme conditions and manufacturer warranty terms are separate from insurance. Promises about running cost or efficiency are guarantees and may not be covered. Customer contracts and housing association frameworks often set minimum limits and indemnities, which we compare against what is available.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gas heating policy enough?
Possibly not. The declared activities may not include refrigerant handling or heat pump design, so we would check the description.
Does liability cover a heat pump that is too small?
Usually not. Undersizing is a performance or design matter, which might need professional indemnity and may still be restricted.
Why does hot work matter?
Insurers often add conditions to cover when brazing or soldering occurs. Non-compliance can affect a claim.
Are water leaks covered?
Resulting damage may be, subject to wording, limits and excess. The cost of putting the defective work right is often excluded.
Does the grant scheme require insurance?
We cannot confirm scheme requirements. Check current scheme and customer terms and send them to us.
Practical insurance guides
Related Oak cover
- Trades and contractors insuranceThe core liability framework for installation and contracting work.
- Public liability insuranceInjury or property damage to third parties arising from your activities.
- Employers liability insuranceInjury or illness to employees and others treated as employees.
- Professional indemnity insuranceClaims-made cover for design, advice and specification errors.
- Manufacturing insuranceRelevant where you assemble, fabricate or supply products as well as install them.