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Is your heat pump insured under your home insurance policy? Poll is created on Dec 07, 2022

Yes, we have full cover

Yes, we have partial cover

No, there is an exclusion in my policy

We had the option to insure our heat pump, but opted out

Is your heat pump insured?

Mars · 2022-12-07T15:57:22Z

Just curious to see if anyone has their heat pump insured as part of their home insurance policy. We have an exclusion in our home insurance policy that clearly states heat pumps are not covered. We have full boiler coverage in the policy (in the event of damage or emergency repairs), but it categorically states that heat pumps are excluded under the policy. When I contacted the insurance company, they don't allow additional payments to get the heat pump insured. It's a blanket exclusion.

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Toodles

(@toodles)

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14/03/2024 4:58 pm

@technogeek How refreshingly pleasing this sounds for any insurance company / policy! 😉

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Abernyte

(@abernyte)

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14/03/2024 5:22 pm

Posted by: @technogeek

↑

Interesting. We are with Aviva Insurance and I read another article regarding heat pump insurance cover so I called them. Aviva Insurance class a heat pump as part of the heating system \ building fabric so do not require any special notification due to its value (as you do with contents over a certain threshold value) or any additional add on cover.

Policy Expert Buildings insurance has the definition of "Building" in the policy as "....Buildings also includes the permanent fixtures and fittings in or mounted upon the buildings that could not easily be removed and reused, such as fixed solar panels (that have been professionally installed), fixed
sanitary fittings (for example, toilets, sinks and baths) and laminated, wood-effect or vinyl floor coverings."

Which is not definitive but would certainly make an arguable case. Certainly is not part of the Contents!

This post was modified 1 year ago by Abernyte

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Mars

(@editor)

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Topic starter 14/03/2024 11:02 pm

On a related note, are solar panels “contents” too?

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Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast

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Richard24738

(@richard24738)

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15/03/2024 9:55 am

I think their strange logic is that solar panels are physically attached and part of the building whereas the heat pump is not.

Anyway, Aviva will cover and Direct Line wont.

Install 13 April 2024 - 4 Bedroom Brick Detached - Heat Loss 9,281w, Design 45c at -2 - Ecodan 11.2kw R32 - 25L Buffer - 250L Telford Tempest HP DHW - All 16 radiators replaced - Auto Adapt - Mel-Pump app - Octopus Fixed Rate

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Abernyte

(@abernyte)

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15/03/2024 10:09 am

A heat pump is just as attached to the building as the bath in their logic.

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Toodles

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15/03/2024 10:20 am

@abernyte … and outside pipework come to that!

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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JulianC

(@julianc)

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15/03/2024 10:22 am

It does seem to be an insurer by insurer question. When I completed my insurance scope statement/description, there was no specific ASHP option. So I picked “electric heating”. I called to explain and the agent seemed fine with “electric”. But I got a call back a few days later saying they would have to put a change in, to adjust the insurance to ASHP. Uh oh I thought, price rise. But no cost change and ASHP noted on the insurance.

Daikin Altherma 3H HT 12kWh ASHP with Mixergy h/w cylinder; 4kW solar PV with Solic 200 electric diverter; Honda e and new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicles with Myenergi Zappi mk1 charger

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Toodles

(@toodles)

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15/03/2024 10:31 am

@julianc I should imagine that there is a much lower chance of damage to the fabric of the building from a heat pump failure than that from a gas boiler going amok! Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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JulianC

(@julianc)

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Joined: 4 years ago

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15/03/2024 10:32 am

@toodles agreed Toodles. I think it’s the old “something different” so insurance companies need to catch up with the market

Daikin Altherma 3H HT 12kWh ASHP with Mixergy h/w cylinder; 4kW solar PV with Solic 200 electric diverter; Honda e and new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicles with Myenergi Zappi mk1 charger

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Mars

(@editor)

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Topic starter 15/03/2024 10:33 am

@julianc that's really positive. Who's the insurer?

Pre-order: The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

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JulianC

(@julianc)

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15/03/2024 10:48 am

@editor I am with Policy Expert for buildings & contents insurance.
Please use this link if anyone chooses to take out insurance with them and I receive a bonus:

https://policyexpert.mention-me.com/m/ol/sm3ql-julian-clarke

Daikin Altherma 3H HT 12kWh ASHP with Mixergy h/w cylinder; 4kW solar PV with Solic 200 electric diverter; Honda e and new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicles with Myenergi Zappi mk1 charger

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Richard24738

(@richard24738)

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15/03/2024 12:22 pm

That's strange.

Policy Expert are who I am currently with and spoke to earlier this week.

I have contacted them again and they quote their underwriters and say "the outside pump, as it's not attached to the building, is classed as contents in the open and as such under my silver policy is covered up to a value of £350". Gold policy has a cover of £1,000.

The fact that it is sitting on a concrete slab and not physically attached to the building seems to be the deciding factor.

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