When Lack of Maintenance Leads to a Claim

Key Takeaways

In this article, insurance professionals will learn how:

• Lack of maintenance and wear and tear can contribute to property damage
• Maintenance-related damage may be mistaken for damage caused by another peril
• HVAC systems, roofs, appliances, and other equipment can show signs of inadequate maintenance
• Expert assessments can help determine the cause of damage and support informed claim decisions

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It can be easy to ignore or postpone needed maintenance when everything is functioning as intended. In fact, 71% of homeowners postponed home repairs in 2025 because of financial strain and inflation, according to a report by ConsumerAffairs.

Though not all damage caused by wear and tear can be prevented through upkeep alone, basic maintenance measures may avoid many insurance claims. Understanding the results of overlooked maintenance can help you recognize indicators of normal wear and tear to ensure that an inspection accounts for all possible causes of loss.

Some signs of poor upkeep are obvious, but often the equipment and elements that end up in claims because of neglected maintenance are in areas homeowners don’t often see.

Simple Upkeep of HVAC Systems May Avert Claims

In 2025, HVACi determined 22% of residential HVAC systems they assessed had wear and tear as the cause of loss. In some of these cases, the equipment damage could have been prevented with routine precautions, such as changing HVAC filters and having the system inspected and serviced at regular intervals.

Homeowners should also perform routine HVAC maintenance, including:

• Checking the battery in the thermostat
• Ensuring that the space surrounding the equipment is free of dust and clutter that could keep it from operating at peak efficiency
• Identifying issues with visible ductwork such as loose fittings or tears

Gaps in ductwork are among the issues that can reduce the life of an HVAC system, but quick detection can prevent further wear and tear.

A lack of maintenance on an HVAC system can lead to poor air quality and drastically shorten the life of the system. An adjuster handling an HVAC claim engaged HVACi to objectively determine the cause of loss to a residential split system. After an on-site assessment, the HVACi team confirmed that the damage was due to wear and tear because the system had not been adequately maintained. As a result, the furnace blower capacitor measured below its rated tolerances. Additionally, the assessment found that other furnace components such as the flame sensor were dirty.

Even damage caused by wear and tear doesn’t always require system replacement. If coverage was afforded, the equipment could be repaired by replacing the capacitor and cleaning the furnace, which would restore the split system to pre-loss condition. However, the claim could have been avoided with basic maintenance.

Lack of Maintenance and Wear and Tear Can Extend to the Roof

Because they’re difficult to access, attics and roofs are often overlooked until something goes wrong. While neither you nor your policyholders need to be experts on roof construction and potential issues, it helps to know how maintaining the often-hidden parts of a house can reduce costly and time-consuming claims for wear and tear.

A visual inspection can identify signs of animals before an infestation becomes a problem. Periodically assessing the roof and attic structure can also identify areas that are at risk for water intrusion, worn or missing shingles, and loose or missing insulation. Unchecked, these issues will worsen and lead to more widespread damage.

Homeowners can also take action to prevent wear and tear to their roofs and attics. Cleaning gutters to remove debris can prevent water from backing up, which may lead to water intrusion and even shorten the lifespan of the roof structure. Trimming back overhanging limbs protects the roof from scrapes, punctures, and impact damage, especially during high winds.

Branches resting on a roof can lead to punctures, scrapes, and tears in the roof covering, which create an opportunity for water intrusion and infestations.

Donan forensic engineers were called to determine whether an asphalt-shingle roof was damaged by hail. The lack of collateral damage, such as dents to gutters and downspouts, and the lack of circular areas of granule loss on the shingles indicated that hail wasn’t the cause of loss. However, widespread granule loss and older punctures existed on the roof surface, attributable to branches overhanging the roof. Larger trees are capable of greater damage, so homeowners should be aware of the dangers posed by nearby growth.

Keep Electronics Humming Along

Electronics and electrically powered specialty items are often taken for granted as they make our lives more comfortable, convenient, and entertaining. But paying attention to how they function and doing what’s needed to keep them operating at peak efficiency is part of being a responsible policyholder.

For example, washing machines and clothes dryers work best if loads are evenly distributed and the equipment isn’t overloaded. Other measures, like cleaning and replacing the water supply hose to a washing machine as needed, can stave off water losses involving appliances.

Maintaining dryers isn’t just a matter of keeping a machine healthy to avert a claim; it can also be a safety measure. Lint and other particles are the leading cause of dryer fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, so cleaning the lint trap between each load is a necessary precaution.

Maintenance becomes more necessary as equipment ages. For example, StrikeCheck assessed a water heater that was no longer functioning as intended. The inspection found that sediment had built up inside the water heater, obstructing the flow. This type of damage can be the result of failure to flush out the system regularly.

Rust, such as at the bottom and on the sacrificial anode of this water heater, can lead to leaks and may be the result of failing to clean out the system or keep connections tight.

Deferred upkeep can lead to other losses throughout a property as well, and not all wear and tear is the result of a lack of maintenance. However, sharing tips on maintenance and how to prevent failure of HVAC, structural, and electronic elements can help you foster a good relationship with your policyholders.

It’s important to confirm the cause of loss through an unbiased assessment in order to make an informed decision based on evidence and facts. Submit an assignment to learn how Alpine Intel’s suite of services, including HVAC inspections, forensic engineering evaluations, and electrically powered equipment inspections, can support your claims process.

Engineering services are provided by or subcontracted to Alpine Intel Commercial Solutions, LLC, Alpine Intel Commercial Solutions, PLLC, Donan Engineering, LLC, Donan Engineering NC, PLLC, Donan Forensic, LP, BSC Forensic Services, LLC, or BSC Experts, PLLC.

Alpine Intel’s content is meant to inform and educate readers using general terms and descriptions. They do not replace expert evaluations that determine facts and details related to each unique claim.