Lightning and Surge Claims

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Appliances

Appliances

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Cause of Loss

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Commercial Equipment

Commercial Equipment

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Component Failures

Component Failures

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Consumer Electronics

Consumer Electronics

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Electrical Equipment

Electrical Equipment

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Fire Claims

Fire Claims

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Forensic Engineering

Forensic Engineering

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Foundations/Ground

Foundations/Ground

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Hail and Wind Claims

Hail and Wind Claims

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Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Disasters

Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Disasters

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HVAC Equipment

HVAC Equipment

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Industry Data

Industry Data

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Lightning and Surge Claims

Lightning and Surge Claims

Explore commonly reported perils and how they impact – or don’t affect – HVAC systems, electrically powered items, structures, and other property frequently included in claims.

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Man-Made Damages

Man-Made Damages

Learn what evidence distinguishes man-made damage, including roofing impacts and missing HVAC equipment, from other causes of loss.

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Pools & Hot Tubs

Pools & Hot Tubs

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Roofs

Roofs

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Solar Power Equipment

Solar Power Equipment

Explore why solar power equipment winds up in claims, including how components work, frequent causes of loss, and repair and replacement recommendations.

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Subrogation

Subrogation

Understand the subrogation process and what information you need in order to make a confident decision about whether to pursue.

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Tree and Outdoor Claims

Tree and Outdoor Claims

Find insurance-focused resources about tree removal and claims that include outdoor assets such as landscaping, lights, and golf courses.

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Water Claims

Water Claims

Flood, rain, or plumbing-related losses can impact a variety of structures and equipment. Learn more through helpful guides, articles, and other resources.

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Water Heaters

Water Heaters

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Well and Sump Pumps

Well and Sump Pumps

Understand different types of well and sump pumps, how they work, and what it may take to return them to pre-loss condition through a variety of resources.

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Windows

Windows

Find materials about the strengths and limitations of different types of windows, common causes of loss, and how assessments are completed.

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Winter Losses

Winter Losses

Identify what types of losses are more common in winter months through resources about winter-related perils or equipment most often claimed during colder months.

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Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation

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Search Results

Annually, more than 25% of claims assigned to HVACi have lightning as the claimed cause of loss, but wear and tear or high voltage surge are more likely to be the actual peril that caused damage.
A high voltage surge can cause failures to almost any electrical device or system that’s plugged into the affected area, from the appliances to the consumer electronics to the wiring itself.
Gain insight on how often lightning or surge is the cause of loss, why and where lightning and high voltage surges occur, and which items are most affected by these perils.
Lightning verification reports can confirm or exclude lightning’s presence at the location during the time of loss – before anyone ever inspects the equipment.
It’s a good thing the adjuster for this claim didn’t take the contractor’s word for all the items listed as damaged by lightning.
Adjusters shouldn’t assume lightning is the cause of loss based on a policyholder’s contractor and should rely on comprehensive assessment results to decipher which peril is related to the HVAC claim they are working on.
Lightning can trigger damage to many items in a home or business, including electronics, appliances, solar power equipment, or outdoor electronics, because it can travel through the ground, wires, and pipes.
Voltage irregularities happen more often than people would imagine, and with them come some big risks of repercussions to electrical equipment people frequently use.
Lightning is one of the most frequently reported causes of loss listed on HVAC and electronics claims – policyholders reported it for almost 20% of HVAC systems and nearly 40% of electronics in claims.
Here’s some background on the most commonly reported causes of loss between June and September – lightning, hail, and wind – and what evaluations reveal.
While structural fires as a direct result of lightning are rare, they do occur, and it’s important to get all the facts from the scene before you make a claim decision.
Policyholders report lightning as a cause of loss more often than other perils. Before deciding on claims with reported lightning damages, adjusters should know the truth behind seven myths related to lightning claims.
Claims with electronics and electrically powered specialty items may include outdoor equipment like solar power systems, landscape lighting, lawnmowers, and more.
Lightning and surge are the most frequently reported or determined cause of loss for commercial and residential policyholders.
When these claims come across your desk, an objective assessment is crucial to determining the actual cause of loss – and whether the equipment is damaged at all.
With so much at stake, it’s important to verify the cause of loss to equipment before settling a claim, but it may be difficult to determine whether lightning, high voltage surge, or something else is responsible.
Test your knowledge about this force of nature with our interactive quiz, Do You Know Your Lightning Facts?
The insurance adjuster handling this claim needed Donan’s help to determine the cause of loss to a damaged wooden fence and retaining wall after lightning struck a nearby tree on the property.
Learn key claim trends, such as reported vs. actual cause of loss percentages, and be quizzed on your knowledge of these perils.
The scope of damage varies between specific incidents, but lightning damage likely won’t require a claim settlement for a full replacement
The webinar provides adjusters information about handling these claims more accurately and better tell the difference between damages caused by direct lightning, surge, and wear and tear.
Find out which components are most susceptible to lightning or high voltage surge with this one-page guide.
Adjusters must solve the 5 W’s – Who, What, When, Where, and Why – before settling any property claim, and lightning claims are no exception.
The adjuster was handed a lightning claim for several different items, including more than 40 malfunctioning solar panels.
Read how a super-regional P&C carrier made StrikeCheck part of its process by establishing an automatic system that assigns us to check for lightning in the area at the time of loss after the claim has been verified for a policy in force.
Unlike some other causes of loss, lightning and surges can impact a variety of items – though it may not be noticed right away.
Lightning can impact whatever is in its path, from appliances to electronics or an entire electrical panel. And each item could wind up in an insurance claim.
It’s critical to understand what different types of surge protectors exist – and why they won’t prevent all electrical surges.
Damages to appliances and consumer electronics areoften caused by high voltage surge, and adjusters should know how surge losses to high and low voltage equipment may impact potential settlements.
Adjusters should understand why high voltage surge losses are so prevalent and what all could be impacted.
Learn about different categories of residential lighting – from accent to landscape lighting, examples of each, perils that we determined affected them, and average recommended replacement costs.
HVACi sees thousands or more of these claims every year, so we know what to look for, and we want to share our knowledge with insurance adjusters like you.
Explore this interactive guide to learn about different types of lightning and what a Lightning Verification Report can tell you about what happened at a loss location during a storm.
Take this short 6-question quiz on surge and lightning damage to electronics to see what you learn from our eBook.
Verify if lightning, surge, or wear and tear were the cause of loss for HVAC system claims more easily by knowing what evidence may be present.
Know the basics of what causes power surges, how to protect against them, and what adjusters can do to prevent claims leakage.
Find out how StrikeCheck’s expert assessment helped an adjuster avoid settling for unnecessary costs in a residential claim for reported lightning damage.
Learn how an adjuster handling a claim with a residential elevator benefited from StrikeCheck’s quick cycle time, unique expertise, and actionable report.
Learn strategies for distinguishing lightning from high voltage surge damages in electronics claims through this webinar.
Discover the relationship between extreme heat and an influx of summer HVAC insurance claims and become better equipped to tackle your caseload.
When a store owner reported lightning damage to their package unit, the adjuster handling the claim turned to HVACi for objective cause and scope of loss verification.
Discover how HVACi uncovered the actual cause and scope of loss in a claim with reported lightning damage to a residential split system.
Read how StrikeCheck’s specialized knowledge helped an adjuster resolve a lightning-related smart home claim, determining the true cause of loss and identifying non-damaged items.
Learn why lightning damage tends to be an overreported cause of loss, how expert assessments bring clarity, and more in this episode.
Listen to this mini podcast episode to learn common methods that protect electronics from power surge and lightning damage, and why they aren’t always enough.
Explore how perils like lightning and surge affect HVAC components, what to document in claims, and how to avoid misassignment of damage.
Discover how StrikeCheck determined the cause and scope of loss for reported hurricane damage in a claim including an electric range, electrical service panel, wiring, and lighting.
After receiving a claim with high-value residential and commercial electronics, a carrier turned to TechLoss Consulting & Restoration for an onsite inspection. Learn what they found.
Use this eBook to learn how lightning and high voltage surge can impact electronics, HVAC systems, and structures, and become better equipped to resolve related claims.
Request your webinar recording to learn to differentiate between lightning and surge in property claims.