HVAC and plumber insurance from the shop to the job site
Protection for heating, cooling, ventilation and plumbing contractors across Washington and Oregon, built for the water-damage, completed-operations and job-site exposures that generic contractor policies miss.
A-rated carriers · Same-day certificates · Additional insureds added quickly
Risks most policies weren't written for
HVAC and plumbing contractors face water damage from faulty workmanship, refrigerant handling, gas connections and callbacks on completed jobs. First Underwriters has worked with Pacific Northwest mechanical contractors since 1992, building programs that cover liability, completed operations, tools and your crew. Trade resources are available from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association and ACCA.
When a job goes wrong on site
Three illustrative examples of what happens when coverage is missing or improperly structured, and what closes the gap.
A furnace install triggers a house fire
A technician improperly connected a gas furnace, causing a carbon monoxide leak and a fire that destroyed a 4,200 sq ft home. The homeowner sued for property loss, temporary housing, belongings and emotional distress. Completed-operations coverage carried a $500K limit with no umbrella, leaving the contractor personally exposed above the limit.
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
Build the right program for your business
Every mechanical contractor starts with general liability, products and completed operations, and a business owners policy. Tell us how you operate and we'll show what else typically applies. No contact details needed.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
7 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- General LiabilityThird-party injury and property damage from your work.
- Products & Completed OperationsFailures on jobs after you leave the site.
- Business Owners Policy (BOP)Shop property, income and liability bundled.
- Workers' CompensationBurns, falls and shocks to your crew.
- Employment Practices LiabilityDiscrimination and wrongful-termination claims.
- Commercial AutoService vans, trucks and the gear inside.
- Installation FloaterMaterials and units before the job is complete.
From first call to certificate
Understand your operation
Residential or commercial, new installs or service, refrigerant handling, gas work, crew and subcontractors, payroll, fleet, equipment, loss history and contract requirements.
Go to contractor markets
We approach A-rated carriers among our 50+ partners that specialize in the mechanical trades, understand water-damage and completed-operations risk and reward clean loss runs, with monoline and package options.
Build the program
General liability and completed operations, a BOP, commercial auto, tools and installation floater, and workers' comp, with pollution, bonds and umbrella added as your work requires.
Certificates and claims
Same-day COIs and additional insureds for GCs and commercial jobs, surety-bond and contract support, claims advocacy from first notice, and annual reviews.
Every policy a mechanical contractor may need
Filter by type or search to see the range of coverage we place for HVAC and plumbing contractors.
General Liability
Third-party bodily injury and property damage from your work, structured for the water-damage exposure HVAC and plumbing contractors face on every job.
Products & Completed Operations
Equipment you install or repairs you complete that cause damage or injury after you leave the site.
Umbrella / Excess Liability
Additional limits beyond primary policies for larger commercial jobs and contracts requiring higher limits.
Contractors Pollution Liability
Environmental claims from refrigerant releases, fuel-oil spills, sewage backups or asbestos disturbance — exposures the standard GL pollution exclusion denies. See <a href="https://www.epa.gov/section608">EPA Section 608 refrigerant rules</a>.
Business Owners Policy (BOP)
Property, business interruption and general liability for your shop or office, bundled for small to mid-size contractors.
Tools & Equipment
Recovery machines, manifold gauges, pipe threaders, cameras and specialty tools in the shop, van or job site.
Installation Floater
HVAC units, water heaters, boilers, piping and fixtures during installation, against theft, fire or damage before the job is complete.
Commercial Auto
Service vans and trucks, including tools, equipment and parts stored inside — collision, comprehensive and liability.
Surety Bonds
License, bid, performance and payment bonds for commercial projects and government contracts, placed with A-rated sureties.
Cyber Liability
Data breaches and cyber attacks, increasingly relevant as contractors use connected systems, online scheduling and stored payment data.
Workers' Compensation
Required coverage for technicians and helpers: burns, falls, electrical shock, chemical exposure and repetitive-strain injuries.
Employment Practices Liability
Employee claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination or other employment disputes as your team grows.
Coverage for every mechanical trade
Programs from solo service techs to large commercial mechanical contractors.
HVAC contractors
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installation, repair and maintenance.
Plumbing contractors
Residential and commercial plumbing, water-heater service and drain cleaning.
Heating specialists
Furnaces, boilers, radiant heating, heat pumps and oil-to-gas conversions.
Refrigeration contractors
Commercial refrigeration, walk-ins, freezers, ice machines and restaurant equipment.
Residential service companies
Tune-ups, plumbing repairs, water-heater replacement and maintenance agreements.
Commercial mechanical contractors
Large commercial HVAC systems, building automation, chiller service and industrial mechanical work.
Pipefitters and steamfitters
Industrial and process piping, steam systems and high-pressure work.
Drain and sewer specialists
Drain cleaning, sewer repair, trenchless technology, video inspection and water-line replacement.
Energy-efficiency contractors
Ductless mini-splits, heat pumps, smart thermostats and efficiency retrofits.
Brokers who understand the trades
Mechanical trade focus
We understand water-damage liability, refrigerant handling and completed-operations exposure, and place coverage with contractor markets that reward good loss history.
Same-day certificates and claims advocacy
Same-day COIs and quick additional-insured endorsements keep projects moving, and we stay involved when a water-damage or injury claim occurs.
Contract review and risk support
We review GC insurance requirements and help you negotiate terms without overbuying, plus safety-program guidance and coverage-gap reviews.
Ready to protect your HVAC or plumbing business?
Request a coverage review and quotes from a team that understands mechanical contractors. Free consultation, no obligation. You can also email info@firstunderwriters.com.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder, and the coverage builder is a starting point for discussion rather than a quote. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.