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The expensive heat pump needs good insurance in the event of damage. The problem: Many policies are no good, says “Finanzest”. © Jan Woitas/dpa/dpa-tmn
Hail, lightning, vandalism: heat pumps can be damaged by many influences. Insurance can protect against the financial consequences. “Finanzest” says: not everyone is any good.
Berlin – Have you considered your heat pump when it comes to insurance? After all, the devices cost tens of thousands of euros and are often located away from the house. There they are exposed to numerous dangers – from weather to theft and vandalism to animal bites. Owners would therefore do well to inform their residential building insurer about such a new purchase and to insure the pump accordingly.
The magazine “Finanztest” (issue 12/2024) examined 56 heat pump policies. The result: Only 31 of them meet the minimum requirements of the testers, the remaining 25 insurance companies consider them not to be recommended.
Among the recommended residential building tariffs are Arag (Recht & Heim Premium), GEV (Home Max and Protect + Premium) and Allianz (Komfort), three of which already include insurance cover for the heat pump. With most other residential building insurance policies, the policy can be expanded to include a corresponding additional module at prices starting at just 19 euros per year (Huk 24 and Huk-Coburg, both residential buildings Classic and Classic Plus). In the test, it only ends at 343 euros per year for the additional module.
These specific dangers for the heat pump can be better protected
If your home insurer does not offer suitable protection, you can also insure the heat pump separately. The only recommended tariff in the test comes from Signal Iduna (Smart Home) for 70 euros. In order to make it as easy as possible when dealing with the insurer in the event of damage, “Finanztest” recommends changing your residential building insurer. This can prevent insurers from shifting responsibility to each other.
- Fire, lightning, power surges, explosions and implosions, tap water, storms and hail
- Natural hazards such as flooding, backwater, snow pressure and avalanches
- Damage caused by water, moisture, frost and ice
- grossly negligent causing of the insured event
- Operating errors, improper handling and clumsiness
- Defects in construction, materials or workmanship
- Theft, burglary, looting and intent of third parties
- Vandalism, sabotage
- Animal bites
- Damage caused by short circuit, over-current and over-voltage
- Participation in the Ombudsman’s free arbitration procedure
