Much of the storm damage to heating systems today can be traced back to lightning strikes. This leads to an overvoltage in electrical components and thus to a partial or total failure of the control. Incidentally, this is also possible if the lightning only occurs near the building. If this is the case, homeowners should have the technology in their own house checked in good time to prevent breakdowns or fires.
Another cause of storm damage are problems with moisture. So the heating can be partially or completely underwater during floods. This leads to problems with the burner and electrical components. The latter in particular cannot always be recognized immediately.
Protect heating from moisture at an early stage in the event of flooding
While suitable lightning protection measures on buildings minimize the risks, house owners cannot do much against full basements in the event of flooding. For this reason, it is all the more important to seal buildings in risk areas as well as possible and to secure heating oil or liquefied gas tanks from floating. If water does penetrate the house, consumers should switch off the heating as soon as possible and disconnect the gas or oil supply. If there is enough time, experts also advise removing burners and heating pumps. However, this work should only be carried out by skilled tradesmen.
React quickly and correctly after a storm damage
If floods or lightning strikes have caused a defect in the heating system, homeowners must first contact their insurance company. Depending on the case of damage, contact your household contents insurance, residential building insurance, or, in special cases, the elementary insurance. At the same time, consumers should document the defects with pictures and/or video to support claims settlement. If a heating specialist has already eliminated the problem, defective components should be kept. This is the only way that insurance experts can determine whether it is storming damage and thus also an insured event.
Heating repairs: rights and obligations for tenants and landlords
If the heater has no obvious defect, it needs to be emergency furnace repair Scarborough a specialist. Anyone who rents out their house should act quickly in the event of a heating failure. Because a non-functioning or inadequately functioning heating system is considered a defect. In such cases, the tenants are entitled to a rent reduction after a reasonable period.
Concerning the landlord
Depending on the financial scope of the heating repair and the contractual framework, landlords can pass the costs on to tenants. There is no legal maximum amount, instead, it is redesigned every time. More than 25 years ago, the Federal Court of Justice declared the upper limit of 300 marks or eight percent of the annual rent to be effective. Today that corresponds to around 100 to 120 euros. This is how much a single small repair can cost.
In the event of heating damage during the healing period (beginning of October to end of April), the landlord is obliged to react promptly as soon as he becomes aware of it. However, there are around four days for repairs. Finally, the availability of craftsmen in terms of time must also be taken into account. It is also decisive what type of damage it is and whether the entire functionality of the system is impaired.
Concerning the tenant
If a heating failure occurs in a rented apartment, it is very uncomfortable for most tenants. The following heating repairs can also have a major impact on the quality of living, depending on the scope. The first thing you should do is contact the landlord, the property manager, or the caretaker and explain the situation. If neither the landlord nor the property manager can be reached, tenants can order the repairs necessary for the heating themselves. If it is a matter of “major” repair work, the landlord must bear the costs.
These must be material costs. This means that if the radiators are only leaking, then the tenants are not allowed to have the radiators completely replaced. If there is no response from the landlord or if the landlord refuses to commission the heating repair, the tenant can sue for the defect to be rectified.
We strongly advise against withholding or reducing the rent without consulting the landlord. In the worst case, the landlord has the right to terminate the rental agreement. You can find detailed information on this topic in the article ” Rent reduction in the event of a heating failure “.
Regular maintenance creates security
If the heating system is to work particularly reliably, regular heating maintenance is worthwhile. Experts take a close look at the technology once a year. They check all settings and can repair defective parts of the heater. The system fails less often and even saves heating costs.
Special feature: maintenance contract
For a heating repair to be carried out promptly, it is advisable from the point of view of a house owner or landlord to conclude a maintenance contract. This provides for a regular check of the heating system and greatly reduces the risk of a sudden failure. Such a contract also ensures low energy consumption and long service life for the system.