Weather Related Damage

Weather events can cause catastrophic damage to HVAC, plumbing and fire suppression systems. The EIS forensic engineering team has the specialized knowledge and experience to understand the effects of weather on a mechanical system and the other factors which may have contributed to a loss or system failure.

Insurance claims on damaged HVAC equipment are commonly attributed to weather events. Whether hail, wind, flood or lightning, our HVAC investigators perform onsite equipment evaluations to determine the scope and extent of damage. EIS has performed inspections for HVAC claims of all sizes, from solitary equipment to large losses with over a thousand units.

Case Studies

Solar Thermal Pool Heating System Sustained Freeze Damage

A fitness club's newly installed solar-thermal pool heating system sustained freeze damage when the freeze protection relay was wired to the controller but never connected to the pumps.

Gas Turbine Engine Failure due to Inlet-Air Cooler Coil Freeze

A 50-megawatt gas turbine generator at a federal government campus failed when freeze damage to inlet-air cooling coils allowed water to flow into the turbine during operation.

Indirect Cooling Tower Coil Freeze

Cooling tower coils atop a downtown Chicago high-rise froze and failed during extreme cold after the sump heater was found inoperable, leaving the system without freeze protection.

Condensing Unit Hail Damage

A 270-unit apartment complex in North Carolina where condensing units sustained hail damage with varying severity based on orientation, adjacent features, and the presence of hail guards.