‘Couldn’t breathe at all’: This young Florida couple was forced out of their forever home after routine air duct cleaning went wrong — caused $70K in damages. Here’s what happened

Fiberglass contamination resulted in $70,000 in damage

Air quality isn't the only issue. Fiberglass remediation is a complex process that generally requires throwing out soft items like curtains, rugs, and clothing. Collins stated that even after multiple washes, clothing from the house is now unbearable to wear.

“It just infected most of the house, like our pillows,” Collins told reporters. “If we use those — even after washing them — they would make our throats itchy.”

Between medical bills, air quality testing and repairs to the home, the estimated damages total almost $70,000. The company did refund the $600 Collins spent on the cleaning, but Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air has since gone out of business. Collins' attorney has not been able to reach them.

A new company, Weather Engineers, Inc., purchased the assets of Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air in early 2024 but has distanced itself from the incident. They claim the incident was resolved with Tropic’s former insurance carrier. Collins and his attorney are at a dead end, with little recourse to reclaim the $70,000 needed to make the home livable again.

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How does insurance handle these situations?

In cases like this, the contractor's liability insurance would typically cover damages resulting from negligence or improper services. Had the company remained operational, Collins could have filed a claim directly with Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air’s liability insurance, potentially recovering his losses.

This coverage is standard for contractors to protect against damages stemming from their work, especially when it results in damages or health issues. However, since the company is no longer in business, the liability insurance coverage likely ended when the company closed.

Homeowner's insurance could be another avenue, but this type of claim can be challenging. Most policies do not cover damages caused by third-party contractors, especially if the damage is the result of negligence rather than an accidental event, like water damage from a burst pipe. The homeowners' insurance company likely considers the damage the contractor's responsibility and may deny coverage.

Collins may have to pay for repairs himself, which he admitted is frustrating as he will have to wait. “I just hope they do the right thing at some point,” he said.