Core coverages in this program
- •General Liability with completed operations
- •Workers' Compensation
- •Commercial Auto (service vans and trucks)
- •Inland Marine (tools, recovery machines, jetters)
- •Installation Floater & Equipment Breakdown
- •Commercial Umbrella
Texas requirements for hvac & plumbing businesses
Texas plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which requires responsible master plumbers to carry general liability of at least $300,000. HVAC/ACR contractors are licensed by TDLR, which requires $300,000 general liability and $300,000 property damage plus proof of insurance on file.
Workers' compensation in Texas
Texas is the only state where private workers' compensation is optional. Going bare as a 'non-subscriber' removes the exclusive-remedy protection, which is why nearly every general contractor, landlord, and municipality requires subscription anyway. Rates are developed through TDI-approved carriers using NCCI class codes, and hvac & plumbing payroll typically rates at $3.50 to $10 per $100 of payroll for plumbing and HVAC class codes, with rooftop and new-construction work at the higher end. Non-subscriber status must be reported to the Texas Department of Insurance annually and posted for employees. Most contracts override the choice — read the insurance exhibit before deciding to opt out.
What Texas operators actually pay in 2026
The ranges below reflect what KTL clients in Texas pay today for a small-to-midsize operation, adjusted for Texas rating. Your actual premium turns on payroll, revenue, loss history, and — more than anything — whether the risk was classified correctly to begin with.
| Coverage | What it covers | Typical TX annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | $1M/$2M, service and replacement work | $1,100 – $3,650 |
| Tools & Equipment | Recovery units, cameras, jetters | $450 – $1,550 |
| Commercial Auto | Per service van | $1,450 – $3,050 |
| Installation Floater | Rooftop units and materials on site | $400 – $1,550 |
| Umbrella | $1M–$5M excess | $800 – $2,550 |
The Texas angle most brokers miss
TSBPE and TDLR minimums exist to hold your license, not to protect your balance sheet. A single burst-line loss in a Dallas office building can exceed $300,000 by itself.
Exposures we underwrite for Texas accounts
Every submission we send out is built around the specific ways businesses in this class actually have claims. That is what separates a benchmarked program from a rate quote.
- •Water damage from a failed connection in an occupied building
- •Carbon monoxide and combustion-related liability claims
- •Rooftop falls and heavy-equipment rigging injuries
- •Refrigerant handling and EPA 608 compliance issues
- •Callbacks and completed-operations claims on installed systems
Where we write in Texas
We serve Texas clients remotely by phone, email, and video — no office visit required — with concentrations in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso. New business, renewals, mid-term changes, and certificates are all handled directly by a licensed advisor rather than a call center.
Ready for a benchmarked quote?
A KTL specialist will shop your risk across multiple A-rated markets within one business day.