A Zelienople HVAC contractor is being sued for starting a fire in February that caused more than $130,000 in damage to a home in the borough.

Erie Insurance Exchange filed the suit last week in Common Pleas Court, seeking damages in excess of $137,638 against Frank Szakelyhidi Inc., of Zelienople for the Feb. 13 fire at the home of Louis Tomei of Zelienople.

Tomei, who was insured by Erie, hired Szakelyhidi to diagnose and repair a furnace that was blowing cold air, and a technician determined a control board failed and had to be replaced, according to the suit.

Not having a replacement in hand, the technician left to get one, but didn’t shut off the power to the furnace before leaving, according to the suit.

The burners in the furnace lit and cycled without the fan running while the technician was away, causing the temperature in the furnace to rise enough to ignite a fire, according to the suit.

Tomei filed a claim with Erie Insurance, which carried the policy on his home, and was paid $137,638, according to the suit. Tomei paid a $500 deductible.

Szakelyhidi could not be reached for comment Monday.