Your homeowners insurance policy covers much of your personal property,including large appliances, from specific perils like theft, fire or damage from a storm. This typically includes protection for your refrigerator, which can be a costly appliance to replace or repair if it is damaged.
Your homeowners policy may not provide coverage for every type of damage to your refrigerator. That’s why it’s important to understand your policy’s details regarding insurance coverage for damage to a refrigerator and any loss of food due to a power outage. You also may want to explore equipment breakdown coverage, which offers protection for a broad range of household appliances and equipment against mechanical or electrical failure. Ask your Travelers representative about this unique coverage.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Damaged Refrigerator?
Whether your homeowners insurance covers a damaged refrigerator depends on how the damage occurs. Your homeowners policy will likely help with the costs of repairing or replacing your refrigerator if the damage is due to a sudden covered event like aburst pipe, fire or lightning.
However, a homeowners insurance policy typically does not cover damage to a refrigerator that breaks down due to regular wear and tear, or that is caused by lack of maintenance.
Coverage for Refrigerator Leaks
Many refrigerators have cold water dispensers and built-in ice makers. These conveniences can contribute towater leaks that may damageother appliances and surrounding areas. Your homeowners insurance may cover damage that results from a refrigerator leak, subject to your deductible and policy limits. However, any repair or replacement of the refrigerator itself typically would not be covered.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Food Spoilage Caused by a Power Outage?
Coverage for food spoilage due to a power outage is extremely limited in a standard homeowners policy. Your homeowners insurance potentially could cover spoiled food due to a power loss if your refrigerator was directly damaged by a lightning strike or a power surge. If you want to make a claim for spoiled food, it’s a good idea to take pictures of the food in the refrigerator to support your claim before you discard the contents.
If you think you could benefit from additional protection against food spoilage or power outages, talk to your Travelers representative to explore coverage options.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Taking preventive measures can help protect your refrigerator and other valuable appliances from alightning stormor other power surge:
- Install a whole-house surge protector to your home electrical system.
- Add point-of-use surge protection devices (SPDs) and outlets. Be sure to use the correct SPD for your refrigerator and washing machine.
- During a storm, unplug unused appliances (except your refrigerator), especially sensitive devices such as computers.
- Keep your refrigerator clean and well maintained.
- Freeze containers of water and gel packs and transfer them to your refrigerator to help keep food cold in the event of a power outage.
- Discard spoiled food regularly.
Never taste food to check for spoilage. When in doubt, throw it out. Learn more about food safety during a power outage:
- When to save food and when to throw it outfromfoodsafety.gov.
- Keeping refrigerated food safe during emergencies from theUSDA.
Looking for more ways to help keep your family protected?Find a Travelers representativenear you to get ahomeowners insurance quotethat covers your appliances. Get protected withhome insurance from Travelers.
FAQs
Homeowners, condo, and renters insurance may cover appliances when a covered peril, such as a fire or theft, caused the damage. Insurance generally doesn't cover wear and tear damage or manufacturer defects. Optional coverage for electrical and mechanical breakdowns may be available through your home insurance policy.
Can I claim insurance if my fridge breaks? ›
If your fridge breaks down and causes your lunches, dinners and other food to become unsalvageable, a Suncorp Contents Insurance policy could cover the cost of replacing your food*. This claim can be made independently from a loss or damage claim, and if you're only claiming for food spoilage, no excess applies.
Are fridges covered under contents insurance? ›
What's Contents Insurance? RACV Contents Insurance covers the cost to repair or replace things you keep inside your home that have been damaged as a result of an insured event. It includes furniture and rugs, fridges, washing machines, TVs and more.
Is my fridge freezer covered on my house insurance? ›
If an event like a flood or power cut means your freezer stops working properly or breaks down, your home insurance will usually cover its repair or replacement.
Can I claim for a broken fridge? ›
Typically, home insurance policies cover appliances lost or damaged due to a covered incident, such as a fire or lightning strike. But they don't cover the cost to repair or replace an appliance as a result of normal wear and tear.
What voids a refrigerator warranty? ›
Lack of Proper Product Maintenance
Some consumer products require you to clean, store, or use them in specific ways. If you fail to care for the product, the business may declare the warranty no longer applies.
What to do if you think your fridge is broken? ›
What to do when your fridge breaks down
- Step 1: Find a cool alternative. ...
- Step 2: Grab bags of ice. ...
- Step 3: Work out what food to keep or throw away. ...
- Step 4: Pack your cooler efficiently. ...
- Step 5: Hire some help. ...
- Step 6: Decision time – repair or replace?
As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
Can you make money off of broken fridge? ›
In addition, a number of states and municipalities offer rebate programs for old refrigerators as do many power and utility companies. And, if all else fails, you can usually sell your old frig, working or not, for scrap.
What does accidental damage cover in home insurance? ›
Accidental damage insurance can cover you for those sudden mishaps. There needs to be a one off, out of the blue, single event that caused the damage to your home, or what's inside. For example, spilling juice on the carpet or a window smashed by a ball.
Food is usually considered part of your insurance policy's personal property coverage. If there is a fire in your rental apartment, or your refrigerator breaks from short-circuit damage, you may be able to get back the money you lost replacing its contents by filing a renters insurance claim.
Can I claim broken TV on house insurance? ›
However, if you have contents insurance as part of your home insurance cover, you might be able to make a claim for your broken TV. Contents insurance can cover the cost of replacing your TV, and the other belongings in your home, if they get unexpectedly damaged, destroyed or stolen.
Does homeowners insurance cover a broken refrigerator? ›
Typically, homeowners insurance policies cover appliances lost or damaged due to a covered incident, such as a fire or lightning strike. But they don't cover the cost to repair or replace an appliance as a result of normal wear and tear.
Which of these are not usually covered by homeowners insurance? ›
There are all sorts of surprising things your home insurance likely doesn't cover, like sewer backups, sinkholes, and pest infestations, including termites. Mold damage is another one—most policies exclude it except when it's caused by something covered in your policy.
What is under the refrigerated property coverage endorsem*nt a homeowner? ›
Refrigerated property coverage: This coverage protects the contents of freezers and refrigerators in the event that electrical service to a device is interrupted. Interruptions caused by damage to the power transmitter (on or off premises) or mechanical failure are covered.
Are kitchen appliances covered by contents insurance? ›
Yes. Your contents cover does include kitchen appliances that are free standing, such as washing machines. But if your appliance is built in, it will be covered under your buildings insurance. There's no cover for your washing machine if it breaks down.
Does equipment breakdown cover refrigerator? ›
The damage to repair the part is costly, so purchasing a new refrigerator is the best option. Equipment breakdown coverage may pay to replace your covered refrigerator, up to the limits of your coverage, minus your deductible.
What does fridge warranty cover? ›
Extended refrigerator and freezer warranties typically cover electrical or mechanical failure and other issues not caused by accidental damage. But most cover just one appliance for a limited amount of time. Many warranties also include extra, hidden fees and limit the number of claims you can start.
