Homeowners insurance typically helps cover the contents of your home, including home appliances. You'll typically find that different types of coverage may help protect different types of appliances if they're damaged by a covered peril.
First, consider home appliances that simply plug into your outlets, such as a refrigerator, oven or blender. The personal property coverage in a homeowners insurance policy may help pay to replace those types of home appliances.
Meanwhile, devices that are built into your home, such as a furnace or hot water heater, may be protected by the dwelling coverage in a homeowners insurance policy. And if a home appliance is built into a structure on your property other than your house, such as a heater that's installed in your backyard workshop, it may be covered by the other structures protection in your homeowners insurance policy.
Here's a look at some of the most commonly covered perils that may affect appliances and some of the circumstances in which appliances may not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.
WHAT PERILS DOES HOME INSURANCE HELP COVER?
From damage from fire or lightning strikes, to stolen appliances, here's a look at how different types of homeowners insurance coverage may help protect appliances.
Fire
Homeowners insurance generally helps cover losses caused by fires. Dwelling coverage may help pay to repair or replace a built-in appliance, like a furnace. Personal property coverage typically helps pay to repair or replace the items inside your house, such as simpler appliances that plug into electrical outlets, if they are damaged or destroyed in a fire.
Lightning Strikes
If lightning strikes your home and causes a power surge, the personal property coverage in a homeowners insurance policy may help pay to repair or replace fried home appliances, such as a TV or refrigerator. Dwelling coverage may offer similar protection to built-in mechanical devices, such as furnaces and water heaters.
Theft
Theft is another risk that is generally covered by homeowners insurance. If someone breaks into your home and steals belongings, including appliances that are not built in, the personal property coverage in a homeowners insurance policy will typically help to cover the loss. But if someone makes off with a built-in appliance, like a water heater, dwelling coverage may help pay for the loss.
PERSONAL PROPERTY COVERAGE LIMITS AND DEDUCTIBLES
Keep in mind that coverage limits and deductibles will likely apply before your homeowners insurance kicks in to help cover a loss. A limit is the maximum amount your homeowners insurance will pay toward a covered loss, and a deductible is the amount you'll pay out of pocket before your insurance will kick in to help cover a loss. Each types of coverage comes with its own limit, so be sure to review yours to make sure they fit your needs.
WHEN ARE APPLIANCES NOT COVERED BY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE?
Though homeowners insurance may help cover home appliances in certain scenarios, homeowners insurance typically does not protect them from routine problems. When appliances start to have problems related to age, maintenance or regular wear and tear, those circumstances aren't usually included in the covered perils in standard policies.
If you're not sure what is covered and what is not covered by your homeowners insurance policy, give us a call at 469-912-1107!
We can answer your questions about what your policy covers and help you make sure your coverage limits and deductible fit your needs.