There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of time and money shopping for a home appliance like a refrigerator, dishwasher, furnace, or air conditioner and having it conk out on you within a few years. While we don’t generally expect products to last forever, we do count on most major appliances to work problem-free for a while. After your house and car, appliances are probably your next biggest investment and a valuable part of your home, so safeguarding them against damage is important. Here’s what you can do to financially protect your household appliances and equipment.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Appliances?
No one can really predict what sort of unforeseen event or natural disaster lurking in the future will damage your property. Fortunately, with homeowners insurance, your home, including the contents and appliances, are typically protected, if they’re damaged or destroyed in a covered incident like a windstorm, fire, lightning strike, or theft. However, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover appliances that have a mechanical failure, electrical short circuit, faulty wiring, or motor burnout. To protect against these types of incidents, equipment breakdown coverage should be added to your homeowners.
Equipment Breakdown Coverage
Imagine that your oven’s electronic controls suddenly stop working, your boiler cracks because of a faulty water pump circuit, or the mechanical pump in your hot tub breaks. In these types of scenarios, equipment breakdown coverage could help cover the associated expenses to repair or replace covered appliances, such as:
- Ventilation systems and fans
- Furnaces, heat pumps, heaters, and solar heaters
- Electrical power panels
- Well pumps, sump pumps, and motors
- Electrical power panels
- Boilers, furnaces, and water heaters
- Back-up generators
- Laundry and kitchen appliances
- Pool heating and filtration equipment
- Central vacuum systems
Warranty Plans
Homeowners insurance and equipment breakdown coverage do not cover normal wear and tear or corrosion of appliances; therefore, you might consider a home warranty, or service contract to help pay for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of appliances. This type of protection may be beneficial for those with older appliances whose manufacturer’s or builder’s warranty has expired. However, going this route could end up costing more than your average rainy-day savings fund. On top of the yearly cost, you’ll probably pay service fees and a deductible. So, before you consider a home warranty, understand that it isn’t an insurance policy nor a replacement for homeowners insurance. Know what it covers, decide if it would be the worth the cost, and make sure you’re not already covered elsewhere, such as under your manufacturer warranty, or homeowners insurance.
Questions about protecting your appliances? We can help! Call 1-800-499-3612 or visit a friendly Homegrown Pro in your neighborhood to review your homeowners insurance and equipment breakdown coverage options. We’ll help you find a low rate with the Local Advantage and get you the protection you need.