Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Appliances and Home Systems?

It’s the most magical time of the year — and for many, that means hosting friends and family for dinners and festive parties at home. The absolute last thing anyone wants to deal with is an appliance breaking down or your furnace quitting – especially around the holidays.  And unfortunately, appliances or an HVAC system that stop working are not commonly covered under a typical homeowners policy.

However, many insurance carriers do offer an endorsement that can help cover your appliances and home systems.  Our guide can give you insight on when appliances are typically covered by your homeowners insurance and what coverage you may need to consider adding to your current policy.

Are my home appliances covered by home insurance?
There are many factors that are considered when determining if your appliances are covered by your homeowners insurance.

Personal Property
Appliances that plug into electrical outlets and are not built-in or permanently attached to your home — such as toasters, blenders, refrigerators — will likely be covered under your personal property coverage should you suffer a loss like a fire.

Dwelling
Larger items that are built-in, such as a hot water heater or central air-conditioning compressor, will likely be covered as part of your dwelling protection if they are damaged in a home accident or loss.

It is important to understand that homeowners insurance policies will typically only cover appliances lost or damaged due to a covered incident, such as a fire. These policies likely will not cover the cost to repair or replace an appliance as a result of normal wear and tear.

What perils will home insurance cover?
Here are a few scenarios that homeowners insurance may help to cover appliances:

• Fire
• Smoke
• Theft
• Lightning
• Windstorm
• Hail

Can I add additional coverage to help protect all of my home appliances?
Yes, companies like Arbella Insurance offer Home Systems Protection. This extra protection will provide coverage for repairs or replacement when home systems such as furnaces or central air conditioning break down. Having an accidental breakdown of a home appliance may cause a financial burden for you and your family. Additional coverage may be required and we suggest speaking with your local Bearingstar agent for more details on this endorsement.

Still have questions?  At Bearingstar we are here to help with your homeowners insurance needs. Our Bearingstar agents are here to help you navigate your way to the best policy to protect you and your loved ones.  Give us a call today!