Homeowners insurance often treats built-in appliances as part of the home, while moveable appliances fall under personal property, subject to your policy’s limits.
If you’ve asked yourself, “are appliances considered personal property in homeowners insurance?” you’re trying to figure out one thing: which policy bucket pays when something goes wrong. Most policies split protection into the structure of the home and the belongings inside it. Appliances can land in either place.
The deal usually comes down to installation. If the appliance is built in or tied into the home’s systems, insurers often treat it like part of the building. If it’s a standalone unit you can unplug and move, it often tracks with contents.
Appliances As Personal Property In Homeowners Insurance By Installation Type
| Appliance Type | Where It Often Falls | What Usually Decides It |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in dishwasher | Dwelling (Section A) | Hard-mounted to cabinets, tied into plumbing |
| Built-in wall oven | Dwelling (Section A) | Installed into the wall/cabinet cutout |
| Cooktop with fixed gas line | Dwelling (Section A) | Piped in and fitted to counters |
| Water heater | Dwelling (Section A) | Plumbed in, part of the home’s systems |
| Central HVAC equipment | Dwelling (Section A) | Permanently installed system |
| Freestanding refrigerator | Personal property (Section C) | Moveable, not built into the structure |
| Washer and dryer | Personal property (Section C) | Plug-in units, even if connected to hoses/vent |
| Countertop microwave | Personal property (Section C) | Portable, sits on a surface |
| Chest freezer in detached garage | Personal property (Section C) | Location doesn’t switch it to “structure” |
That table is a starting point, not a promise. Policy wording and claim handling can differ by insurer and state. Still, the “built in” versus “moveable” idea is the clearest way to predict where an appliance will land.
How to tell if an appliance is treated like part of the home
Ask two quick questions as you walk your rooms:
- Would removing it leave a hole or require repair? If yes, it often behaves like a fixture.
- Is it tied into plumbing, gas, or hard wiring? If yes, it often tracks with the dwelling.
A built-in oven, a mounted range hood, or a water heater checks those boxes. A fridge, washer, dryer, and small kitchen devices usually don’t.
Where people get tripped up
Slide-in ranges, trash compactors, and panel-ready fridges can blur the line. If the installation looks permanent and removal would mean carpentry, many insurers treat it like part of the home. If it looks like a standalone unit that happens to fit tightly, it often stays as personal property.
Are Appliances Considered Personal Property In Homeowners Insurance?
Often, yes for moveable appliances and no for built-in appliances. Many policies treat fixtures and built-in appliances as part of the structure, while covering freestanding appliances under personal property. The clean way to confirm is to match the appliance to the policy section that would pay for it.
Start with the basic buckets. The NAIC homeowners insurance topic page lays out how standard policies insure the home, fixtures, built-in appliances, and contents.
Then read your own documents with a pencil. You’re looking for the labels and limits on the declarations page, plus any endorsements that change appliance terms:
- Dwelling section (A): your home’s structure and items treated as attached to it.
- Personal property section (C): your belongings, often including freestanding appliances.
- Deductible: what you pay before the policy pays.
- Settlement type: replacement cost versus actual cash value.
- Extra coverages: equipment breakdown or water backup, if you added them.
If your packet is dense, a plain-language refresher helps. The Insurance Information Institute homeowners insurance basics page is a straightforward overview of what’s inside the typical policy.
Claim triggers that matter more than the appliance itself
People expect “appliance protection” to mean “it broke, so it’s covered.” Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t work like that. Most policies pay when an insured event damages the appliance, not when a part wears out.
Insured events that often damage appliances
- Fire and smoke: heat damage, soot, melted wiring, ruined controls.
- Lightning and electrical events: fried boards, dead motors, failed compressors.
- Theft and vandalism: stolen units or intentional damage.
- Sudden water discharge: a burst hose or supply line can damage the appliance and nearby finishes.
Problems that are often excluded
- Wear and tear: aging parts, rust, gradual failure.
- Poor upkeep: clogged filters, ignored leaks, overdue service.
- Long-term seepage: slow moisture that builds over weeks or months.
That’s why two neighbors can have the same dishwasher die and get two different outcomes. One loss is tied to an insured event, the other is normal aging.
Where the money can change fast
Once the policy applies, the payout is shaped by limits, deductibles, and the way your policy values property. This is where appliance claims can feel confusing, even when the claim is valid.
Replacement cost versus actual cash value
Replacement cost pays to replace with a new item of like kind and quality, after your deductible. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation. For appliances, depreciation can be steep, especially for midlife units. If you don’t know which you have for personal property, check the declarations page and endorsements.
Section C limits and “hidden crowding”
Appliances rarely have their own special sublimit, yet your overall personal property limit can be the real bottleneck. If a kitchen fire ruins cabinets, a fridge, a washer, furniture, and clothes, everything that falls under Section C shares the same ceiling. A low contents limit can turn a bad day into a short check.
Deductibles and claim math
A $2,500 loss with a $2,000 deductible is not a $2,500 check. Do the rough math before you file. If the loss is close to the deductible, paying out of pocket can be a smarter move for some households.
Claim prep steps that keep the process smooth
| Step | What to gather | What it helps you show |
|---|---|---|
| List each appliance | Brand, model, serial number | Exact item identification |
| Capture damage fast | Photos, short video, error codes | Condition tied to the event |
| Prove you owned it | Receipts, invoices, card records | Ownership and purchase history |
| Price today’s equivalent | Two or three current listings | Replacement cost benchmark |
| Keep repair quotes | Technician estimate and notes | Repair-versus-replace comparison |
| Track extra expenses | Laundry, meals, short stays | Loss of use proof, when it applies |
| Write a simple timeline | Date of loss, calls, receipts | Clear sequence for the file |
When you build that packet, you also answer the bucket question. A built-in appliance usually ties to the dwelling line item. A moveable appliance usually ties to contents. If you’re still trying to place an appliance in the policy properly, this is where you stop guessing and start matching items to Section A or Section C.
What to do before you replace or throw anything out
If an appliance is damaged, snap photos, then take one shot that shows where it sits in the room. That helps show whether it’s built in or moveable. If you can do it safely, keep the unit until the insurer says disposal is fine.
If you must replace right away, save every receipt and write one sentence about why you couldn’t wait, like “no heat” or “water leak.” Some policies offer limited protection for refrigerated food spoilage after an insured outage, often by endorsement or a small built-in limit. If this applies, list the spoiled items and take a photo before you toss them.
How to tell a clean story on the first call
When you report the claim, stick to what happened and what you can prove. Give the date and time window, what you saw first, and what you did to stop further damage. Mention whether the appliance is built in or freestanding, since that can steer the file to Section A or Section C. If a leak damaged floors or cabinets, say that too.
Special situations where the category shifts
Condos, co-ops, and HOA master policies
In condos, the association policy and your unit policy share the load. Some master policies stop at the studs. Some include more. Built-in appliances inside your unit can end up on your side, even when they look like part of the building. Read the HOA insurance summary and your HO-6 declarations so you know the split.
Rental homes and landlord-owned appliances
If you rent, the landlord’s policy usually insures the building and landlord-owned fixtures. Your renters policy insures your belongings. If you bought your own fridge or washer, it’s your personal property. If the landlord supplied a built-in dishwasher, it’s often insured on the landlord side.
Custom kitchens and high-end installs
Panel-ready units, built-in coffee systems, and custom ventilation can cost as much as a small remodel. Treat documentation as part of the purchase. Keep contracts, spec sheets, and photos from the install, since they show the make, model, and how the appliance was fitted into the home. If the appliance came with the house, save the listing or inspection report to show it was included originally.
Quick checks you can do today
- Walk the house and label each appliance “built in” or “moveable.”
- Confirm your Section C limit fits your real contents value, not a guess from years ago.
- Find out whether personal property is replacement cost or actual cash value.
- Scan endorsements for equipment breakdown, water backup, or higher contents limits.
- Start a simple home inventory with photos and model numbers stored somewhere separate from the house.
A tidy inventory is the easiest way to keep claims from dragging. It also gives you a clear, personal answer to “are appliances considered personal property in homeowners insurance?” for your own home and your own policy limits.