Yes, homeowners insurance may pay for appliance damage from covered events like fire or burst pipes, not for age or breakdown.
If you’re asking “are appliances covered by homeowners insurance?”, you want a straight answer before you spend time on a claim. The answer depends on two things: what caused the damage and whether the appliance is treated as part of the home or as personal property.
Most policies pay for sudden, accidental loss tied to a listed peril. They don’t function like a repair plan for an appliance that stops working on its own.
Are Appliances Covered By Homeowners Insurance?
Yes, appliances can be covered, but only in the right scenario. A covered peril must cause direct physical damage. When that link is missing, insurers often deny the claim.
Appliances usually land in one of two buckets:
- Built-in or hardwired items: often handled under dwelling coverage.
- Plug-in or movable items: often handled under personal property coverage.
That split is common, yet your own policy wording controls the final call. The NAIC homeowners insurance page notes that policies cover the structure, including fixtures and built-in appliances.
Appliances Covered By Homeowners Insurance By Cause Of Loss
The best way to predict coverage is to start with the event. A policy is built around “what happened,” not “what broke.” Use this table to match loss types to how coverage often works.
| Cause Of Loss | Appliance Example | Typical Coverage Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Or Smoke | Stove and hood damaged by a kitchen fire | Often covered, minus deductible, subject to settlement terms |
| Lightning Or Surge | Fridge control board fails after a storm | Often covered when the peril is listed and damage is direct |
| Sudden Pipe Burst | Washer soaked by a burst supply line | Often covered when the leak is sudden and accidental |
| Wind-Driven Rain | Water damages a microwave after roof damage | Often covered when wind causes the opening first |
| Theft Or Vandalism | Stolen portable AC or damaged dryer | Often covered under personal property with proof required |
| Falling Object | Tree limb hits an outdoor condenser | Often covered when the impact is sudden and accidental |
| Wear And Tear | Dishwasher motor dies from age | Usually not covered |
| Mechanical Breakdown | Compressor fails with no outside event | Usually not covered unless you add equipment breakdown coverage |
| Slow Leak | Fridge line drips for weeks and ruins the unit | Often denied as gradual damage or poor upkeep |
Built-In Appliances And Plug-In Appliances
Built-in appliances can be treated like part of the building: wall ovens, built-in dishwashers, or central heating and cooling equipment. Plug-in appliances are often treated as personal property: countertop microwaves, portable dehumidifiers, window AC units, and mini fridges.
There’s a gray zone. A slide-in range can look built-in but still be a plug-in item. If you’re unsure, ask your insurer how they classify it under your policy form.
Appliances In Garages, Sheds, And Outdoor Pads
Location can change which coverage bucket applies. A freezer in a detached garage is often personal property, yet it sits off the main house. A permanently installed heater in a detached workshop may be treated as part of that structure.
Also check theft coverage and any off-premises wording if the appliance is kept in a storage unit during a remodel. If the item is outside, ask your insurer about wind, hail, and vandalism treatment for outdoor units.
Where Personal Property Rules Matter Most
Personal property coverage is often set as a slice of the dwelling limit. If your contents limit is low, a loss that hits several appliances at once can reach the cap fast. The Insurance Information Institute’s homeowners insurance basics page lays out how personal property coverage works and how limits are often set.
What Homeowners Insurance Usually Won’t Pay For
Most denied appliance claims share a theme: the appliance failed on its own. Standard policies typically exclude wear and tear, rust, corrosion, and mechanical failure. They also tend to reject gradual damage from leaks you didn’t catch in time.
If the loss starts with a covered peril, the outcome can change. If the loss starts with aging parts, the outcome often stays the same: no coverage.
Equipment Breakdown Coverage And Home Warranties
Two add-ons get mixed up. Equipment breakdown coverage is often an endorsement added to a homeowners policy. It can help when a covered electrical or mechanical breakdown hits a listed appliance or system.
A home warranty is a separate service contract that pays for certain repairs after you pay a service fee. It can help with older appliances, but it won’t replace homeowners coverage for fire, theft, or storms.
Water Damage From Appliances
Sudden water damage is one of the most common covered scenarios. A burst washer supply line or a sudden dishwasher leak can damage the appliance and nearby flooring. Insurers often pay for the resulting damage when the event is sudden and accidental, subject to your deductible and limits.
Slow leaks are tougher. If a fridge line drips for weeks, insurers often treat the damage as gradual. Some policies also limit certain water backup events unless you add an endorsement.
When The Appliance Is The Source
An appliance can be both the thing that fails and the thing that floods the room. Insurers often separate “the appliance” from “the damage the appliance caused.” A covered water event may pay to replace soaked flooring or cabinets, yet the broken pump or worn seal inside the appliance may still be excluded as wear.
Take photos before cleanup, then keep any failed parts your technician removes. That evidence helps show the leak was sudden, not a long-running drip.
Water Backup And Drain Issues
If water comes up through a drain, tub, or floor drain, insurers often label it as backup. Many policies require a separate water backup endorsement for that loss type. If you have a sump pump, ask what the policy says about pump failure and overflow.
How Payout Math Works For Appliances
Even with a covered peril, the check is shaped by settlement basis, limits, and deductible. Start with the deductible. If the loss is below it, filing won’t change the bill.
Actual Cash Value Vs Replacement Cost
Actual cash value includes depreciation, so older appliances may be valued lower. Replacement cost pays closer to the price of a similar new item, as long as you meet the policy’s repair or replacement steps.
Like Kind And Quality
Insurers often pay for “like kind and quality.” That means a comparable unit, not a luxury upgrade. If you replace with a higher-end model, you may pay the difference.
How A Homeowners Appliance Claim Usually Goes
First, stop ongoing damage. Shut off water, cut power when safe, and prevent a second wave of loss. Then document the scene with photos: the damage, the source, and the appliance label that shows model and serial numbers.
Next, gather proof of ownership. Receipts help, yet card statements, order emails, and warranty registrations can also show you owned the item and when you bought it. If a technician inspects the unit, ask for a short note that ties the damage to the event.
Repair Or Replace Decisions
Some claims are repairable. Others are total loss. Insurers may ask for a repair estimate, then compare it to replacement cost. If you replace first, keep the damaged parts until the adjuster tells you otherwise.
Claim Prep Checklist For Appliance Loss
This table keeps your paperwork tight and keeps the story anchored to the covered event.
| Step | What To Save | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Protect The Area | Photos of shutoff valves and cleanup | Shows you reduced extra damage |
| Show The Cause | Burst line, burn marks, storm opening photos | Links the peril to the loss |
| Identify The Appliance | Model and serial label photos | Confirms the exact unit |
| Prove Ownership | Receipt, card statement, order email | Confirms ownership and age |
| Price Repair | Technician estimate | Shows parts and labor cost |
| Price Replacement | Two or three comparable listings | Shows current cost for like kind |
| Track Extra Costs | Meal or laundry receipts if rooms are unusable | Helps with loss-of-use claims |
Ways To Reduce Appliance Coverage Gaps
Start with your declarations page. Check your contents limit, your deductible, and whether contents settle at actual cash value or replacement cost. Then ask about endorsements that match your risk, such as equipment breakdown or water backup coverage.
If you upgraded to high-end smart appliances, raise your limits so a single kitchen loss doesn’t leave you short on paper.
Make a simple home inventory once a year. Photos, model numbers, and receipts stored in one folder can speed up a claim and reduce back-and-forth.
Final Check Before You File
Before you file, do quick math: expected payout minus deductible. If the claim is likely to land under the deductible, you may choose to handle it out of pocket. If the loss was gradual or tied to wear, the odds of a denial rise.
If you’re still circling “are appliances covered by homeowners insurance?”, write down the event in one clean sentence, then match that peril to your policy’s covered list. That usually gives you a clearer answer than guessing.