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The Benefits of Insuring Your Fridge

Insurance policies will cover a lot of the costs of repairing your fridge should yours break down suddenly. They are usually expensive items, especially if you have a busy household which requires a significant amount of internal storage space. This means that both repairing and replacing them could cost a lot more than the funds immediately available to you.

Insurance companies usually have call centres which provide 24/7 care to its customers. You will be put through to dedicated help who can try to diagnose your problem and talk you through any troubleshooting you can conduct yourself.

Failing this, they will arrange for a qualified engineer to visit your home at the best time to suit you. The engineers will be able to assess the damage and try to repair the appliance as soon as possible. If they deem it irreparable, some policies can even offer to replace your item with a like-for-like model which is currently on the market.

It is an expensive process, but having insurance gives you peace of mind that a lot of the costs will be covered. There’s usually a limit in place with the majority of plans, but any amount you have to pay towards getting your house back in working order is likely to be a lot less than what you would have paid without insurance.

What Will Be Covered?

Most insurance policies cover parts, labour and call-out charges as standard. Each one varies, and the exact amount they will cover could differ from the amount another offers, but it saves you money nonetheless.

Callout costs can be the forgotten charges of repairing or installing an appliance, so having these covered for you can be a real relief and won’t lead to any nasty surprises, nor will you have to ring around several engineers to get the cheapest quotes.

There are some plans out there which will also offer to replace your item up to any maximum claims limits that are in place. If your model is a particularly old one and there are no suitable like-for-like replacements available, a few providers will offer to reimburse the cost of the approximate market value of the appliance so you can put the money towards purchasing a new one.

There are a lot of components which keep fridges going, and if one single part goes wrong, then it is all likely to stop working. The most common thing is the temperature being unable to regulate itself. A replacement thermostat or fan would need to be fitted if the problem isn’t solved by basic troubleshooting which can be found in an instruction manual. Such work is recommended to be carried out only by a professional, as you are working with electricals and more damage could be caused if it isn’t fixed correctly.

If there is a problem with the door, such as it not sealing and keeping in cold air correctly, then a qualified engineer can replace this for you and look into any further problems this may have caused. It may seem unlikely, but parts such as this can be expensive, so making sure you are insured is crucial to prolong the life of your appliance.

You may even have a top-of-the-range tall fridge which includes a water dispenser, LCD screen or warning alarm. While one of these stopping working may not necessarily stop your fridge from doing your job, you will essentially be going without an added extra that you’ve paid the price for, so an engineer will be able to assess the problem and make repairs.

If you are after top-notch care, there are plans out there which offer a full annual valet of your appliance for free, so any underlying problems can be spotted before they turn into a monumental issue. Consider arranging valets even if your policy doesn’t offer them, however.

Are There Any Incidents Not Covered?

Insurance companies generally won’t cover you for the callout costs incurred if the problem was a basic troubleshooting check. For example, if the plug wasn’t properly plugged in, vents hadn’t been unblocked or the fridge was simply overfilled, any labour costs will have to be paid by you. This is why call centres are the first option available to you.

If you haven’t kept up general maintenance of your fridge, it can also mean you aren’t covered. Regularly dusting any air vents, defrosting and cleaning are all part of regular maintenance checks you should be carrying out.

The disposal of the original product is usually not taken care of should your fridge have to be entirely replaced. Some retailers and delivery companies will offer to take your old appliance away at a further cost, which may be the best option with a bulky item such as a fridge.

You may also be charged for delivery in this instance. This won’t be grand, especially compared to the total cost of the replacement, but be prepared to have to pay if your insurer doesn’t.

If you have misused your product or not followed manufacturers guidelines and instructions, you may find any claims are invalidated. This can be anything from using the wrong cleaning product to fitting the goods incorrectly into your kitchen.

Cosmetic damage will not be covered, such as if the door to your fridge becomes dented or a shelf is scratched. Insurance only covers mechanical and electrical breakdown, so you would have to pay for replacement parts yourself if this is particularly bothersome for you.

Some policy providers may also place a cap on the age of appliances they can accept. Several will only agree to take refrigerators which are under five years old. If yours is over ten, you will see a very limited number of policy plans available to you.

There may also be a cap on the number of callouts a provider can offer you within a 12-month period. This could be particularly problematic if you are on a multi-appliance policy with several old products covered.