A washer hose bursts and water spreads across the laundry room floor, or a storm surge kills the refrigerator overnight. Whether insurance pays depends on your policy and the cause, but the first steps are the same for almost everyone: stop the damage, document it, then file. Here's how to handle each step.
What Should You Do in the First Hour?
Stop the damage, make the area safe, and take photos before you clean anything up. These two actions protect your home and your claim at the same time.
Stop the Damage and Make the Area Safe
First, turn off the water supply or power source feeding the damaged appliance. For a leaking washer or dishwasher, shut the water valve behind the unit. For an appliance involved in a power surge or electrical issue, cut power at the breaker if it's safe to do so.
Once you address the immediate danger, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, like laying down towels or moving nearby items out of standing water. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) notes that insurance typically reimburses the cost of temporary repairs as part of your claim if your policy covers the loss, so keep every receipt from that work.
Hold off on full cleanup or permanent repairs until you've documented the damage.
Photograph the Appliance and Surrounding Damage Before Cleanup
Take photos and video of the appliance and everything around it before you move or throw anything away. Capture the appliance from several angles, any standing water or visible damage to floors and walls, and the model and serial number plate if you can reach it safely. If you're not sure where that plate is, here's where model numbers usually hide on common appliances.
If possible, save the damaged appliance itself so your insurer can inspect it. The same NAIC guidance lists documenting all losses with photos or video before removing debris and saving damaged items for inspection as among the first things to do after a loss.
A refrigerator that died in a surge, for example, should stay in place until you've photographed the control panel, the back panel, and any spoiled food. Once you've documented the damage, you can figure out what your policy covers.
What Damage Might Your Policy Cover?
Homeowners policies generally cover sudden, accidental damage, but the appliance itself and the damage it caused are often treated as two separate questions. Keeping them apart gives you a much clearer picture of what you can claim.
Separate Damage to the Appliance From Damage It Caused
A washing machine that fails from old age is a different loss from a washer hose that bursts and floods the room. The appliance's own breakdown from age is usually not covered, since wear and tear is a standard exclusion. The water damage a sudden burst causes to your floor, cabinets, or walls is a separate loss and is more likely to be covered.
The Texas Department of Insurance home insurance guide lists "sudden and accidental release of water" among the damages most policies cover, while most policies exclude wear and tear and "a continuous water leak." That difference is why a slow drip under a dishwasher can be denied when a sudden hose burst is paid, and why checking washer hoses and supply lines for leaks is worth doing before anything fails.
If the appliance itself broke down and caused no other damage, homeowners insurance is rarely the right route. A manufacturer or extended warranty is more likely to pay, so check the appliance's warranty status before you pay for repairs.
Check the Cause of Loss and Ask About Exclusions
Call your agent and ask directly: Is this a covered peril under my policy, and does it matter whether the damage came from the appliance or from something external like a power surge? Policies spell out what they cover and exclude, and flood and earthquake damage generally require separate coverage.
Food spoilage after a power outage is a good example of a gray area. Some policies include limited food spoilage coverage, and whether it applies can depend on your state, your policy, and what caused the outage. Your agent can tell you how yours handles it.
Once you know the damage is likely covered, the next question is whether filing is worth it.
Is the Likely Payout Worth Filing a Claim?
Filing usually makes sense only when the repair or replacement cost is meaningfully higher than your deductible. If dishwasher damage will cost $400 to fix and your deductible is $1,000, a claim would pay nothing.
Compare Repair or Replacement Costs With Your Deductible
Get a repair estimate or a replacement price before deciding. The NAIC's guidance on filing a homeowners claim recommends checking your deductible first, and notes that if the damage is minor, you might be better off paying for repairs out of pocket.
For example, if surge damage to a refrigerator and its contents would cost $1,800 and your deductible is $500, you should discuss a claim with your insurer. A $150 ice maker repair probably isn't.
Check How Your Policy Values the Appliance
Your payout depends on whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage. The NAIC explains that replacement cost coverage pays to repair or replace property with materials of like kind and quality, while actual cash value coverage subtracts depreciation for age and wear and tear.
For example: on $10,000 of damage, a replacement cost policy pays $10,000 minus the deductible, while an actual cash value policy pays less once the property's age and condition are factored in.
Because depreciation is based on age and condition, the purchase date and price matter. A receipt or order confirmation shows the appliance's exact age, so the adjuster doesn't have to estimate it.
How Do You Report the Loss?
Report the loss to your insurer as soon as possible. Many insurers set deadlines for reporting claims, and the NAIC notes that the time you have varies by state, so a delay can put an otherwise clear claim at risk.
File Through Your Insurer's Claims Line, Website, or App
Most insurers let you start a claim by phone, and many also accept claims through a website or mobile app. Have your policy number, address, and contact information ready before you call or log in.
- Contact your insurer or agent and report the loss.
- Give your policy number, name, address, and phone number.
- Describe what happened and the extent of the damage.
- Ask what your policy covers and what documentation they need.
Submit Appliance Details, Photos, Receipts, and Repair Records
Send the model number, purchase date, photos of the damage, and any repair history along with your claim. Complete documentation gives the adjuster less to estimate and fewer reasons to come back with questions.
A homeowner who kept the dishwasher's receipt and the invoice from last year's service visit can show when it was bought and that it was maintained. A homeowner with none of that is left reconstructing the appliance's history from memory.
If you haven't started saving these records yet, this guide on how to document appliances for home insurance walks through what to capture for each one.
What Should You Have Ready for the Adjuster?
Have the appliance's model number, purchase date, and any maintenance records ready before the adjuster's visit. These details shape how the adjuster values your claim.
Provide the Model Number, Purchase Date, and Prior Maintenance Records
An adjuster estimates the value and condition of the damaged appliance, and without records, they have only the appliance itself to go on. The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance notes that policyholders often receive less than they expect because their property wasn't insured to its full value or they don't understand exactly what type of damage is covered. Knowing your coverage and having proof of what you owned addresses both.
Keep the following ready before the visit:
- Model and serial number
- Purchase date and original price
- Any repair or service records
- Photos and video of the damage
Review the Damage Estimate and Ask About Missing Items
Read the adjuster's estimate line by line and ask about anything that seems missing or undervalued. If the estimate doesn't reflect the appliance's real purchase price or leaves out related damage like flooring or cabinetry, say so and provide your documentation.
The NAIC's claim-filing guidance suggests having your contractor meet with you and the adjuster, and advises not to feel rushed into agreeing to repairs you aren't comfortable with. If you still disagree with the outcome, you can file a complaint with your state's department of insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a washer that leaked?
Water damage to your floor or walls from a sudden leak, like a burst hose, is often covered, since most policies cover the sudden and accidental release of water. A slow, continuous leak and a washer that wore out with age are usually excluded. Ask your agent how your policy treats the washer itself versus the damage it caused.
Can I file an appliance damage claim online?
Many insurers let you start a claim through their website or mobile app, in addition to calling your agent or claims line. You'll typically need your policy number, contact details, and a description of the damage, whichever method you use. Check which options your insurer offers before you begin.
Does homeowners insurance cover a refrigerator damaged by a power surge?
It depends on your policy and what caused the surge. Coverage for electrical damage varies between policies, and some insurers offer extra coverage for appliances and home systems through an endorsement. Ask your agent whether surge damage is covered and whether the cause, like a lightning strike or a utility problem, changes the answer.
What should I say when I report appliance damage?
Describe what happened, when you noticed it, and what you did to stop the damage, sticking to facts you know. If you don't know the cause or an appliance's exact service history, say so rather than guessing, since the adjuster will look into the cause. Answer every question honestly and let your photos, receipts, and repair records back up your account.
What if the repair costs less than my deductible?
Paying out of pocket is usually the better option when repair costs fall below your deductible, since a claim wouldn't pay anything. Insurers also share filed claims through databases like the CLUE report, which they can use when setting your rate, so check your deductible before you report minor damage.
What can I do if my appliance damage claim is denied?
Ask your insurer in writing for the specific reason for the denial and review your policy's language on that exclusion. If you believe the denial is wrong, you can file a complaint with your state department of insurance. First, gather your photos, receipts, repair records, and a log of your calls and emails with the insurer.
Keep Appliance Records Ready Before You Need Them
A faster, more accurate claim starts with having your appliance records in one place before anything goes wrong, instead of digging through drawers and old emails while standing in a wet laundry room.
Add your home to Manse for free and keep purchase details, manuals, warranty terms, and repair history tied to each appliance, ready the moment an adjuster asks.
