Does Contents Insurance Cover Fridge Freezers?

Contents insurance can cover your fridge freezer, but whether it does depends on what caused the problem. Damage from fire, theft, or an accident is typically included. A mechanical breakdown or gradual wear is not. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s covered, what isn’t, and when you might need something extra.

At a glance

• Contents insurance covers fridge freezers for fire, theft, and in some cases accidental damage, but not breakdowns or wear and tear.
• Spoiled food after a power cut is often covered up to a set limit, typically around £500. Check your policy for the specific figure
• Accidental damage cover is usually an optional add-on, not included as standard
• For mechanical failures, home appliance insurance or an extended warranty is likely a better fit than contents insurance

What does contents insurance cover for fridge freezers?

Contents insurance covers your fridge freezer against specific risks, not against every possible thing that could go wrong. Here’s what’s typically included:

• Fire and theft: If your fridge freezer is damaged in a fire or stolen during a break-in, a standard contents policy should cover the repair or replacement cost.
• Accidental damage: If you’ve added accidental damage cover as an optional extra, you may be covered for unintentional incidents such as dropping something heavy onto the appliance. This isn’t included in a standard contents policy, so check whether you’ve added it.
• Spoiled food after a power cut: Many contents policies include cover for food spoilage caused by a power cut, usually up to a set limit of around £500. This applies to external power cuts, not issues caused by the appliance itself or something inside your home. Check your policy documents for the specific limit that applies to your cover.

What isn’t covered?

There are several common exclusions worth knowing about:

• Mechanical or electrical breakdown: If your fridge freezer stops working because of a fault or failed component, that’s a breakdown and contents insurance won’t cover it. This is the most significant gap for most people.
• Wear and tear: If an older appliance fails through age and general deterioration, that’s not an insured event. Insurers treat this as routine maintenance.
• Refrigerant leaks and gradual deterioration: Issues that develop slowly over time rather than resulting from a sudden event are generally excluded.
• Self-inflicted power cuts: If the appliance is switched off accidentally at the plug or fuse box, a food spoilage claim is unlikely to be valid.

Grey areas and extra options

A few scenarios don’t sit neatly in either camp:

• Power cuts caused by internal issues. If a power cut is due to an external grid fault, spoiled food is usually covered. If the cause is something internal, such as a tripped circuit breaker or a problem with your own fuse box, cover is less certain. Check your policy wording for how your insurer defines a power cut.
• Leaking appliances causing water damage. If your fridge freezer develops a water leak that damages flooring or other belongings, home emergency cover or accidental damage cover may apply depending on how the damage occurred and what your policy includes.
• Accidental damage not added at inception. If you didn’t add accidental damage cover when you took out your policy, you may not be able to add it mid-term without it taking effect from your next renewal. Check with your insurer if you’re unsure.

Is home appliance insurance a better fit?

If your main concern is mechanical breakdown rather than fire or theft, home appliance insurance is likely more appropriate than relying on your contents policy.

Home appliance insurance is specifically designed to cover the repair or replacement costs when an appliance stops working due to a mechanical or electrical fault. It typically covers:

• Call-out fees and labour costs
• Replacement parts
• A replacement appliance if the original can’t be repaired

It’s particularly worth considering for older appliances that are out of their manufacturer’s warranty, or for high-value appliances where a repair bill would be significant. Some policies cover multiple appliances across the home, which can be more cost-effective than insuring each one individually.

Before we go

Contents insurance covers your fridge freezer for certain risks, but it has clear limits. Check your policy to confirm what’s included, whether you have accidental damage cover, and what limit applies to food spoilage. If breakdown cover is what you’re after, home appliance insurance or an extended warranty is the more suitable route.

With Lemonade’s contents insurance, your fridge freezer is covered as part of your home contents for fire, theft, and other insured events.

Fridge freezer contents insurance FAQs