can sometimes feel like an endless to-do list, but it is essential to put the proper insurance protections in place to ensure that both your path to homeownership and your future as a homeowner run as smoothly as possible.

While the vast majority of homeowners purchase

home insurance

, it's important to consider home appliance insurance as well to protect the crucial systems, appliances, and amenities within your home. Here's what you should know about home appliance insurance, with a little help from

car insurance

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What is home appliance insurance?

Home appliance insurance, also commonly referred to as

home warranty

, covers the cost of damages that occur to household systems, appliances, and/or additional amenities in your home. While homeowner’s insurance protects your home and personal belongings against fires, floods, and other unavoidable accidents that may occur during your residency, home appliance insurance protects you from the cost of unavoidable damage in your home by covering the everyday wear and tear of appliances and other household essentials.

MORE: What is equipment breakdown coverage?

What does home appliance insurance cover?

Though home insurance plans differ based on location, type of home, and overall scope of coverage, they typically cover the cost of damage and repair of household systems and appliances such as:

Systems

Plumbing

Electrical

Boiler/Water heater

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)

Appliances

Washer/Dryer

Oven/Stove

Refrigerator

Garbage disposal

Dishwasher

Increasing your insurance coverage to include everyday damages that occur to additional household amenities, such as a pool or centralized heating system, may affect the cost of your home warranty. But if you consider these household features to be essential to you and your family, it may be worth insuring them in case of an unexpected issue or emergency.

MORE: How much personal property coverage do you need?

What doesn't home appliance insurance cover?

Though insurance coverage varies by plan and provider, home warranty does not cover any appliances with preexisting damages, but only damages due to everyday wear and tear of items, typically occurred through prolonged and frequent use of the product.

Additionally, it's rare for a home insurance appliance insurance plan to cover the cost of any upgrades, and many do not cover the cost of outright appliance replacement. It is important to consider what the plan you're interested in covers, and don’t be afraid to read the fine print because sometimes parts of an appliance are covered but not the entire thing.

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Should I get home appliance insurance?

According to

Choice Home Warranty

, the average homeowner should anticipate spending 1% of their home’s value on repairs/replacements each year, as well as an additional $1 per square foot—which certainly adds up. Because of this, it's encouraged that new homeowners look into this purchasing at least some form of home warranty, as the process of repairing and replacing household appliances is oftentimes expensive and time-consuming.

Additionally, if you intend to own your home for multiple years or even decades, the everyday wear and tear of household appliances is unavoidable, and taking the opportunity to preemptively cover the cost of damage and repairs can save you from incurring out-of-pocket expenses when they inevitably break down.

According to the

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors

, all household appliances have an average life expectancy. Though many external factors may cause your personal experience to differ from these averages, you may use the following figures as a guideline:

The Average Life Expectancies of Common Appliances

Air Conditioner: 5-7 years

Washer/Dryer: 5-15 years

Dishwasher: 9 years

Refrigerator: 9-13 years

Freezer: 10-20 years

Oven/Stove: 10-14 years

Garbage Disposal: 12 years

HVAC System: 20 years

Broken or damaged appliances depreciate the value of your home and will certainly complicate your everyday routines and rituals. Therefore, it's a good idea for both sellers and buyers to consider purchasing a home warranty to ensure their appliances are covered in times of need, acting as both a convenience and financial safeguard.

Key takeaway Home appliance insurance is a good investment—especially if a lot of your appliances are outdated.

How do I pick the best insurance plan?

There are a variety of factors to consider before picking the ideal home appliance insurance plan to satisfy your household needs. Here is a quick checklist to get you started:

Assess your current situation: Before you consider selecting an insurance plan, you must first have a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the appliances that exist within your current household. How many essential appliances do you have? How old/durable are they? Do they have any pre-existing damages? Are they covered under any current warranty (such as manufacturer’s warranty)?

Consider the cost: According to

HomeAdvisor

, the average cost of home warranty typically ranges from $223 to $1,707. Consider whether you will be able to afford an additional monthly insurance payment within this monetary range, and/or if you will be able to pay for quick and efficient repairs in the case of an emergency. It can seem like a gamble: Should you pay now or risk paying more later? That decision is completely up to you, but be sure to look up cost estimates and think about your options before committing either way.

Think of the future: If you intend to live in your home for years to come, purchasing home appliance insurance can be a worthy investment for your future. It can help you maintain your household in great shape, avoid unexpected repair and replacement costs, and provide you with peace of mind when any issues arise.

MORE: How having a pool affects your insurance rates

Final tips

Before signing off on your selected insurance policy, be sure to choose a reliable plan that covers everything you need it to. The

Better Business Bureau

suggests that you read your contract carefully to understand what's covered and for how long. You should also know how to correctly file a claim for the quickest and most efficient repair process.

Not sure where to start? Both

U.S. News and World Report

and

Money.com

have provided insightful and informative lists of the best home warranties, so be sure to check out these compiled offerings to get a sense of average insurance plans and their respective costs.

Another good idea is to think about how you can save money on insurance with

Jerry

. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

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