Home Insurance and Spoiled Refrigerated Food

Home insurance covers much more than your home's structure and your personal liability. For example, your home insurance may cover spoiled refrigerated food in some circumstances. Below is an overview of homeowners' insurance coverage for refrigerated food.

Understand your insurance policy to prepare for spoiled food claims. Below are some critical points you should know.

Like other risks your home and its contents might face, coverage for spoiled food is not automatic. The coverage chiefly depends on the spoilages' cause. For example, coverage might not apply if:

• A poorly maintained refrigerator breaks down since insurance doesn't cover wear and tear
• Your insurance policy excludes coverage for the disaster that caused the coverage
• Earth movement, such as an earthquake, causes the spoilage

Your policy determines the coverage circumstances.

Home insurance companies treat food in your fridge as your personal property. As such, personal property coverage might reimburse you for the spoiled food if a covered disaster (such as a fallen tree) causes the spoilage. However, home insurance policies feature sublimit that apply to your food. For example, if your limit is $500, then that is the maximum you will recover.

The insurance company might require you to pay a deductible, just as you would if you submit a claim for other personal properties. The deductible determines whether a food damage claim is possible or advisable if your house has not suffered any other damage.

For example, you won't get any reimbursement if your damaged food is worth $500, and your personal property deductible is also $500. If the spoiled food is worth slightly more than the deductible, then you must determine whether the claim is worth the insurance history it will generate.

Enhanced coverage for spoiled food is available for those who want more protection than standard coverage offers. For example, you can buy equipment breakdown coverage that reimburses you for spoiled food if your fridge breaks down. Some carriers also offer food-spoilage endorsement for protection against spoilage from all types of power outages.

Certain precautions can reduce your losses related to refrigerated food spoilage. Below are some of the precautions.

Trees and tree branches around the house are common causes of a power outage during storms. Strong winds can uproot or break such trees, send them flying against your power lines, and leave you in the dark. Trim tree branches and remove weak trees around the house to minimize the risks.

Maintain your fridge to reduce wear and tear and prevent sudden breakdowns. For example, you should plug the fridge into the right receptacles, ensure adequate airflow, and keep it clean.

A power surge can fry your refrigerator and cause food spoilage even if you have power. Power surges typically occur when power resumes after an outage. Damages to electrical lines during storms also cause surges. Electrical power surges, which you can install for the whole house or specific appliances, reduce the risk of damage due to power surges.

Scrutinize your home insurance policy to understand spoiled food coverage. You can also ask your agent for clarification if you don't understand your policy terms. Ask your agent for enhanced coverage if you don't want to lose money due to spoiled food.

Scrutinize your home insurance policy to understand what it covers. Contact Clover Insurance for quotes if you want to purchase a new home insurance policy or augment your existing policy. You can rely on our 40-plus years of experience to help you find the best coverage for your circumstances.