What Is Equipment Breakdown Coverage for Homeowners?
Your homeowners policy typically kicks in when equipment is stolen or destroyed. However, it doesn’t provide home systems protection or cover the breakdown of many of the most common household appliances and systems. That means when something breaks down, you’re stuck with the unexpected expense of a repair bill or buying a new appliance — both of which can be quite pricey.
Our add-on equipment breakdown coverage can help insure your appliances. This endorsement offers a financial safety net against unexpected repair or replacement of equipment that breaks down due to mechanical, electrical, or pressurized system problems.
What Does Equipment Breakdown Insurance Cover on a Homeowners Policy?
In addition to repair and replacement costs, appliance breakdown insurance can help cover losses like food or beverage spoilage. Appliances and systems covered under our equipment breakdown endorsement include:
- Air conditioning systems and A/C units
- Clothes washers and dryers
- Computers, monitors, and printers
- Dishwashers
- Freezer units
- Furnaces and high efficiency heating systems
- Garbage disposals
- Heat pumps
- Home security systems
- Kitchen refrigerators
- Lighting and home environment monitoring
- Microwaves
- Ovens
- Sump pumps
- Surround sound systems
- Televisions
- Water heaters
- Well-water pumps
What Is Not Covered Under Equipment Breakdown Coverage?
A loss must be the result of a mechanical, electrical, or pressurized system breakdown. This means that equipment breakdown insurance doesn’t include protection against normal wear and tear.
How Equipment Breakdown Coverage Works
Equipment breakdown insurance can help fill the gaps in a standard homeowners insurance policy. Let’s look at some examples of how equipment breakdown coverage could pay off.*
- $1,450 for a new water heater after an over-pressurized event caused it to rupture.
- $1,250 in replacement costs and $300 in food spoilage costs after your refrigerator’s fan motor seized, causing the compressor to continuously run and overheat.
- $1,600 for a new stackable washer/dryer unit to replace the one that experienced damage due to electrical arcing.
- $8,000 in replacement costs after an open neutral cable caused arcing that severely damaged your electrical service panel, boiler control, television, stove, and microwave.
Highlights of Westfield’s Equipment Breakdown Insurance for Homeowners
With our equipment breakdown endorsement, your damaged equipment can be replaced with a more energy-efficient option. Westfield may pay up to 150% for replacement of equipment that is better for the environment. For example, if your water heater breaks down, you may be able to replace it with a tankless water heater that reduces energy usage and save you money for years to come.
Equipment Breakdown Insurance vs. Home Warranty Insurance
Equipment breakdown insurance differs from home warranties in three main ways: how they are purchased, what they cover, and how much they typically cost.
- How they are purchased: While equipment breakdown coverage is an optional add-on to your homeowners insurance policy, a home warranty is a standalone service contract that must be purchased from a separate company.
- What they cover: Home warranties typically cover normal wear and tear while equipment breakdown coverage helps pay for sudden breakdowns caused by mechanical, electrical, or pressurized system problems.
- How much they cost: Typically, a home warranty is more expensive than equipment breakdown coverage and may be subject to additional costs, such as service fees.
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Frequently Asked Questions
*Actual coverage, exclusions, deductibles, and policy limits will be determined by the issued policy language. Please contact your Westfield agent for more information about how equipment breakdown insurance can help protect you.