Does Your Home Protection Plan in California Protect Your Appliances?

Power failures are part of life. A storm can take out the power lines. As some areas of the country saw, the power supply chain can become burdened, causing brownouts or even blackouts. Appliances stop working during a power outage, of course. The problem occurs when the power comes back on. Most appliances run on 110 or 120 volts, the normal household current. When the power comes back on after an outage, the current spikes to 200 volts or more, which can damage circuits or damage appliances. A home protection plan in California can help replace appliances that are damaged due to normal wear and tear but not due to a power surge.

Surge Protectors Can Help Reduce Problems

Most electric companies and computer manufacturers recommend using surge protectors for electronic equipment and appliances. When a power surge comes through a surge protector, the excess voltage is diverted away from the appliance plugged into the protector. Did you know that you should replace these surge protectors every two years or after they take a big hit? Unfortunately, these surge protectors don’t work with all your appliances. Your dishwasher or HVAC may be hard-wired without a way to unplug the appliance.  A whole-home power surge protector is another option to protect your home.

Won’t Home Insurance Cover Damage?

Your homeowner’s insurance may or may not cover the appliance that is damaged. It simply depends on how your insurance policy is written. Generally, homeowner’s policies cover lightning damage, but no power surges. Sometimes, even if your homeowner’s policy covers the damage, it won’t cover the replacement cost of the appliance. Instead, you’ll be given a depreciated value. Depending on the age of the appliance, this could leave you with almost nothing. Appliance coverage in California is helpful for many issues but does not cover surges  You may want to check with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to know what is covered and what isn’t.

Isn’t the Electric Company Liable?

You can try to file a claim with the electric company, but you may be facing an uphill battle. It depends on the situation. If the utility was at fault or negligent, you may have a claim. If it was due to the weather or trees or some other act outside of their control, you may be out of luck.

Protect Your Appliances and Your Budget – Home Protection Plan in California

A home warranty with HVAC coverage in California gives you peace of mind for many of the issues not covered by traditional insurance but it is largely up to you to protect your appliances from surges using simple affordable surge protectors. You pay an annual premium that covers many things in your home. When something does need repaired, we help you find a qualified technician quickly.