Appliance repair insurance

$41.67

$41.67

Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes

Why Do Appliance Technicians Need Insurance?

What Type of Insurance Does An Appliance Technician Typically Need?

What Does Appliance Installation and Repair Insurance Typically Cover?

General Liability

You’re tightening the supply line on a dishwasher install when the fitting cracks. Water hits the cabinets and floor before you can reach the shutoff valve and suddenly you’re looking at a soaked kitchen, ruined subfloor, and a homeowner on the phone with their own insurance. A standard general liability policy provides coverage for the cost of repair or replacement and protects you from other third-party property damage or bodily injury claims, up to the policy limits

BOP

Your phone rings at 2 a.m. By the time you get to the shop, the fire crew is already rolling up the hoses. The parts inventory you’d been building and the diagnostic equipment you rely on — all of it, gone. A business owner’s policy (BOP) typically bundles general liability, commercial property protection, and business interruption coverage to help pay for damages, repairs, and lost income so you can get back to work quickly. 

Many appliance technicians choose a BOP because it offers more protection than a stand-alone general liability policy without costing much more — a great option if you’re established or planning to grow.

Who Needs Appliance Installation and Repair Insurance

If you are a residential repair technician working inside occupied homes, where a slipped wrench or nicked water line can damage floors, cabinets, or finishes.

If you are a major appliance installer handling refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ranges, where heavy lifting and tight spaces raise the odds of a work-related injury or property damage.

If you are a home warranty network contractor dispatched through companies like American Home Shield, Choice, or 2-10, which typically require a current certificate of insurance before assigning work.

If you are a big-box installation subcontractor delivering and installing for major retailer programs.

If you are a commercial kitchen and restaurant equipment specialist installing ranges, walk-ins, or commercial dishwashers, where a single mistake can lead to costly property damage.

If you are a refrigeration or specialty technician working with complex electrical components and high-value equipment in residential and light-commercial settings.

Whatever your specialty, if you work on client property, handle expensive tools and equipment, or employ a crew, insurance can help protect what you’ve built.

How Much Does Appliance Installation and Repair Insurance Cost?

A mobile device displaying insurance prices from carriers

Appliance installation and repair insurance is a collection of separate policies frequently bought by appliance technicians that can help protect your business from some of the most common risks of the trade — accidental damage to a customer’s home, worker injuries, and stolen or damaged tools.

Most states legally require workers’ compensation if you have employees, and many often mandate a contractor’s license with liability coverage for electrical, plumbing, or refrigerant work. Home warranty companies, property managers, and big-box retail installation programs can also ask for proof of insurance before they’ll dispatch a job. Check with your state licensing board and any networks you contract with for specific requirements.

Yes. COIs for most policies are available as soon as you purchase your coverage. With Simply Business, you can download and share your certificate of insurance instantly through your online account or right from your phone when a home warranty company or property manager needs proof before dispatching a job.

Home warranty companies typically require contractors to carry general liability insurance — and sometimes workers’ compensation — before they’ll dispatch a job. Many networks set their own coverage minimums and won’t add you to their rotation without a current certificate of insurance (COI) on file, so maintaining an active policy can be part of staying eligible for work.

Most warranty networks ask for a current COI listing the warranty company or property manager as a certificate holder so they have your coverage documentation on file. Some may also require that they be added as an additional insured on your General Liability policy. With Simply Business, you can instantly pull your COI up on your phone the moment a network coordinator asks for it.

An additional insured is another party — usually a home warranty company, property manager, or general contractor — added to your General Liability policy. Many networks require that you add them as an additional insured to your policy before they’ll dispatch you to a job, because it extends your liability coverage to protect them if a customer files a claim related to your work.

Most states don’t require workers’ compensation for sole proprietors. But even when it’s not legally mandated, we recommend workers’ comp insurance because many health insurance policies don’t cover work-related injuries. And some general contractors and home warranty networks can ask subcontractors to carry their own workers’ comp, even if they’re solo. Requirements vary, so it’s important to check your state requirements and the contracts you sign.

Yes, in most cases. General liability is designed to cover third-party property damage — meaning damage to a customer’s home or belongings caused by your work. If a water line leaks during a dishwasher install and floods the kitchen, or you scratch a hardwood floor sliding a refrigerator into place, your General Liability policy can help cover repair or replacement costs and any related legal fees.

Possibly. General liability policies often include “completed operations” coverage, which can apply to property damage or injury claims that arise after a job is finished, for example, a water connection that fails two weeks after a dishwasher install and floods the kitchen below. Coverage depends on policy terms and whether the policy was active at the time the work was completed.

Sometimes, but not always. Standard general liability policies typically don’t cover damage to the appliance you’re installing while it’s in your care — that’s considered “property in your care, custody, or control,” which is often excluded. Installation floater coverage or an inland marine endorsement can help fill that gap, covering accidental damage to a customer’s appliance while you’re working on it or transporting it.

Commercial work usually requires higher coverage limits and may need additional endorsements. If your work involves gas connections, refrigerants, or commercial-grade equipment, your policy may also need specific endorsements to match the increased risk.

  1. Are your tools and equipment covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
  2. Does the policy cover gear in your service van and in transit, or only at a fixed location?
  3. Are you covered for damage to the appliance you’re installing while it’s in your care?
  4. If you contract through home warranty networks or big-box retailers, does the coverage meet their specific requirements?
  5. Are subcontractors covered under your policy, or do they need their own?
Cellphone graphic depicting a form for answering business questions
Cellphone graphic depicting coverage offered from multiple insurers with quotes to compare
Cellphone graphic depicting an instance proof of insurance
Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes is a freelance writer with expertise in small business and commercial insurance. She has written for brands including Simply Business and Travelers, translating complex financial and risk-management concepts into clear, actionable guidance for entrepreneurs. Her extensive portfolio spans trade-specific risks, state insurance requirements, and coverage decisions that help small business owners protect and grow their businesses.

Our +1 million customers are big fans. And you will be too.

Karen's testimonial
Jef's testimonial
Kim's testimonial

Page last updated: