Most home warranties cover refrigerators — but only on appliance-inclusive plans, and coverage caps for a full replacement vary from $150 to $7,000 depending on the provider.

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Usually yes — but refrigerator coverage depends more heavily on which specific plan tier you choose than almost any other appliance, and the coverage cap for a full replacement varies more dramatically across providers than for any item covered in this series so far. Some providers cap refrigerator coverage as low as $150; others go as high as $7,000. That’s not a typo — it’s the size of the gap you need to understand before assuming your plan protects you the way you’d expect.

Which Plans Actually Include Refrigerator Coverage

This is the first thing to check, since it’s a common point of confusion: systems-only plans typically exclude refrigerators entirely. You generally need an appliances-inclusive or combination plan to get refrigerator coverage at all. For example:

• American Home Shield’s entry-tier ShieldSilver excludes appliances entirely — refrigerator coverage starts at ShieldGold
• Choice Home Warranty’s Basic Plan excludes refrigerators — you need the Total Plan
• First American’s Starter plan does include refrigerator coverage, unlike some competitors’ entry tiers
• Select Home Warranty separates its plans by category (Silver Care covers appliances, including refrigerators; Gold Care covers systems only)

Practical takeaway: don’t assume refrigerator coverage is automatically included just because you’ve purchased “a home warranty” — confirm your specific plan tier includes appliances, not just systems.

What’s Typically Covered

• The refrigerator’s compressor, thermostat, and internal cooling components
• Standard freezer sections built into the same unit
• Motors, fans, and electrical components tied to normal cooling function

What’s Usually Excluded

• Food spoilage — this is one of the most commonly misunderstood exclusions in the entire industry. Even when a claim for the refrigerator itself is approved, the food that spoiled while it was broken is essentially never covered. Don’t expect reimbursement for lost groceries, regardless of how the failure occurred.
• Built-in, sub-zero, or counter-depth premium refrigerators — these often require a specific add-on or carry a separate (sometimes lower) cap than standard freestanding units, since replacement costs run dramatically higher
• Ice makers and water dispensers — coverage for these specific components varies significantly by provider; some include them standard, others treat them as excluded or add-on items
• A second refrigerator or standalone freezer — typically requires a separate add-on (commonly priced around $40/year based on published add-on menus) rather than being included by default
• Cosmetic damage — dents, scratches, or discoloration that don’t affect function
• Pre-existing conditions, including a unit that wasn’t cooling properly before your coverage began

Coverage Caps: Where Providers Diverge Sharply

A standard freestanding refrigerator typically costs $1,000–$3,000 to replace, while built-in or premium counter-depth models can run $3,000–$9,000+. Against that backdrop, here’s how published appliance caps compare across major providers:

Provider	Reported Appliance/Refrigerator Cap
Old Republic Home Protection	$3,500/item (Basic/Deluxe), $7,000/item (Elite)
First American Home Warranty	$3,500/item (Starter/Essential), $7,000/item (Premium)
Choice Home Warranty	$3,000/item
American Home Shield	$2,000/item (ShieldGold), $4,000/item (ShieldPlatinum)
Liberty Home Guard	$2,000/item (standard cap)
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty	$2,000 standard, $5,000 with Luxury Package
Cinch Home Services	$1,000–$2,000/item, depending on plan
Select Home Warranty	$500/item
AFC Home Club	Reported as low as $150/item by at least one source — a figure worth confirming directly given how far it diverges from other providers

If you own a standard freestanding refrigerator, most of these caps will comfortably cover a full replacement. If you own a premium built-in model, even providers at the higher end of this table (Old Republic and First American’s $7,000 Elite/Premium tiers) may not fully cover a top-of-the-line replacement — and providers at the lower end (Select’s $500, AFC’s reported $150) would leave a substantial gap regardless of your refrigerator type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a home warranty cover a broken ice maker? It depends on the provider — some include this as part of standard refrigerator coverage, others treat it separately or exclude it. Confirm directly for your specific plan.

Will a home warranty reimburse me for spoiled food? Almost never. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood exclusions in the industry — even an approved refrigerator claim typically doesn’t include compensation for food that spoiled during the failure.

Does a home warranty cover a second refrigerator or a garage freezer? Not by default in most cases — this usually requires a separate add-on, commonly priced around $40/year based on published provider add-on menus.

Which home warranty company has the best refrigerator coverage? Based on published caps, Old Republic Home Protection and First American Home Warranty offer the highest refrigerator/appliance caps among major providers, up to $7,000/item on their top tiers.

Does a basic home warranty plan include refrigerator coverage? Not always — several providers exclude appliances entirely from their entry-level, systems-only plans. You typically need an appliances-inclusive or combination plan to get refrigerator coverage.

Does a home warranty cover a built-in or sub-zero refrigerator? Often with different terms than a standard freestanding unit — premium built-in refrigerators may require a specific add-on or carry a different cap, given their significantly higher replacement cost. Confirm this specifically if you own a high-end built-in model.

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Related reading: Does a Home Warranty Cover HVAC Systems? · Does a Home Warranty Cover Washer and Dryer? · What’s Not Covered by a Home Warranty? Common Exclusions

Information in this article reflects publicly available coverage data as of mid-2026, compiled across multiple provider reviews on this site. Coverage terms, caps, and exclusions vary by provider, plan tier, and state — always confirm current details directly in your contract before relying on refrigerator coverage for a specific repair.