Refrigerator with an Odor

We had an insured who had their refrigerator stop running while they were on vacation for a week. When they returned it was discovered and it was determined that the GFI switch it was plugged into had tripped. Possible power surge or lightning caused it to trip, we are not sure. The switch was tripped back and the appliance is up and running again.

The spoilage of the food was covered by an enhancement endorsement, but the spoiled food left an odor in the refrigerator that the insured cannot get out. The odor may have permeated into the insulation , we are still trying to find out where it is coming from or if it's permanent.

My question- is a permanent odor left by spoiled food in a ref. causing the appliance to be unusable because of the odor a covered loss.

The insured has a standard HO-3 91 edition with an HO 15 endorsed.

Appreciate your response.

Kentucky Subscriber

Since the refrigerator is an appliance that you plug in, it is personal property. As such it's covered under named perils. The GFI switch tripped which indicates a power surge or lightning. Both are listed as named perils for coverage C – lightning and sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current. Since the refrigerator smells, the exclusions for transistors or other electronic components don't apply. So the cost to professionally deodorize (if possible) or replace the refrigerator is covered under coverage C. The HO 00 15 doesn't add any additional coverage in this situation.

This premium content is locked for FC&S Coverage Interpretation Subscribers

Enjoy unlimited access to the trusted solution for successful interpretation and analyses of complex insurance policies.

  • Quality content from industry experts with over 60 years insurance experience, combined
  • Customizable alerts of changes in relevant policies and trends
  • Search and navigate Q&As to find answers to your specific questions
  • Filter by article, discussion, analysis and more to find the exact information you’re looking for
  • Continually updated to bring you the latest reports, trending topics, and coverage analysis