It's ruddy good!
It's ruddy good!
By David Thornton, Home Appliance Specialist
Household appliances are easy to take for granted — until one stops working. This guide covers the most common reasons appliances fail, what repairs typically cost in the UK, how appliance insurance compares to other forms of protection, and what to look for when deciding whether cover makes sense for your home. Whether you own, rent, or let a property, the information here is designed to help you make a more informed decision.
Most household appliances fail for predictable reasons: mechanical wear, electrical faults, limescale build-up, or component fatigue. Understanding what causes breakdowns helps you spot early warning signs and maintain appliances in ways that extend their useful life.
Washing machines are among the most frequently repaired appliances in UK homes. The most common failures include worn drum bearings — often first noticed as a grinding noise during the spin cycle — pump blockages from small items left in pockets, and door seal deterioration that leads to leaks around the door. Electronic control boards are an increasingly common fault point as appliances become more software-dependent.
Dishwashers tend to develop pump and motor faults over time, particularly if the filter is not cleaned regularly. Hard water areas — which cover much of England — accelerate limescale build-up on the heating element, reducing efficiency before eventually causing failure. Door latch faults are also common and can prevent a cycle from starting at all.
Fridge-freezers rely on a sealed refrigerant circuit and a compressor that runs almost continuously. Compressor failure is one of the more expensive repairs across all domestic appliances. Fan motor faults and faulty thermostats are also common, and can cause temperatures to drift without any obvious external warning signs until food begins to spoil.
Ovens most commonly suffer element failures, thermostat faults, and ignition issues on gas models. Fan-assisted ovens add a fan motor to that list. Control panel failures are increasingly common on models with digital interfaces, and can affect the entire appliance even when the cooking components are otherwise functional.
UK appliance repair costs vary by appliance type, fault complexity, and location, but most repairs fall within a broadly predictable range. A drum bearing replacement on a washing machine may cost £30–£60 in parts alone, but labour for fitting can add £80–£120 on top. Here are typical cost ranges for common household appliances.
Call-out charges in the UK typically run from £50–£100 before any work begins, and many independent engineers will charge this even if the appliance turns out to be beyond economical repair. Parts costs for premium brands — Miele, Bosch, AEG — are generally higher than for budget-tier equivalents, and availability can affect how quickly a repair can be completed.
These three types of protection are often confused, but they work quite differently. Understanding the distinction helps you identify gaps in your current cover and avoid paying for duplicate protection.
Most new appliances come with a one- or two-year manufacturer guarantee as standard. This covers defects in materials or workmanship but generally does not cover accidental damage or faults caused by normal wear and tear. Once the guarantee expires, you carry the full cost of any repair.
Extended warranties are often sold at the point of purchase by the retailer. They typically extend the manufacturer's guarantee terms — covering defects, but not always accidental damage — for a set period, usually two to five years. They are tied to the retailer and often cannot be transferred if you move home or want to sell the appliance.
Appliance insurance operates differently. It covers both breakdown and accidental damage, is not tied to a retailer, and can be taken out independently at any point while the appliance is within the age eligibility window. Policies can be cancelled at any time without penalty, and multi-item discounts mean you can protect several appliances under one arrangement.
| Feature | Manufacturer Guarantee | Extended Warranty | Appliance Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers mechanical breakdown | Yes (defects only) | Yes (defects only) | Yes |
| Covers accidental damage | No | Rarely | Yes |
| Taken out independently | No | No | Yes |
| Cancel anytime | N/A | Usually not | Yes (Row.co.uk) |
| Multi-item discount | No | No | Yes (up to 20%) |
Accidental damage and breakdown cover — parts, labour, and call-out charges all included. No lock-in, cancel any time. Insure multiple appliances and save up to 20%. Rated 4.72/5 on Reviews.io.
Get a QuoteTo be eligible for appliance insurance with Row.co.uk, your appliance must be under 6 years old at the time you take out the policy. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to insure an existing appliance or a new purchase.
The 6-year threshold reflects a practical reality: appliances beyond this age are statistically more likely to suffer complex or uneconomical faults, and sourcing parts for older models can become increasingly difficult. If your appliance is approaching the 6-year mark, it is worth acting sooner rather than later.
If you are unsure of your appliance's age, the serial number on the rating plate — typically found inside the door, on the back panel, or underneath the appliance — usually encodes the manufacture date. Manufacturers such as Bosch, Siemens, AEG, and Hotpoint each use slightly different formats, but the manufacture year is generally readable once you know the convention for your brand.
Row.co.uk also offers gadget insurance, which has a shorter eligibility window: gadgets must be under 12 months old at the time of taking out cover.
All claims with Row.co.uk are handled entirely online. To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk. From there, you can report the fault, provide supporting information, and track the progress of your claim — without needing to make a phone call.
Row.co.uk has a national repair network across the UK, meaning a qualified engineer can be arranged to inspect and repair your appliance. Repairs are carried out using quality parts appropriate to the appliance and the nature of the fault.
It is worth keeping a note of your appliance's model number and proof of purchase somewhere accessible — this information is often needed when making a claim and can save time when logging a fault.
Regular maintenance will not prevent every breakdown, but it does reduce the likelihood of avoidable faults and can meaningfully extend the working life of your appliances. Here are straightforward household-level steps for the most common appliances.
To be eligible for appliance insurance with Row.co.uk, your appliance must be under 6 years old at the time you take out the policy. If you are unsure of the manufacture date, check the rating plate on your appliance — the serial number typically includes the year of manufacture.
Yes. Row.co.uk offers a multi-item discount of up to 20% when you insure more than one appliance, plus 5% off your second appliance. This makes it straightforward to protect several key appliances — such as a washing machine, dishwasher, and fridge-freezer — under one arrangement.
To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk. All claims are handled online, and you can track progress from your account. Have your policy number and appliance model details to hand, as these are typically needed at the start of the process.
Row.co.uk's appliance insurance covers both accidental damage and mechanical or electrical breakdown. This means everyday incidents — such as a cracked oven door or damage caused by a power surge — may be covered, not just component failures arising from normal use.
An extended warranty is typically sold by a retailer at the point of purchase and extends the manufacturer's guarantee terms, usually covering defects but not accidental damage. Appliance insurance is a standalone policy you can take out independently, generally covers both breakdown and accidental damage, and can usually be cancelled at any time without penalty.
No. Row.co.uk appliance insurance has no lock-in — you can cancel at any time. Cover starts from £1.49 per month and you are not committed to a fixed-term contract.
If a repair is deemed uneconomical following an assessment, a replacement may be provided subject to the terms of your policy. Row.co.uk will confirm the outcome and next steps through the customer service centre once the assessment is complete.