It's ruddy good!
It's ruddy good!
By Rachel Simmons, Insurance & Consumer Affairs Editor
Kitchen appliances are among the hardest-working items in any home. When a washing machine stops mid-cycle or a fridge quietly fails overnight, the repair bill — and the disruption — can arrive without warning. This guide explains how kitchen appliance insurance works in the UK, what repairs typically cost, how cover compares to warranties, and what you can do to keep your appliances running for longer.
Kitchen appliance insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing a household appliance when it breaks down due to mechanical or electrical failure, or suffers accidental damage. A good policy includes parts, labour, and call-out fees — meaning one predictable monthly cost instead of an unexpected one-off bill.
Row.co.uk policies start from £1.49 per month and cover appliances up to £2,000 in value. Both breakdown and accidental damage are included, with parts, labour, and call-out all part of the policy. If a repair proves uneconomical, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms. Row has protected over 200,000 items since 2009, holds an Insurance Choice Award, and is rated 4.72 out of 5 on reviews.io.
One important eligibility point: to take out cover with Row.co.uk, your appliance must be under 6 years old at the start of the policy. This is standard across appliance insurance providers and reflects the greater risk of significant faults in older machines.
UK appliance repair costs vary depending on the fault, the brand, and your location — but most common repairs range from around £80 to £350 or more once parts and labour are included. Here are realistic cost ranges for the most frequently repaired kitchen appliances.
Washing machines are one of the most commonly repaired household appliances. Drum bearing replacement — often signalled by a rumbling spin cycle — typically costs £150–£280 including labour. Door seals run £80–£150. Motor control board (PCB) failures, which frequently cause error codes or mid-cycle shutdowns, can cost £150–£300 or more, as the component itself is expensive. Pump replacements usually fall in the £80–£150 range.
Most fridge freezer repairs sit between £80 and £300. A faulty thermostat or worn door seal is at the lower end. Compressor failure — the most expensive common fault in refrigeration — can push into the £300–£450 range and often makes repair versus replacement a difficult calculation on older machines.
Blocked spray arms, failed heating elements, broken door latches, and faulty water inlet valves are the most frequent dishwasher issues, generally costing £80–£200 for parts and labour. Control board failures can bring the total closer to £250–£300 depending on the model.
Heating element replacement is the most common oven repair and typically costs £80–£150. Fan motor failure in fan-assisted ovens usually falls in the £100–£200 bracket. Faulty thermostats are generally cheaper; control board issues on range or multifunction ovens can be considerably more expensive.
Heating element failure accounts for the majority of tumble dryer call-outs and usually costs £80–£180 to fix. Drum belt replacements run £80–£150. If your dryer is a few years old and a particular model, it is worth checking the manufacturer's website — several brands have issued safety recalls on certain dryers and offer free remedial work.
Most kitchen appliance failures stem from one of a small number of recurring causes: mechanical wear on moving parts, electrical faults in control boards or heating elements, and gradual build-up of limescale or debris in water-using machines. Spotting early warning signs can help you act before a minor issue becomes a costly repair.
These three types of protection are often mentioned together but work in fundamentally different ways. Understanding the distinctions helps you choose the right level of cover for your situation.
| Feature | Manufacturer Guarantee | Extended Warranty | Appliance Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Usually 1–2 years | Fixed term (typically 2–5 years) | Ongoing — cancel anytime |
| Accidental damage | Rarely included | Sometimes included | Included with Row.co.uk |
| Covers existing appliances | No — new purchases only | Varies by provider | Yes, up to 6 years old |
| Multiple appliances | Separate guarantee per item | Separate contract per item | Multi-item discounts available |
| Flexibility | None | Often locked to fixed term | Cancel anytime, no lock-in |
Manufacturer guarantees are included free with new appliances and are a useful first line of protection, but they typically cover manufacturing defects only — not accidental damage, nor faults arising from normal wear. Once the guarantee period ends, you have no automatic protection.
Extended warranties are sold at point of purchase, often by the retailer. They can provide useful cover, but terms vary considerably between providers and some are tied to fixed contracts. If the retailer subsequently closes, claiming can become complicated — something that has caught out consumers more than once in the UK market.
Appliance insurance can be taken out independently at any point, giving you flexibility to protect appliances you already own, cover multiple items under one provider, and cancel without penalty. Row.co.uk offers cover from £1.49 per month with a multi-item discount of up to 20% — 5% off your second appliance, with further savings as you add more items.
Row.co.uk insures appliances under 6 years old against breakdown and accidental damage. Parts, labour, and call-out are all included. Add a second appliance and save 5%, with up to 20% off for multiple items.
Get a QuoteSimple, regular maintenance reduces the frequency of breakdowns and can meaningfully extend an appliance's working life. None of the following requires specialist tools or technical knowledge — these are practical household upkeep tasks.
Claiming on a Row.co.uk policy is a fully online process managed through the customer service centre. To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk, report the fault, and track progress through your account. There is no need to call — the UK-based team manages everything through the portal.
Row has a national repair network across the UK. Once a claim is logged, a qualified engineer will be arranged to attend and carry out the work using quality parts suited to your appliance. If the appliance cannot be economically repaired, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms, up to the cover limit of £2,000. Having your appliance's make, model number, and a clear description of the fault ready when you log your claim will help the process run smoothly.
Row.co.uk covers a wide range of kitchen and household appliances including washing machines, fridge freezers, dishwashers, ovens, cookers, tumble dryers, and more. The appliance must be under 6 years old at the start of the policy. Both mechanical or electrical breakdown and accidental damage are covered.
Your kitchen appliance must be less than 6 years old when the policy begins. This is standard eligibility across most appliance insurance providers, reflecting the increased likelihood of significant component failure in older machines. If your appliance is approaching this threshold, it is worth arranging cover sooner rather than later.
Yes — Row.co.uk policies cover both accidental damage and mechanical or electrical breakdown. This means you are protected whether the appliance develops a fault through normal use or is damaged accidentally, giving broader protection than most manufacturer guarantees or some extended warranties.
Yes. Row.co.uk offers 5% off your second appliance, with multi-item discounts of up to 20% as you add more items. Managing several appliances under one provider also simplifies renewals and claims administration compared with holding separate contracts across multiple companies.
An extended warranty is typically sold at point of purchase, tied to the retailer, and fixed to a set contract term. Appliance insurance can be taken out independently at any time (for appliances under 6 years old), covers accidental damage as standard, and can be cancelled without penalty. The two products have different terms, so it is worth reading what each actually includes before making a decision.
If Row.co.uk's engineers determine that an appliance cannot be economically repaired, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms, up to the cover limit of £2,000. The terms that apply to your specific policy are set out clearly when you take out cover.