Thanksgiving is one of the warmest days of the year — full house, big meal, family and friends gathered around the table. It’s also, statistically, one of the riskiest days for homeowners. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires in the United States, with three times the number of cooking fires compared to an average day.
Before you start thawing the turkey, it’s worth knowing exactly where your homeowners policy has you covered — and where it doesn’t.
Kitchen Fires: Covered, With Caveats
A standard homeowners policy covers fire damage to your home and personal property — so if a grease fire gets out of hand and damages your kitchen, you’re generally protected. Your dwelling coverage handles structural repairs and your personal property coverage handles damaged belongings, minus your deductible.
The caveat: neglect or gross negligence can complicate a claim. Leaving a stove completely unattended for an extended period, for example, may give a carrier grounds to reduce or dispute a payout. Keep an eye on the oven, and make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Deep Fryer Accidents: A Bigger Risk Than You Think
Fried turkey has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many families — but outdoor turkey fryers are involved in a disproportionate number of Thanksgiving fire and burn injuries. Most homeowners policies do cover fire damage caused by a fryer accident, but there are important things to know:
Many carriers explicitly exclude or limit coverage for fires caused by fryers used inside a garage or too close to a structure. Always use a turkey fryer in an open outdoor area, away from the home, on a flat non-combustible surface. Doing otherwise not only creates a serious safety hazard — it could jeopardize your claim.
Guest Injuries: Your Liability Coverage Steps In
When you invite guests into your home, you take on a degree of legal responsibility for their safety. If a guest slips on your wet kitchen floor, trips on a step, or gets injured in some other way on your property, your homeowners Personal Liability coverage can cover their medical expenses and any legal costs if they decide to sue.
Standard policies typically include $100,000 in personal liability coverage, though many homeowners should carry $300,000 or more — especially if they frequently host gatherings. An umbrella policy is an affordable way to extend that protection significantly.
Dog Bites: More Common During Busy Gatherings
The excitement of a house full of people can stress even a well-behaved dog, and unfamiliar guests — especially children — can inadvertently trigger a bite. Dog bites account for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claims paid in the U.S. each year.
Most homeowners policies cover dog bite liability, but some carriers exclude specific breeds or dogs with a prior bite history. If you have a dog and you’re not sure whether your policy covers bite incidents, check with your agent before the holiday — not after.
Traveling for Thanksgiving? Your Home Isn’t Unprotected
If you’re leaving town for the holiday, your homeowners policy generally continues to cover your unoccupied home against fire, theft, and vandalism. However, many policies have a vacancy clause that limits or voids coverage if a home is unoccupied for an extended period (typically 30–60 days). A long Thanksgiving trip isn’t likely to trigger that, but it’s worth noting for the future.
Practical steps before you leave: ask a neighbor to check on the house, set your thermostat to prevent pipe freezes (relevant even in Florida during a cold snap), and make sure all entry points are secured.
What Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover at Thanksgiving
A few things worth knowing that a standard policy typically won’t cover:
Flood damage. If a burst pipe from your dishwasher or a sink overflow causes water damage, that may be covered as a sudden and accidental loss. But rising water from outside your home — flood — is never covered under a standard homeowners policy. You need a separate flood policy for that.
Intentional damage. If a family dispute gets out of hand and someone intentionally damages property, that’s excluded.
Your guests’ belongings. If a guest’s coat or laptop is stolen from your home, your homeowners policy generally won’t cover their personal property — their own renters or homeowners policy would need to respond.
The Best Thanksgiving Prep Starts With a Coverage Review
You check the smoke detector before the big cook. You should also know what’s in your homeowners policy before you have 20 people in your house. If you haven’t reviewed your coverage recently — liability limits, deductibles, or whether your policy reflects the current value of your home — reach out to ThompsonBaker before the holidays.
