It is common for household appliances and systems to break down or malfunction due to wear and tear or an accident. Whatever the reason, buying replacement parts or a new appliance can be expensive. In such situations, a home warranty can be useful as it offers financial support to homeowners to replace or repair an appliance. However, everything is not covered by such a warranty. Here are some things that a home warranty doesn’t cover.
Washer, dryer, and fridge
While most home warranties cover several home appliances, washers, dryers, and refrigerators are generally the exception. This is true for a majority of the standard home warranty contracts. However, some warranties may allow consumers to add or enhance the coverage to include these appliance cases in the contract. So, homeowners who are worried that these appliances may break down sooner than they expect must read the fine print of the contract. It is important to ensure these appliances are included in the standard contract or the enhanced one, whichever is feasible.
Garage doors and tracks
Usually, garage door openers are covered by most standard home warranty contacts. But they do not include the garage door and track. Similar to washers and dryers, it is crucial to read through the home warranty contract to ensure the garage door opener is included. For those who have concerns regarding the garage door or may wish to replace it, homeowners insurance is a better alternative to consider compared to a home warranty.
HVAC system
Central air conditioning and heating units are usually not included in the coverage of standard home warranties. While many warranty providers have started providing coverage for HVAC systems, it is still important that homeowners go through the contract to ensure that these systems are added. Further, it is crucial to check for coverage offered for secondary AC or heating units. This is because even when the main HVAC system is covered by the warranty, the secondary units might be excluded.
Windows, walls, and doors
Most standard home warranties are applicable only to home systems and appliances. Usually, structural problems related to doors, walls, and windows are not covered by these. Yet, some warranty providers may offer coverage for repairing windows that are putting a risk on the integrity of the house. Homeowners keen to seek coverage for windows, walls, and doors will find it useful to have homeowners’ insurance.
Sprinkler systems
All types of outdoor plumbing such as sprinklers, faucets, and valves are generally excluded from home warranty contracts. This is mostly because any issues or problems with these systems rarely affect the integrity of the house.
Hot tubs and pools
This is similar to why outdoor plumbing systems are excluded from home warranty plans. Hot tubs, spas, and pools are generally not covered. However, some providers may offer coverage at additional costs, which can help one save on the expense of dealing with normal wear-and-tear problems with these systems.