Your home warranty covers repairs and replacements on the appliances in your home. When you purchase a home warranty, your home appliance and system repairs will be covered for one year. Everyone’s home warranty is different; many standard plans include coverage of all parts and components of your house’s electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems, and other appliances. You can also customize your plan to make sure your home is completely covered.

Claiming Your Home Warranty

Home warranties are different from your typical home insurance. They cover appliances and systems rather than the structure of your home and can help you save money from surprise home repair expenses. Your home insurance does not cover appliances like your dishwasher. If you want to make sure that all of your appliances and systems - from your washing machine to your plumbing - can be repaired as easily as possible and at an affordable price, then you’ll need a home warranty.

Home warranty claims typically follow this process:

Policy Holder Contacts Home Warranty Service Provider
Home Warranty Provider Connects Homeowner with Technician
Technician or Repairman Inspects Broken Appliance or System
Home Warranty Covers Item Repair or Replacement

Is There a Waiting Period?

Depending on the company you choose to get your home warranty from, you’ll likely have a waiting period of at least 14 days. Some policies don’t start until 30 days after you make your first payment on the plan. The reason for these extended waiting periods is companies want to make sure the appliances have truly stopped functioning because of old age or functionality. After the 14-30 day period has passed you can open up a claim. It is important to note that a waiting period of 30 days is typically seen if you did not buy your warranty within a real estate transaction.

When Should You Request Service?

Home warranties typically cover 12 months, so you can make a service request at any time after your waiting period has ended. Depending on your contract and policy provider, you may be able to request service any day at any time. The easiest way to submit a claim is to follow the instructions listed on your contract or go online to the company’s customer portal. You can also call them, but many companies aren’t available 24/7.

Are There Claim Caps?

Some warranty plans may limit the number of service appointments or claims that you can make. To know what your cap is be sure to look at your annual coverage limits because some might have a cap price that is higher than another depending on the appliance. For example, a washing machine might have a cap price of a few hundred dollars while plumbing might have a thousand dollars of wiggle room.

Do Warranties Cover Preventative Maintenance?

Unfortunately, many home warranties do not cover preventative maintenance, which means that homeowners pay out of pocket to maintain systems like their plumbing and HVAC. If you don’t maintain your systems and appliances, your home warranty provider can refuse to cover the cost of your repairs.

Some warranty providers go beyond regular home repairs and will help homeowners maintain their appliances and systems. Do your research before you choose a provider so that you know exactly what you’ll need to pay out of pocket.

What Can You Do If a Claim Is Denied?

Your warranty provider has the right to deny any of your claims when you need a repair. The warranty company will always send a contractor to your home to inspect items that need to be repaired and report back anything they find. For example, they will tell the warranty provider whether or not you have been keeping up with maintenance. If you haven’t been, your claim can be denied. Luckily, there are a few steps that you can take when your claim is denied.

Review your contract. Your agreement will state how to handle appeals.
Contact your home warranty provider. Make sure that you keep a list of dates you spoke to the company representative and include names. If direct instructions for appeals aren’t outlined in your agreement, make sure that you get the paperwork or instructions to appeal the denial of your claim.
Hire another contractor. Contact one of your local contractors to assess the item that needs to be repaired and get an estimate for the job. Ask the contractor to give you a note that states the cause of the damage.
Follow the appeal process outlined by your warranty company. This may include providing additional documentation.

Getting a Home Warranty

A home warranty can protect you from unnecessary expenses when something in your home breaks. Not to mention home warranties are great for every type of homeowner to help ease the stress of your first house or your last. To get a home warranty, all you have to do is research home warranty companies online and find the best plan for your home.

Next, speak to a customer service representative and sign a contract to make sure everything you need is covered.

Remember, different plans cover different appliances and systems, so make sure you read the agreement thoroughly before signing. Once you agree on a company and service that works best for you, you are all set and you can enjoy the comfort, relaxation, and success of owning your home.

About Author: Marné Amoguis

Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.