Like most people, your house is the biggest investment you will ever make. As a result, you need to protect this investment from day one. While home insurance seems to be the most common way to protect your house, it often doesn’t cover the household appliances and fixtures.
That’s where a home warranty comes in.
You can and should choose a suitable home warranty plan in addition to the regular home owner’s insurance to protect yourself from unexpected plumbing, electrical, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) issues. Most leading Big Bear plumbing service providers will repair items covered under home warranty.
Let’s take a look at what home warranty is, how it works, and what plumbing issues it covers.
A. What Is Home Warranty?
According to Investopedia, a home warranty is a residential service contract that covers the cost of maintaining household systems or appliances for a set period. The regular homeowners insurance, on the other hand, covers the loss of your home and your belongings due to fire or weather damage.
A typical home warranty plan will most likely cover the cost of repairing or replacing electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems, and a few home appliances. Usually, you will have to buy a home warranty plan as an owner.
However, sometimes, sellers and even real estate agents may offer home warranty as a gift. Homebuilders might also offer a home warranty. However, it is likely to cover only the structure of the house for no more than 10 years.
The period of warranty, cost of the contract, and the time taken to process your claim will vary depending on your insurer. You should also check which Big Bear plumbing service providers are approved by your insurer.
B. How Does a Home Warranty Work?
It is always better to buy a home warranty plan, especially if the house you are buying is old. When it comes to old houses, everything from kitchen sinks to showers is most likely to be outdated and worn-out.
Thus, plumbing in such houses, among other things, is more vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns. A home warranty can help you save a sizable amount of money on service and repair of worn-out plumbing and any other issues.
Most home warranty plans have a year-long contract term. When the covered plumbing hardware or any other item breaks down, you can call your warranty provider (insurer) to cover for the damage.
Usually, the home warranty company will send one of their approved Big Bear plumbing service providers to resolve the issue. If the plumber is unable to fix the appliance or plumbing fixture, the company will pay for the replacement and installation of a new fixture. However, the cost of replacement, repair, and installation will depend on your home warranty plan. You will also have to pay a trade service fee, which usually ranges between $50 to $100.
Most home warranty companies will also set limits on how much they will pay for repairs or replacements. These limits will vary depending on the appliance or fixture being covered. For example, the company may offer to pay you no more than $1000 for water heating systems in your house. However, it may be $500 or less for a kitchen sink.
C. Systems and Appliances Covered Under Home Warranty
Most home warranty providers will cover the following systems and appliances under their plans:
1. Appliances
- Air Conditioning
- Dishwashers
- Garage Door Opener
- Oven
- Refrigerators
- Stoves and Cooktops
- Washing Machines
2. Systems and Fixtures
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Ductwork
- Water Heater
- Plumbing Fixtures
However, depending on your home warranty plan and company, appliances like air conditioning, refrigerator, and garage door opener may be optional or require additional coverage.
Most companies may also refuse to include and repair commercial-grade equipment or fixtures such as Bosch and Thermador in a plan. They will also not cover the plumbing fixtures listed as faulty during a plumbing inspection.
Most companies will pay for plumbing damages like clogs and leaks. Though, they won’t cover damages caused by faulty plumbing to flooring, drywall, furniture, and other parts of your house.
Almost all home warranty plans also have an incubation period of 30 days for the warranty benefits to kick in. In other words, you won’t be able to make any claims for 30 days from the date of purchase of a home warranty plan. You must check your home warranty plan carefully. Find out what it covers, its rules and regulations, and the claim process before buying.
Conclusion
As you can see, home warranty covers most plumbing issues in the Big Bear area. Make sure, however, that the Big Bear plumbing service provider you trust is an authorized service partner for the home warranty company in question. If you are thinking of buying a warranty plan, this post will help you understand how it works, what plumbing issues it covers, and whether it is worth the cost. Hopefully, this information will help you make the right decision.
Call Our Big Bear Plumbing Team Today!
If you want to get your plumbing work done under a home warranty plan, Bear Valley Plumbing & Heating is always here to help. Depending on your home warranty plan and the service provider, we will do our best to help you. Call us today on (909) 584-4376 or contact us online to schedule an appointment or find out more about our services.
If you are looking for a Big Bear plumbing, heating & air conditioning contractor, please call (909) 584-4376 or complete our online request form.
Category: Plumbing Replacement
