Whether you currently have a home warranty or are thinking about getting one, finding out about the coverage that exists for the plumbing system in your Cypress, California home is important. After all, plumbing systems can account for some of the most expensive replacements and repairs that many homeowners will ever face. Although home warranties are marketed as providing reliable protections when consumers need them, not all policies are guaranteed to take care of all your plumbing problems.
There’s a Big Difference Between Home Appliances and Home Systems
First, there are a few things to understand about home warranties. Some home warranty plans are all-inclusive. They cover wear-related damages for all home appliances and home systems. However, others are far less so. For instance, if your home warranty plan only offers protection for home appliances, this agreement may only cover repairs and replacements for your:
Washing machine
Clothes dryer
Garbage disposal
Stove
Refrigerator
Freezer
Although HVAC systems can be considered appliances, and are often referred to as such, in home warranties, they’re considered systems. If your home warranty includes coverage for systems, it will cover replacement and repair issues relating to your electrical system, your plumbing system, and your HVAC system. Contacting your home warranty company directly is the best way to get clarification on what your policy will and will not cover, and what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
When Was Your Home Warranty Purchased?
There’s also the matter of waiting periods. Even if your home warranty covers both home appliances and home systems, the benefits it provides may not be available for use if you’ve only recently signed your home warranty agreement. Home warranties typically come with mandatory, 30-day waiting periods. This is done to ensure that consumers aren’t buying warranties when they already have thousands of dollars in urgent repairs that they want to be completed. Waiting periods prevent people who aren’t acting in good faith from misusing these agreements.
While understandable, 30-day waiting periods can sometimes cause problems for consumers who are acting in good faith. For instance, if you notice that your home appliances or home systems are nearing the end of their lifespans and are in general disrepair, you may choose to buy one of these plans as a proactive way to prepare for the forthcoming replacements. However, problems that occur during this waiting period aren’t always covered.
The Underlying Cause of Your Plumbing Issue
Home warranties also come with a number of exclusions. These policies do not cover all problems with appliances and systems irrespective of their cause. For instance, if your home warranty company sends out a plumber to inspect and repair something in your plumbing system, they might not cover the costs of these services if the plumbing company reports evidence of long-term neglect.
Home warranties are mutual agreements between consumers and the companies that offer these products. While home warranty companies will pay for all age-related or wear-related repairs affecting covered items, they won’t pay for homeowners’ negligence. Keeping your covered appliances and systems well-maintained is an essential part of upholding your end of the agreement and maintaining your benefits.
Your home warranty will also not cover damages that are caused by unexpected events either. For instance, if a home flood damages your clothes dryer or washing machine, you’ll have to file a claim with your home insurance company instead. Home insurance policies cover building and property damages that result from extreme weather events, fires, overflows, and other similar occurrences.
Having both home insurance and a home warranty will give you the greatest level of protection. Your home insurance plan will take care of the unexpected, and your home warranty will handle the age-related problems that you do expect.
Will Your Home Warranty Pay to Replace Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances?
Some home warranty policies will replace a damaged aspects of your plumbing such as piping, fixtures, and appliances. However, there may be a caveat. In many cases, homeowners must choose similar equipment and at a comparable price. If you wish to install plumbing equipment that greatly exceeds the cost of the equipment you currently own, you’ll likely have to pay the difference.
Before determining whether or not replacement is the right choice, your home warranty company might ask to see your maintenance records. This is done to ensure that replacement is solely wear-related and not the result of negligence. How repairs and replacements are handled will be defined in your policy documents.
Scheduling Repairs
It’s also important to note that your California home warranty may not give you the freedom to choose your own service providers. Some home warranty companies reserve the right to do this on their own. If you have yet to purchase a home warranty plan, look for companies that allow consumers to screen and hire their own contractors. If you have a hard time finding one, look for a company that provides detailed information on the network of plumbing companies and other service providers that it regularly uses.
Have You Stayed Current With All Required Maintenance?
When binding any home insurance plan or purchasing any home warranty, it’s important to read through your contract documents carefully. As mutual agreements, these contracts detail what companies will do on behalf of consumers. They also detail what consumers must do to avoid having their benefits become null and void.
What you consider to be normal maintenance for your home appliances and home systems may not be sufficient for appeasing your home warranty company. You’ll likely find a list of individualized maintenance tasks that must be completed at regular intervals or with a well-defined maintenance schedule. Some warranty companies simply require homeowners to remain current with the maintenance schedules that individual product manufacturers have recommended.
One of the main benefits of a top-tier home warranty is that it covers maintenance and inspections. For instance, your home warranty may pay for a whole-house plumbing inspection each year, an energy audit, and an annual or twice-annual HVAC service. These visits make it easy to comply with the maintenance requirements that have been set forth in policy documents. They also allow service providers to identify and resolve minor issues before they spiral out of control.
When these benefits are offered, there’s usually a limited window for taking advantage of them. This makes it important to read through all of your policy documents and to reach out for help if you have a hard time understanding any of the included terms and conditions.
Your Trusted Plumbing and HVAC Company
Beach Plumbing proudly provides quality, top-rated plumbing, sewer, and drain services to residents of Cypress, California and the surrounding area. Whether or not you have a home warranty, we are more than happy to assist. If you have wear-related issues with the plumbing systems in your home, we’ve got you covered!
Call us today to find out about our full range of capabilities or to schedule an appointment.