A Cold House Is a Bad Time for a Surprise Repair Bill
Before winter settles in, take a closer look at home warranty coverage for your heating system, water heater and everyday appliances.
You turn up the thermostat. An hour later, you’re still wearing your coat indoors.
Getting the heat back on becomes the priority. Then comes the worry about what it will cost, especially when that money already has somewhere to go.
A home warranty with heating coverage is one option to consider before that happens. For a covered breakdown, it can help with the cost of repairing or replacing the equipment, subject to the contract’s limits.
We reviewed a First American Home Warranty sample contract to see what that protection includes. Its heating and water-heater provisions give homeowners a practical place to start.
Start With the System That Keeps Your House Warm
The sample lists gas, electric and oil furnaces, along with heat pumps, under its additional Premier Plan coverage. Listed heating components include motors, burners, heat exchangers and thermostats.
Those details matter when you’re comparing plans. You want to know whether your type of heating equipment is included and which parts and costs the agreement covers.
The sample limits liability to failures from normal wear and tear. It also expressly includes malfunctions involving rust, corrosion, chemical or sediment buildup, and lack of maintenance. Routine maintenance remains your responsibility, and pre-existing conditions are excluded.
Check the coverage while your heating system is still working. An existing breakdown wouldn’t qualify under this sample.
Put Hot Water on Your Winter Checklist, Too
A cold shower is an unwelcome way to start a winter morning.
The sample’s additional Premier Plan coverage includes gas and electric water heaters, including tankless units. It lists components such as heating elements, control thermostats and gas valves, along with tank leaks, subject to exclusions and limits.
When you request a quote, check your water heater alongside your heating system. Both belong on the list of equipment you’d want help getting back into service.
Think About the Appliances You’ll Need When Company Arrives
An oven that won’t heat is particularly inconvenient when dinner is supposed to be in it.
The sample also lists coverage for the oven/range/cooktop, kitchen refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer under its Basic Plan. Each item remains subject to the agreement’s terms and exclusions.
If you’re hosting family or friends this season, include those appliances when comparing coverage. A plan’s usefulness extends beyond the furnace.
Know Who to Call When Something Breaks
Under the sample’s process, you report the problem to First American. Once coverage is confirmed, the company dispatches the request to a qualified contractor, who contacts you to schedule an appointment.
First American decides whether a covered item will be repaired or replaced. You pay a service call fee, and coverage limits or excluded work can leave additional costs with you.
That gives you a service process to follow when you need help. It doesn’t promise an immediate repair, so review the service terms along with the coverage.
Understand What Winter Coverage Leaves Out
This sample excludes damage caused by freezing. Frozen or burst pipes caused by a freeze aren’t part of this page’s coverage promise. It also excludes storm damage and consequential losses.
The winter benefit we’re discussing is help with eligible equipment breakdowns. Routine maintenance, winterization and repairs performed without prior approval aren’t services to assume the plan will pay for.
Before choosing a plan, check its price, service fee, coverage limits and exclusions against the equipment in your home.
Get Your Quote Before You Need a Repair
Walk through your home’s essentials: the heating system, water heater and appliances you depend on every day.
Then get a First American quote and review the current contract for those items. You’ll have the information to decide whether the coverage and cost fit your budget before a breakdown forces the issue.
Coverage depends on the plan and applicable contract. Review the effective date, exclusions, service fees and limits before purchasing.
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