If you’ve purchased an appliance for your home recently, you know they can be expensive. Whether it’s a dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, or washing machine, you invested a lot of money in appliances you hope will last many years. Having an appliance break down early can be frustrating, but fortunately, you have options for replacing or repairing appliances instead of buying new ones.
From a traditional manufacturer warranty to an extended warranty to a separate home appliance warranty, here’s a look at all of the home warranties that cover appliances. Keep in mind that all of these warranties become void if the appliance needing repair has not been used as intended.
- Home Warranty
Home warranties are often purchased with older homes but can come in handy with newer homes, especially if you move in with appliances from your last house. While home warranties cover repairs for big-ticket expenses like electrical and plumbing repairs, they can also include your existing appliances. Take a look at our home warranty guide to learn more about these maintenance contracts.
Who pays for a home warranty: If the seller of a home you’re interested in does not offer a home warranty with purchase, request one. While you can buy this coverage, it is not unusual for the seller to foot the bill. Most home warranties have a deductible or trip fee that you will have to pay before the appliance is repaired or replaced.
- Manufacturer’s Warranty
A manufacturer’s warranty is especially important when it comes to choosing appliances. This basic agreement from the manufacturer of the appliance guarantees that the product will continue to work for a specified amount of time, usually one or two years. If the appliance has any mechanical issues outside or normal wear and tear during this time, the company will repair or replace the appliance. Some manufacturer’s warranties are limited to certain parts of the machine, but most are fairly comprehensive.
Who pays for a manufacturer’s warranty: All manufacturer’s warranties require your original receipt to provide service, so hold onto that critical piece of paper. As a general rule, the consumer doesn’t pay for a manufacturer warranty and the appliance will be repaired or replaced at no cost.
- Home Appliance Warranty
A home appliance warranty works very much like an original manufacturer’s warranty, but you buy it from a company other than the manufacturer. Home appliance warranties cover repairs after the manufacturer warranty runs out. These warranties pay for all or part of repairs if an appliance breaks down and as a plus, they save the homeowner time that would be spent searching for a certified repair person. These plans usually cost about 15 percent of the purchase price of the appliance and are in force for a specific number of years.
Home appliance warranties are also called service contracts, appliance protection plans, home maintenance plans or appliance repair plans.
Who pays for a home appliance warranty: You do. You may buy one of these warranties at the time you purchase a new appliance or within a year or so of buying one. There may be deductibles or other comparatively small expenses with a home appliance warranty.
- Extended Warranty
When you purchase an appliance, the salesperson will likely offer you the option to add an extended warranty. As the name implies, this warranty lengthens the manufacturer’s warranty. Extended warranties usually mirror the manufacturer warranty and are also issued by the appliance manufacturer. While you can buy this coverage at the time you buy an appliance, you may be able to add an extended warranty toward the end of your manufacturer’s warranty.
It’s worth noting that, on average, retailers can make as much as 50 percent profit on an extended warranty. Be wary if a store pushes hard to sell you an extended warranty. However, should you have trouble with extended warranty repairs, you can usually get a reputable seller involved to resolve the issue.
Who pays for an extended warranty: You do. Because of the structure of extended warranties, they are rarely thrown in as a deal to entice the customer to make a purchase.
Should You Consider a Home Appliance Warranty?
With an average price between $300 and $8,000, you likely want protection for expensive appliance repair bills. Between the manufacturer warranty and the additional warranty options available, you can be sure that if you run into any problems with your appliances, you can save money on repairs. Read the fine print and ask questions before paying for any type of home appliance warranty.