Advertising Disclosure

We may earn money from our partners when you click a link, complete a form or call a phone number.

We believe everyone deserves to make thoughtful, informed purchase decisions. As a result, we provide our buyers guides and local guides free for consumers. We may receive compensation from our partners. However, Retirement Living independently researches companies, and the compensation we receive does not affect the analysis of our staff. Retirement Living will not include companies on our guides that do not meet our quality standards. The compensation we receive from our partners may impact how and where companies appear on our site, including the order in which they appear. As an Amazon Associate Retirement Living earns from qualifying purchases.

Retirement Living independently researches companies, and we use editorial discretion to award companies with special recognition (i.e. Great Value) based on our staff's judgment. We do this to help you identify companies that will meet your specific buying needs, and we do not receive compensation for these designations.

Get Insider Access

Get special offers, advice and tips from Retirement Living delivered to your inbox.

4 Kinds of Warranties That Cover Home Appliances

Updated: March 21, 2023
By: Jonathan Trout
Jonathan Trout
Content Manager
Jonathan is a former product and content manager for Retirement Living. His background spans sales/marketing, finance, and telecommunications. Jonathan’s expertise in consumer wellness and research-backed data stories helped educate seniors on financial planning, retirement, and community resources. Jonathan graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Environmental Sociology.
Content Manager
Edited by: Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith
Sr. Content Manager
As Retirement Living’s senior content manager, Jeff oversees the product and publishing of all retirement, investing, and consumer wellness content on the site. His extensive expertise in brand messaging and creating data-driven stories helps position Retirement Living as a top authority for senior content and community resources.
Sr. Content Manager

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. appliance repair

    Source: Getty
  4. 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.

  5. 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.