What makes a home warranty good for an older home
Not every plan is built for an older house. When you compare plans for a home with aging systems, check these five things:
- No age limit on systems or appliances. Some plans exclude or charge more for older equipment. The best plans cover items of any age that work on day one.
- No inspection to enroll. An inspection is just a reason to exclude your oldest systems.
- Heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical, not just appliances. In an older home, the big systems are the expensive risk.
- Coverage limits that fit real replacement costs. A furnace can cost $3,000 to $8,000 to replace, so check the per-item limit.
- One flat service fee and 24/7 phone claims. You make one call, a licensed technician comes out, and you know the cost up front.
Our plans check all five. Call (833) 667-1589 to see the coverage and limits for your home. New enrollments get the first 3 months free.
Yes, older homes qualify
Many people assume a home warranty is only for newer houses. It's the opposite. Older homes are where a plan does the most good, because older systems break more often and cost more to fix.
Coverage is based on whether an item works on the day the plan starts, not on its age. A 20-year-old furnace that heats the house today is covered for normal wear and tear. There is no inspection and no paperwork about the age of your equipment.
What usually fails first in an older home
Water heaters. Tank water heaters typically last 8 to 12 years. If yours is older, it is living on borrowed time, and replacement runs $1,200 to $3,000.
Furnaces and air conditioners. Most last 15 to 20 years. Past that point, blower motors, ignitors, compressors and heat exchangers start to go, and a full replacement can run $3,000 to $8,000.
Plumbing. Older galvanized and cast iron pipes corrode from the inside, leading to leaks, low pressure and stoppages.
Electrical. Older panels, outlets and wiring wear out and can fail without warning.
Appliances. Refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers that came with the house are often well past their expected life.
What a plan covers
Our plans cover the systems and appliances that cause the most trouble in older homes: central heating and air conditioning, water heaters, plumbing and electrical systems, refrigerators, ranges and ovens, dishwashers, washers and dryers, garbage disposals and garage door openers, depending on the plan you choose.
When something breaks, you call our 24/7 claims line, a licensed, pre-screened technician comes out, and you pay one flat service fee. If the item can't be repaired, the plan covers replacement up to the coverage limit.
What a home warranty won't cover
To set the right expectations: a home warranty covers breakdowns from normal wear and tear. It does not cover items that were already broken when the plan started, code upgrades required by your city, cosmetic issues, or damage from fire, storms or floods, which is what homeowners insurance is for. See our home warranty vs. homeowners insurance guide for the full picture.
Exact coverage, limits and exclusions are explained when you call (833) 667-1589.