Home Warranty Blog and Resources

When the weather starts getting colder and we all retreat into our homes to stay warm, it’s important to make sure that your house is in good condition to withstand the outdoor elements. Make sure you check the following systems and parts of your home to prepare for winter weather: RoofAtticFireplace and chimneyWindows and doorsCeiling fansAir conditionerFurnaceHeat pumpPipesBoilerSump pumpSmoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors Roof The winter months can bring unpredictable weather beyond snowfall, such as rain and/or high winds. For that reason, it’s a good idea to visually check out your roof before the weather changes. You may not even have to climb up onto your roof — just taking a look at it from the ground can give you a quick visual of its condition. If you’d like to do a more comprehensive check of your roof, you can climb up and check the shingles and other areas of concern. Take a look at your roof for any signs of damage. Look out for any signs of damaged, buckled, or missing shingles.  Replace loose shingles and repair any visual damage. It is important to visually inspect your roof, particularly if you live in an area that experiences snowfall. The cycle of snow accumulating, freezing, and thawing can be damaging to your roof; check your roof once the winter season has ended in case it has incurred any damage. Attic A lot of heat in a home can be lost through a poorly insulated attic. It is important to inspect your attic insulation and assess whether or not it needs to be replaced. Inspect and install insulation. Inspecting insulation will typically require that you get up into your attic and then measure how much insulation you have. Insulation level recommendations will vary depending on where you live, but a good rule of thumb is as follows: if your insulation measures below your joist, it probably isn’t enough insulation. A standard joist is typically measured at 2” X 8”, and you should have anywhere from 13 to 18 inches of insulation, depending on your location. For more information regarding insulation, check out this insulation guide from Insulation Institute. Fireplace and chimney While the weather outside is frightful, the fire will only be delightful if your fireplace and chimney are in good repair. Schedule a chimney inspection and cleaning. Debris, soot, leaves, and even bird nests can accumulate in your chimney, which could cause chimney fires if not swept away. Thus, it’s important to get your chimney inspected and cleaned for the winter months. Windows and doors If heat is escaping your home, or cold air is entering, windows and doors are typically the culprit. For that reason, it’s important to prepare your home for colder weather by doing the following: Check and replace weatherstripping. Check and repair caulking, but be careful where you caulk. You don’t want to cut off small openings necessary for air flow and/or drainage. It is recommended that you don’t caulk certain exterior fixtures of your home, as well as on operable windows and doors that are in frequent use. In most cases, weatherstripping will be the better option, especially for windows and doors. Remove window screens. Doing so can maximize natural light, in addition to protecting your window frames from damage caused by debris or snow getting trapped in between the screen and your windows. Ceiling fans It can be easy to forget about your ceiling fans, because you obviously wouldn’t be running them through the winter anyways. But in terms of winter preparation, your ceiling fans aren’t something you should ignore. Reverse your ceiling fans. Reversing your ceiling fans can give your heating system a helping hand by forcing warm air down that has risen. This could allow you to lower your thermostat, helping you save more energy and cut back on heating costs. Air conditioner You likely won’t be using your air conditioning system during the cold winter months, but that doesn’t mean you should just turn it off and ignore it. Winterize your air conditioner. According to Climate Care, there are five steps to winterize your air conditioner: Turn your air conditioner off. Clean units. Change the filters. Check pipe insulation. Cover your air conditioner. You may be able to clean and prepare your air conditioner for the winter months by yourself, but it can also be helpful to have a technician come check, clean, and cover it, ensuring that it will remain in good condition throughout the winter. Furnace One of the most important things to take care of before the winter months is your furnace. Get your furnace inspected. Clean air ducts. Change furnace filters. Getting your furnace inspected early on can ensure that you catch any potential problems, or even buy a new furnace, if needed, before the cold sets in. You may be able to easily clean furnace air ducts and change filters easily by yourself, but it is best to have a professional come to inspect your furnace to make sure that everything is working properly. Heat pump You can follow some of the following steps to prepare your heat pump for the winter months: Clear the area around your heat pump. Change your heat pump filter. Pipes Pipes exposed to cold air can burst, which can cause a lot of damage to your home. So you’ll want to take a few steps to keep your pipes from freezing: Inspect exterior wall pipes. Consider adding insulation to your pipes. Keep your thermostat at at least 55 degrees. This is especially important if you’re going to be out of town. Boiler You wouldn’t want your boiler breaking down during the winter months, so you can take some of the following steps to make sure it’s in good condition before it starts getting cold: Turn it on before winter starts. Check for leaks or any other damage. Schedule a boiler maintenance appointment. Sump pump A sump pump is used to detect water levels and keep them from rising. Typically located in the basement of a home, it is important to ensure that your sump pump is in good condition or else you could risk a flood. Take some of the following steps to properly winterize your sump pump: Remove the sump pump discharge hose. If water freezes inside the hose, it would render the pump unusable until water thaws. Clear out any debris. Test the pump regularly. Simply run some water through to ensure that everything is working properly. Never unplug your sump pump. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors Having functioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is important all year round. However, during the winter months there is less fresh air flow in your home because your windows will be closed to keep cold air out. This can result in a higher risk of carbon monoxide build-up. Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The bottom line Most maintenance can be done visually and quickly. However, while there are many inspections and fixes that you may be able to do yourself, it can always be a good rule of thumb to schedule professional maintenance, especially for home systems. It is important to ensure that all your home systems are functioning properly when winter sets in. But some maintenance can even save you more money on your energy bills, like reversing your ceiling fans and checking your attic insulation, which can both help regulate the heat in your home.

September 2022 — Best Company announces the top 10 home warranty companies in California. Best home warranty companies in California Companies are listed in their ranked order for the state of California, as listed on BestCompany.com. American Home Shield {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-home-shield"%} American Home Shield is a home warranty industry leader and has been in business for over 50 years. Plans typically last 12 months, and customers can cancel anytime. On Best Company, American Home Shield averages 4 stars with over 25,000 reviews. Happy customers rave about the excellent customer service and professionalism displayed by the company. AHS also received Best Company's 2022 Expert's Choice Award. Choice Home Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="choice-home-warranty"%} Choice Home Warranty operates out of Edison, New Jersey and was founded in 2008. The company services all 50 states, with fees starting at $85 for services. Customer reviews for Choice Home Warranty mention timely service and competent staff who can quickly identify and fix issues. First American Home Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="first-american-home-warranty"%} First American Home Warranty has serviced millions of claims and in 2021, saved homeowners more than $219 million in covered repairs and replacements. It was founded more than 35 years ago and is based in Santa Rosa, California. On Best Company, the company averages 3.9 stars out of 5, and positive reviews talk about the company's extensive coverage, friendly phone staff, and helpful follow through with issues that come up. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="2-10-home-buyers-warranty"%} 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is based in Colorado and offers both prearranged and personalized plans to homeowners, real estate agents, and landlords. The company offers extremely competitive pricing for home warranty plans. Reviewers on Best Company have mostly positive feelings about 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, with specific reviews mentioning the company's helpful website and responsive, helpful technicians.  Liberty Home Guard {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="liberty-home-guard"%} Liberty Home Guard has only been in business a few years, yet offers impressive home warranty programs that allow homeowners the space to customize their plan to their coverage needs. Liberty Home Guard reviews on Best Company are an impressive 70 percent positive. Customers report that their experiences with the company go smoothly and that they often receive same-day service after reporting a broken appliance or other home issue. American Residential Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-residential-warranty"%} American Residential Warranty offers nationwide coverage and multiple plan options to home warranty customers. The company is based in Florida. Customers of American Residential Warranty are generally highly satisfied; the company averages 4 out of 5 stars in terms of value, quality, service, and trustworthiness. United Home Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="united-home-warranty"%} United Home Warranty focuses its services exclusively in California and offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which is fairly standard for the industry. On BestCompany.com, the company only has about 10 reviews, though all of these reviews are either 4 or 5 stars. Select Home Warranty {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="select-home-warranty"%} Select Home Warranty is based in New Jersey but offers services in all but four states. The company has a free online quote generator and was founded in 2011. Select Home Warranty gets mixed reviews on Best Company. Some recent customers have been dissatisfied with the company's poor service/slow response time. However, the majority of reviews for the company are still 5 stars. The Home Service Club {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="the-home-service-club"%} The Home Service Club won awards in 2015 and 2016 for "Best in Service" and a 2018 Editor's Choice Award. The company is based in New York. Reviews for The Home Service Club are nearly all positive (90 percent are 4 or 5 stars), with customers citing features like nice sales reps, a great claims process, and budget-friendly options. Global Home Protection {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="global-home-protection"%} Global Home Protection offers specialized coverage plans for home buyers and sellers, as well as real estate professionals and standard homeowners. the company operates everywhere inside the continental United States. On Best Company, Global Home Protection averages 4.1 out of 5 stars, with former or current clients praising the company's exceptional customer service and same-day fixes for broken appliances. How we rank Company scores and rankings on Best Company are calculated through our Best Rank Algorithm. This algorithm is composed of the following factors and weights: Average score of reviews — 72.5% Volume of reviews — 22.5% Responsiveness to reviews — 5% To receive a score, a company must have at least 10 customer reviews left on its profile, and recent reviews carry more weight than older reviews.  We do have partnerships with some companies on our site, through which we receive compensation. However, this compensation does not affect rankings or review scores.

August 2022 — Best Company recently announced that American Home Shield, a Frontdoor brand, has received the 2022 Home Warranty Expert's Choice Award. About the Expert's Choice Award Every year, the Best Company vertical experts highlight one company in certain verticals on BestCompany.com that they think stand out among competitors, regardless of overall category ranking. With over 24,600 reviews on BestCompany.com, American Home Shield stands out as a reliable and trustworthy home warranty company with positive customer service experiences. About American Home Shield {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-home-shield"%} Best Company User Star Rating — 4/5 Stars Number of Plans — 3 (ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™) Service Fee — starting at $75 Year Founded — 1971 American Home Shield is a leader in the home warranty industry serving more than 2 million homeowners across the nation. Since its founding in 1971, American Home Shield has grown and now serves 48 states and has upwards of 1,500 employees, ensuring that homeowners can get the coverage they need with reliable service. The company offers three extensive home warranty plans (ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™) that provide coverage for parts of major home systems and appliances that keep homes running smoothly. Additional coverage can be added to protect some of the following systems: septic pump, well pump, pool and in-ground spa, and roof leak repair coverage. American Home Shield further sets itself apart from other home warranty companies by offering additional coverage options for electronics protection, which covers TVs, laptops, gaming systems, home theater systems, and more. When you need a repair done on an appliance or system, you can quickly and easily place a service request online, after which a qualified technician will be dispatched to your home. Upon placing a service request, you will be charged a diagnosis fee based on the Trade Service Call Fee amount you select when you become an American Home Shield member. Company insight "American Home Shield has been empowering homeowners to feel confident and in control of their homes for more than fifty years. This recognition from Best Company reaffirms our commitment to our members and dedication to continued innovation as we evolve to provide peace of mind and budget protection for current and future homeowners." — Raj Midha Senior Vice President and General Manager, American Home Shield, a Frontdoor brand Company experience and accreditation American Home Shield has received multiple awards and recognitions for achievements on Best Company. Here are some of the awards American Home Shield has received in the last year: 1,000 5-Star Reviews — The 1,000 5-Star Reviews Award is given to companies with 1,000+ 5-star user reviews on BestCompany.com. 2022 Top 3 Ranked — The Top 3 Ranked Award is determined by a company's average review score with a minimum of 100 reviews. 2022 Customers Love Us Award — The Customers Love Us Award is presented to companies that have 50+ 5-star reviews on BestCompany.com. American Home Shield reviews American Home Shield has upwards of 24,600 reviews on BestCompany.com, a substantial number of reviews when compared to other home warranty companies — 71 percent of reviews have a 4-star or 5-star rating. Many of these reviews highlight the excellent customer service at American Home Shield.  The bottom line When you're trying to choose a home warranty company, it can be difficult to know which companies to trust. For that reason, it is important to read customer reviews to get a better idea of the customer experience with a company. American Home Shield reviews are primarily positive and satisfied customers are quick to highlight the company's great customer service.  Based on American Home Shield reviews, expertise, and experience in the industry, in addition to the company's plans and prices, we would recommend American Home Shield to consumers. Read more about American Home Shield *American Home Shield review data was taken from a sample of 1,600 4-star and 5-star American Home Shield reviews on BestCompany.com.

June 2022 — Best Company recently announced the four home warranty companies that earned the Great Value Award in 2022. About this award The Great Value Award is presented to companies that have a 4+ value sentiment average with a minimum of 50 reviews from real customers on Best Company. Companies did not apply for this award. Qualification is based on a company's current review count and average value sentiment rating. Award recipients The following companies have received the 2022 Great Value Award. Companies are not listed in a particular order. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="landmark-home-warranty"%} Landmark Home Warranty is a top-rated home warranty company providing comprehensive home warranty plans to homeowners in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. The company offers customizable coverage options and is a member of the National Home Service Contract Association and the Texas Real Estate Commission. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="oneguard"%} OneGuard is a home warranty company serving homeowners in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. The company offers a variety of plan options, each of which have a sample contract, detailing exactly what is covered and what services are available for typical appliance/system wear and tear. In addition to traditional home warranty options, OneGuard also provides carpet cleaning, window cleaning, pest control, and lawn care. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-residential-warranty"%} American Residential Warranty is a nation-wide home warranty company providing a variety of plan options to homeowners in all states. The company provides greater flexibility, allowing homeowners to choose their payment schedule and contractors when service is needed. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="the-home-service-club"%} The Home Service Club is a nation-wide home warranty offering homeowners a variety of plan and contract options. As a leader in the home warranty industry, The Home Service Club has a large service network of over 10,000 qualified technicians. A note on this award The Great Value Award is based on the number of total reviews that a company has received from customers, as well as its average value sentiment rating. Customer reviews will provide you with great insight on the value provided by a home warranty company, which can be helpful when determing which company to do business with.

May 2022 — Best Company recently announced the 12 home warranty companies that earned the Customers Love Us Award in 2022. About this award The Customers Love Us Award is presented to companies that have 50+ 5-star reviews on BestCompany.com. Companies did not apply for this award. Eligibility is based on the number of 5-star reviews left by past and present customers on a company's Best Company profile. Award recipients The following home warranty companies have received the 2022 Customers Love Us Award. Companies are not listed in a particular order.  {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="oneguard"%} OneGuard was founded in 1990 and provides home warranty coverage options to homeowners in three states — Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="americas-first-choice-home-club"%} America's First Choice Home Club offers a variety of home warrany plan options and add-on coverage options. The company offers 24/7 claims service. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-home-shield"%} American Home Shield, founded in 1971, is a leader in the home warranty industry, offering customizable plans and coverage. Plans can be tailored to your needs, and the company even offers electronics coverage to protect your computers, TVs, smart devices, etc. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="american-residential-warranty"%} American Residential Warranty offers home warranty plans in all 50 states. The company also provides 24/7 service and flexible contractors that can make system and appliance repairs when you need them. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="liberty-home-guard"%} Liberty Home Guard offers various affordable home warranty plans with customizable add-on coverage options. The company has an online portal and mobile app for customers. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="first-american-home-warranty"%} First American Home Warranty is a home warranty industry leader, offering customers both expertise and extensive coverage. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="serviceplus-home-warranty"%} ServicePlus Home Warranty, formerly Total Home Protection, offers a variety of afforable home warranty plans. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="the-home-service-club"%} The Home Service Club is a nationwide home warranty service provider with customizable coverage options. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="choice-home-warranty"%} Choice Home Warranty, founded in 2008, is a popular home warranty company offering comprehensive coverage and 24/7 customer service. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="landmark-home-warranty"%} Landmark Home Warranty offers comprehensive and affordable coverage in six states — Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="select-home-warranty"%} Select Home Warranty was founded in 2011 and offers various coverage options. You can easily get a free quote online through the company's website. {%company-card vertical="home-warranty" company="2-10-home-buyers-warranty"%} 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, founded in 1980, offers a range of home warranty plans with customizable add-on options and contractor flexibility. A note on this award The Customers Love Us Award is based on the number of 5-star reviews that a company has received from customers. Customer reviews will provide you with great insight on the customer service that a company provides, which can be an important consideration when looking for a home warranty company since coverage options are similar across companies in the industry. Based on reviews, we would recommend each of the home warranty companies outlined above.

Guest Post by John Bodrozic Everyone tells you that your home is your largest financial asset and biggest expense, yet no one tells you how to budget for home maintenance much less providing you guidance over what maintenance tasks to perform. Your car has a complete owner’s manual with a recommended maintenance schedule, and it probably has lights on the dashboard that blink alerting you of specific maintenance tasks. Yet your home on the other hand does not have a singular owner’s manual and there is no dashboard blinking at you. Let’s review the details of how to maintain your home and how to budget for it. A collection of fixed assets Your home consists of many different products and materials that are assembled in a unique way. Think of your home as a collection of fixed assets in five different categories. First are the core building materials such as the concrete foundation, framing, roof, exterior siding, windows, ductwork, plumbing pipes, insulation and more. Next are the major pieces of equipment such as your air conditioner unit, furnace, hot water heater, garage doors, electrical panels and gas fireplaces.  The third category of fixed assets are the appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and washer and dryer. Next are all the finish materials in the house like wood flooring, carpeting, tile, built in cabinets, plumbing and electrical fixtures. The last category is all the landscaping such as lawns, trees, shrubs, driveways, patios, and fences. The important thing to understand is that most of your home’s fixed assets have a natural useful life in terms of how long it will last and that it is based on doing consistent preventative maintenance to preserve it. Budgeting for home maintenance Many homeowners completely forget or are not aware of the need to budget for annual home maintenance. These homeowners tend to completely ignore preventative maintenance tasks and then they start to believe their home is a money pit which affects their overall personal finances. Properly budgeting and staying committed to preventative maintenance tasks eliminates the many problems that come with ignoring maintenance. A simple strategy is to calculate between 1 percent and 4 percent of the purchase price of your home for an annual maintenance budget. The key is to determine how old your home is by finding out when your home was originally built, which you can find from various property and county records.  If your home is less than five years old, then use 1 percent for your budget because the fixed assets are still relatively new; therefore, more of the budget is allocated to cheaper preventative maintenance tasks. If your home is between 5 and 15 years old, then use the 2 percent figure because you will naturally have more expensive repair costs as various materials in your home wear out. Use 3 percnet if your home is between 15 and 25 years old and 4 percent if your home is over 25 years old. The reason is because all those different fixed assets are reaching the end of their useful life and you will need to spend more on significant repairs and probably even replacement costs. Know what maintenance to do with your home Since your home did not come with a complete maintenance schedule, it is important to create a recurring task list that itemizes all the preventative maintenance your home needs. Some people will do this with spreadsheets but the drawback to this approach is you don’t get automated alerts and reminders. Other homeowners are turning to digital home management software like HomeZada because not only do they automatically create a recurring preventative task list for you, but they also send email and push notification alerts. This means you don’t have to remember when it is time to perform these seasonal tasks. There are many websites like one from the Housing and Urban Development that will provide you a list of typical preventative maintenance tasks that you can incorporate into creating your own personalize maintenance schedule. As with most things, the 80/20 rule applies where there are common tasks across any type of home such as cleaning gutters and changing air filters. The other 20% of your tasks are things you can easily personalize. When customizing your home’s maintenance schedule, consider where you live, the weather and climate changes throughout the year, and the specifics about the products and materials in your home. Homes where the temperature drops below freezing with snow in the winter have more preventative maintenance tasks such as insulating pipes and shoveling snow and ice off the house and driveways. Homes in hot climates with swimming pools have a lot of pool maintenance tasks. Another example is that homes near a coastline or in the mountains will have more severe weather that takes its toll on the house which requires more frequent maintenance. Track your actual costs Creating a budget is important but tracking your actual costs is equally valuable. With many preventative maintenance tasks, these are things that most homeowners can do themselves such as cleaning out coils in the refrigerator to pressure washing your driveway. These DIY tasks may have consumable costs such as buying air filters, caulking, and other tools and products necessary to perform these tasks. Many times, homeowners end up hiring a service provider for either regular maintenance tasks or specific one-time tasks for things they can’t or don’t want to do themselves. A few examples include hiring a window cleaning service to keep your exterior windows and screens clean and another is hiring a tree trimming service to prune your larger trees. Keeping track of these maintenance costs, whether they are outside contractors or things you need to do the task yourself, is important because you can build an annual history of your actual maintenance costs. Then you can review these costs and determine if there are ways to save money with your home maintenance in the future. The value of doing home maintenance Saving money on your variable utility bills like electric, gas, and water is a big value when keeping up with your preventative maintenance tasks. When your equipment, appliances, and building materials are operating efficiently because they are clean and maintained, your costs to run the house can be decreased because they draw less energy and hot and cold air don’t escape your home. Here is a list of energy saving tips from the Department of Energy. Preventive maintenance tasks usually only take a minimal amount of time to do and they don’t cost a lot of money. But neglecting those tasks will cause the equipment and building materials to wear out quicker which means you will spend more money on more expensive fix it and repair costs. It also means you will need even a bigger replacement cost much sooner than the expected lifetime of that building material. A well-maintained home is a home that maintains its overall value and may even increase the value. If you ever decide to sell your home, most buyers will do a home inspection. If the report comes back with a lot of things that need fixing, it may be more difficult to sell your home and many buyers will negotiate a lower value because of the backlog of needed repairs. Staying on top of home maintenance is also valuable for the health of your family. The National Center for Healthy Housing reports that over 40 percent of homes in the United States have at least one safety or health hazard. This is over 35 million homes with a multitude of problems due to lack of maintenance where many of them result in mold and bad air in the home which leads to significant health issues. When our families spend most of the time in the home, you want to make sure the air, water and other systems are in great working condition. Keeping a safe home is also aligned with staying on top of home maintenance. Checking smoke alarms, checking the pressure of fire extinguishers, and checking carbon monoxide detectors are important to your family’s safety. Other preventative maintenance tasks focus on minimizing a fire from starting in the home which include cleaning out highly flammable lint from the dryer duct, cleaning the grease from your kitchen fume hood, checking ground fault electrical receptacles, and cleaning out wood burning fireplaces. Ignoring home maintenance tasks and not budgeting for them leads to spending way more than you need to manage your home. It then negatively impacts other aspects of your overall personal financial situation. As with anything in life, a little proactive planning and creating a system to track your maintenance activities along with the budgets and costs for them make being a homeowner that much easier. You will have more peace of mind for your family, save money, and have more time to enjoy other aspects of life. John Bodrozic is a co-founder of HomeZada, a digital home management software platform that empowers homeowners to manage, maintain, protect and improve their home. John was previously a co-founder of a construction project management software business that grew to a global business with an eventual sale to a public company. John received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Guest Post by Adam Sherman Buying a first home is an exciting milestone in one’s life, but the significant costs involved put tremendous strain on the average person’s budget. After the down payment, moving costs, inspection fees, and other expenses, some new homeowners feel financially constrained. A broken home system or appliance is always a financial setback, but something failing within a year of a home’s sale is a new homeowner’s worst nightmare. Fortunately, purchasing a home warranty when buying a home is an effective way to protect both one’s home and wallet. Let’s explore a first-year home warranty and its benefits. What is a first-year home warranty? A first-year home warranty is a service agreement that covers a home’s systems and appliances for a full year after the closing date. It ensures that items covered by the contract will be repaired or replaced should they break down due to normal wear and tear. Homeowners typically pay a monthly or annual premium and a service fee whenever they need to submit a claim, but they are protected from paying out of pocket for costly repairs. What do home warranties cover? Home warranties are not the same as homeowner’s insurance policies. A standard insurance policy will protect a home in the event of disaster, accident, or theft. Insurance will not cover individual systems and appliances that fail after years of general use. A home warranty can fill those gaps in coverage. Every home warranty policy is different. Some agreements are narrow in scope, covering only a few appliances or systems in the home. Other agreements are broader and will cover virtually anything. Here are some of the home appliances and systems that a basic first-year warranty plan will cover: Refrigerators Dishwashers Ovens, ranges, and cooktops Garbage disposals Exhaust fans Built-in microwaves Washers and dryers Electrical wiring Plumbing Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) Homeowners can usually upgrade their home warranty plans to include coverage for additional appliances and systems. Common additions include septic systems, sprinkler systems, pools, wells, sump pumps, and more. Provided that the appliance or system is not already faulty, the homeowner can likely negotiate with the warranty company to receive coverage. Some warranty providers even provide home services, such as gutter cleaning, roof repair, and pest control.  The breadth and flexibility of coverage make a home warranty a worthwhile resource for people of all means and lifestyles. Who pays for a home warranty? There are different categories of home warranties. In some cases, homeowners preparing to sell their home will purchase a warranty plan to entice buyers. Once the home is sold, the warranty is transferred to the new homeowners. This is typically referred to as a seller’s home warranty. Depending on the agreement between homeowners, the sellers may cover all expenses until the warranty expires, or the buyers may take over the premium and/or service fees after the closing date. A home buyer’s warranty is another kind of plan. Homeowners purchase this type of warranty for themselves to receive coverage on systems and appliances after moving into a new home. The homeowners are usually responsible for all costs associated with a buyer’s warranty. Sometimes, however, it’s the realtor who pays for home warranty buyer or seller plans. A realtor may purchase a plan as a gift for a client or to facilitate a home sale.  Someone who is interested in a first-year home warranty for a new home will likely purchase a new home buyer’s warranty, but it’s important to communicate with the realtor and sellers to confirm that no one has already purchased a warranty for the home. Benefits of buying a home warranty For most people, a comprehensive first-year home warranty plan that is tailored to the homeowner’s needs is an invaluable asset. Here are some of the most important benefits. Savings — Home warranties are surprisingly affordable. Inexpensive plans go for a few hundred dollars per year. Service fees can range from around $75 to $150, but these are only required when a claim is submitted. The price tag on a new refrigerator dwarfs the annual cost of the average home warranty. If something in the home needs to be repaired or replaced, the home warranty can effectively pay for itself. A home warranty can even boost a home’s value. Convenience — Warranty providers maintain networks of qualified and insured technicians. When something in the home requires servicing, the warranty company can handle the logistics of sending a repair person to the home. Peace of mind — A faulty appliance can be a significant source of stress. It can make a home less comfortable, and the high price tag of fixing or replacing an important machine can generate a great deal of financial anxiety. A home warranty relieves homeowners of these worries. What to look for when buying a first-year home warranty So, is a home warranty worth it? For most people, yes. There are some things to consider as you look for a plan, however. Here are some important tips to keep in mind: Purchase only the coverage you need — A primary benefit of a home warranty is savings. Purchasing a plan that includes coverage for systems and appliances that you don’t own defeats that purpose. You should also confirm there are no active manufacturers’ warranties on appliances in your home. Find reputable companies — Unfortunately, warranty scamming is a real problem to look out for. Thoroughly research your warranty company before agreeing to a plan. Use respected sites and organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau, to find trustworthy companies. Ask questions — Have a list of questions at the ready as you shop around for the right plan. Make sure you understand what is and is not covered. Ask if there are limitations to how much the plan will pay out. Confirm there are no hidden costs or fees. A first-year home warranty is an excellent investment for new homeowners. Just make sure you do your due diligence to find the optimal plan. Adam Sherman has over a decade of experience when it comes to all things related to home service contracts.

Things go wrong all the time. Your freezer breaks and the food thaws out. Your AC’s filter clogs and leaves you high and dry in a heatwave. Your washer floods the laundry room. If you manage your own household, you’ve probably had a few emergencies from neglected appliances. And the more appliances you have, the more often you’re fixing or replacing them. What if you could prolong the life of your microwave and save a hundred dollars for another day? What if you could add a couple more years to the life of your dishwasher, buying you time to save money for when it will ultimately need a replacement? We’ve asked the experts about simple tips for cleaning your major appliances. With this advice, you can help your appliances last longer. Many of these tips will only cost you a few minutes of your day, but they could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Jump to: Dishwasher Microwave Washing machine Clothes dryer Refrigerator and freezer Stove and oven   Dishwasher You might assume that your dishwasher is clean. Water and soap are constantly moving through it, so would the interior even need maintenance? Dishwashers need TLC like any other appliance. Food particles and soap scum can build up, and it can make your dishwasher germy and less effective. And if you have hard water, mineral build ups can decrease water flow. Here’s what you can do to keep your dishwasher clean and fresh. Use the dishwasher frequently and air it out If you assumed the dishwasher cleans itself, you’re partially right. “To keep dishwater working in good condition, the tip is using it as often as possible,” says Norma Capin, Operations Manager at Dallas Maids. But you also need to air it out: “Leave it open for some minutes after using it.” A dishwasher that isn’t used frequently can trap food and grease. And a dark and moist place with leftover food can build up mold — that’s the last thing you want scrubbing your plates and silverware. Run a cleaning cycle — or make your own cleaning cycle Some dishwashers have a cleaning feature, making your job a little easier. “Run the ‘clean dishwasher’ cycle once a month,” suggests Ahmed Ali, outreach consultant for Centriq. “This cycle will thoroughly clean all the parts and remove any mineral buildup to ensure the appliance will last longer.” If your dishwasher doesn’t have this feature, there’s the DIY option to clear your dishwasher out and keep it smelling fresh: “Deodorize it by placing a bowl of synthetic vinegar on the top rack and running it empty for a full cycle.” Clean your spray arms Some parts of your dishwasher need personalized fine-tuning. For spray arms, you’ll probably have to get your hands dirty. The experts at Molly Maid reached out to us with some tips on cleaning a spray arm: “To clean them, simply remove the arms, hold them over the kitchen sink one at a time, and dislodge food particles with a toothpick. Run water through the holes to make sure they’re clear, and reinstall the arms in the dishwasher.” Watch how you arrange your dishes When it’s time to clean your dishes, it’s tempting to throw all your items in your dishwasher and hope it cleans every surface area. But if you aren’t careful, you can damage your appliance.  “Do not to put sharp items in the dishwasher racks,” cautions Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance. “They are made of metal covered with plastic and sharp items can cause nicks or cuts to the plastic covering, which later turns into rust and breaks down the machine.” Microwave The microwave is a gorey battlefield of food preparation, featuring everything from overflowing soup to exploding rice and beans. You might have a few sauce stains hidden away in your microwave right now. Did you know that neglecting your microwave can make it rusty and unsafe? We didn’t, until Harriet Jones, a cleaning expert and supervisor for Go Cleaners London, clued us in: “Once rust eats its way through the interior cavity, it takes no more than a couple of years to fully destroy the microwave oven, not to mention the unsanitary conditions for food preparation that rust establishes.” It’s worth cleaning your microwave to prevent this. Give your microwave a steam treatment To deep-clean a microwave, Jones suggests you start by finding a microwave-safe bowl and filling it with equal parts white vinegar and water. If you don’t want the bowl to overflow, put a piece of wood in, like a toothpick. Then you let the microwave do its work: “Tuck the bowl in the microwave and nuke it for 10 minutes. The steam, produced by the heat and the homemade cleaner, will loosen the grime, making it effortless to take any leftovers off from the kitchen appliance.” That’s easier than scrubbing away at dried pieces of leftover food. Jones says that once you do that, you can wipe your microwave down with a sponge or cloth. Washing machine The washing machine is another damp, dark place where germs love to hide out. A washing machine can’t do much for your clothes when it’s dirty and moldy; in fact, it can potentially ruin them. Washing machines can also stop draining if you don’t keep them gunk free. Maintain a clean washing machine to maintain clean clothes. Establish a monthly routine A cleaning routine will help your washing machine last longer. Afoma Umesi, chief editor of Oh So Spotless, recommends cleaning your machine once a month. Companies sell washing machine cleaning powder, and you might consider buying a packet, dumping it in, and running a cycle if you have a particularly nasty machine. However, you can also maintain your appliance with household items you likely have on hand. “Use a damp cloth to clean behind the rubber gaskets and run a hot water cycle with a cup of vinegar to clean out the drum,” suggests Umesi. Vinegar’s acidity can wash away soap scum and mineral buildups, so it should help to keep your washing machine drum cleaner. Clear out the detergent drawer Fabric softener and laundry detergent can build up and ruin your washing machine’s ability to clean. “Don't forget to clean the detergent drawer,” reminds Umesi, “as all the excess detergent can clog your drain in time.” There are a lot of different ways you can do this, but many experts recommend removing the drawer and cleaning it with bleach or soapy water. Replace your washing machine’s hoses Shimek of Mr. Appliance has another pro tip: “Replace the brittle plastic hoses that come with the machine with steel, flexible ones that are made for long-term use.” It’s not hard to tell why a flexible hose would be beneficial.  Many manufacturers make no-burst water hoses that are going to save you from expensive flooding mishaps. Other manufacturers make auto-shutoff hoses that can sense when a hose has burst and stop water flow. Don’t overload the machine When you’re cleaning your clothes, you might want to maximize how much you can fit into one load. But take into account that you should set a limit. “Don't overload the machine with clothes,” Shimek advises. “This puts a strain on the motor, which will cause it to wear out faster.” Clothes dryer Your washing machine and dryer are the fire and ice of your laundry room — or at least, the fire and water. While you have to worry about a washing machine draining improperly, molding, or flooding your room, you have to worry about too much heat with your dryer. Mold can still be an issue in the nooks and crannies of a clothes dryer, but a buildup of lint and dust in your vents can cause a fire. Clear out the lint drawer It’s simple advice, but many people ignore this easy tip that can take only minutes of your time.  Afoma Umesi agrees: “The best way to maintain your dryer is to do the one thing you're often too lazy to do: clean out the lint drawer. When your lint drawer is blocked, your dryer works longer, which, of course, wears it out faster.” Wash off the lint trap If you have a removable lint trap, you can do a little extra work to keep your lint drawer unblocked. Ron Shimek suggests that you scrub it off: “Take the lint trap and scrub it with soap and water over the kitchen sink. Some dryers have a lint filter on the bottom or back of the machine, so check yours, and make sure you are cleaning the lint from that on a regular basis.” Pack lighter to avoid wearing the motor down Just like the washing machine, Shimek reminded us that the dryer shouldn’t be packed too full. If a dryer is struggling to tumble a larger load, this could damage the motor. Refrigerator and freezer Your fridge and freezer see a lot of incoming and outbound traffic, so it’s a place that’s likely to get hectic. It only takes a couple seconds to spill leftovers while you’re taking them out of the fridge, but it will take several minutes to clean it up. Naturally, we sometimes do our damage control half-heartedly.  But you shouldn’t neglect a routine cleaning of your fridge, and not just the interior, but the exterior as well. Remove dust from the outside Don’t let your fridge sit and gather dust. Matthias Alleckna, an energy analyst for EnergyRates.ca, notes that “Dust is . . . a really good insulator, which means that it makes it harder for large appliances like your fridge to resist heat, making it more inefficient. At least once every six months, vacuum off the dust off your refrigerator coils behind the fridge.” Clean behind the fridge When was the last time you looked behind your fridge? It’s probably not pretty. But since our last point mentions that you need to get back there to dust, you might also have time to clean up a little more. "Dirty coils can strain the compressor, which can result in a shorter refrigerator’s lifespan,” mentions Ahmed Ali from Centriq. In addition to dusting off your coils, he suggests that you mop behind your fridge, because this “will put less stress on the fridge’s motor and prolong the lifespan.” Clean the grille up front You can also vacuum off the grille at the bottom of the front side of your fridge. The experts at Molly Maid suggest this, and they explain why: “This improves airflow to the condenser to boost refrigerator efficiency by about 3 to 5 percent.” Clear out the inside It can be exasperating how quickly your food spoils. One day, your shredded cheese is perfect. The next day, it’s hosting a ball of green mold.  That’s why you need to be cycling through your fridge and throwing out what’s no longer good. If you let food accumulate, Ali warns that it can damage your fridge: “Don’t overfill your fridge as it puts a load on the compressor and blocks airflow. Clean it from the inside once a month.” The experts from Molly Maid have a quick guide to cleaning your fridge to avoid overflow, mold, and smelly leftovers: “You can wait several months between deep-cleanings if you take a few simple steps to maintain a passable fridge for that long. Immediately — Rinse off dirty jars and bottles such as jam, salsa, and ketchup. Also, make an effort to catch spills right away to avoid the hassle of sticky spots in your fridge. Once a week — Throw out any rotting food and expired juices/milk/yogurt. Every 2 months — Leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge. This is an effective, affordable method for absorbing odors. The odor-absorbing capabilities of baking soda diminish after about two months, so that’s how often you should replace it. Every 3–4 months — Time to deep-clean! Purge anything old/things you never use Take the crisper and meat drawers out Wipe down interior with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water Dry all washed surfaces Set a fresh baking soda box in a corner Clean exterior door with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water — if you have stainless steel, remove grime with a store-bought stainless steel spray.” Periodically defrost Defrosting your freezer is like a quick juice detox — except it actually helps you out in the long-term. Alleckna explained that ice built up around your vents signifies that it might be time for a freezer defrost. “You can remove the food from it and unplug it for roughly 30 minutes until the ice melts,” he explains. Stove and oven Many ovens have a self-cleaning feature; it’s pretty straightforward. But there are a couple other quick cleaning tips that can keep your stove and oven fresh. Use lime to reduce odors Once a self-clean of the oven is complete, you can usually scrape out the charred remains of leftover food. But if you’re still concerned about grease and other stains, try steaming your oven.  Norma Capin describes the process: “After baking or cooking in the oven, don't turn it off. Put half a cup of lime juice in it for 15 mins. [This] will help you get rid of the smells right after. It also has antibacterial properties, and after doing it you just have to wipe the oven since it will loosen grease from the walls.” Clean your burners Don’t forget the work that needs to be done on your stovetop. “Many stoves have removable burners, and cleaning these can save you from the fees that come with having to replace them,” advises Bailey Carson, head of cleaning at Handy. “Before cleaning, make sure your stove is completely cool from the last time it was turned on. Then, remove the burners and scrub them with soap and the rough side of a sponge or steel wool to remove any cooked on food remnants.” Carson reminds cleaners to be careful about working near anything flammable. And if you have an electric stove, Carson suggests that you spray it with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe it down with a rag. What now? You might have a long to-do list of chores now, but as you incorporate these simple cleaning tips into your life, you'll find many of them to be quick tasks that have a big payoff. Long-lasting appliances can save you heaps of money, so get to work deep cleaning your fridge and save your pennies for another day.

The home warranty industry could use some disruption. If you’ve read our overview of one-star customer complaints for home warranty, you know that many consumers can run into some recurring issues. A stagnant industry lets companies resist change to the detriment of their clients. That’s why an innovative competitor can refresh our expectations for home warranty providers — and that’s where Liberty Home Guard comes in. Based in New York, the company serves 37 states and boasts a network of over 10,000 service technicians. LHG offers an array of main plans with optional add-ons. Sounds like your typical home warranty company, right? Not exactly. Liberty Home Guard is daring to do a few things differently. We’ve talked with the founders of LHG, Benjamin Joseph and David Moreno, about how they run their company and why it makes a difference. LHG will work with you even if your claim isn’t covered Over half of our one-star reviews in the home warranty industry cite denied claims; some warranty providers seek every opportunity to avoid helping you. “We simply offer our customers as much savings as possible, whether a claim is covered or not covered under the policy,” explain Moreno and Joseph via email. “We do not turn our customers away like most other companies, even if a claim is deemed to not be covered. Most other companies do not offer this value-add since they are likely concerned about the overhead and call/work volume that would be correlated with such an offering.” Some warranty companies pepper their fine print with several circumstances for denying a claim, which can lead to false expectations for customers. Conversely, LHG finds reasons to help customers even if their claims are denied. You’ll be assigned a dedicated account manager through Liberty Lots of warranty providers pass you between customer service associates. You spend time repeating your situation to each employee, none of them able to get the full picture. LHG is doing things differently. “In most cases, customers will be assigned a dedicated account manager and an ancillary team to provide customer support,” Joseph and Moreno tell us. “This ensures that we have a strong rapport with and understanding of our customers.” Positive reviewers note that they like having a dedicated support agent who follows up and serves them through the duration of issue. Liberty Home Guard intensively vets its technicians — and treats them well You’ll also hear disgruntled home warranty customers complain that their technicians made the problem worse. To save on costs, some warranty providers contract entry-level technicians who are building their clientele. But the better practice for companies is to vet their technicians and hire the best. “We perform a multivariate analysis before onboarding any technicians,” say Moreno and Joseph. They explain their process, which begins by programmatically analyzing a potential technician’s digital footprint, looking for any legal issues or bad reviews. Then, LHG interviews contractors, assessing their experience and industry knowledge while analyzing their fit. Approved techs will sign a vendor agreement including rules and regulations, one of which being that they must submit their proof of insurance and licensure. And once a technician is on board, they can expect timely compensation: “We pay our technicians same day for their services. . . . We believe that paying technicians promptly — technicians that are by and large small business proprietors — is both the right thing to do and is good business, as it attracts a higher caliber of technician to our network.” LHG makes claim processing easy If you’re worried about confusing phone trees or long wait times, Liberty Home Guard has you covered. “All our representatives are based in the United States,” the LHG founders note. “In addition, while our competitors have wait times that can approach an hour, our wait times are virtually never more than a few minutes. We believe our team is of the highest caliber in the industry, bar none. We heavily leverage technology and have an automated triage approach for claim intake, where we will do our best to help our customers self-resolve issues before charging them deductibles and assigning technicians.” Or, if a phone call isn’t your thing, LHG has you covered, too.  You can manage your account online and on the go Liberty Home Guard has a mobile friendly platform to file claims and manage your account. “We view a mobile-friendly (on a browser) platform as the best and most convenient way for users to interact with Liberty Home Guard.” With some warranty providers, you’d only have the option of calling in. Thankfully, Liberty understands that twenty-first century convenience depends on having a range of ways to contact a company: “Customers do respond positively to the option to manage their account online and through their mobile devices. Ultimately, the more intelligent options we can provide our customers, the more likely we are to suit the diverse set of needs and desires that exist across our customer base.” You won’t be left hanging if a technician is on the way Communication between a client, their home warranty company, and the technician sometimes breaks down through the claim process. But Liberty Home Guard has seen this concern with the unhappy customers of other warranty providers, and they’ve created a process to mitigate missed or cancelled tech appointments: “When servicing a claim, we take several added measures to ensure that communication does not break down after a technician is assigned.” Joseph and Moreno explained to us that the LHG team sends SMS and email reminders to clients with contact information for the assigned tech. You aren’t left in the dark wondering who is coming to assess your situation. Do your homework and see if Liberty Home Guard if the right fit for you Both our team at Best Company and the founders of Liberty Home Guard agree that customer reviews are important. “Make sure the company does not have a lot of negative reviews,” warn Moreno and Joseph.  But it’s also important that you find a warranty provider that’s licensed: “Even if you are not in a state that requires licensure, ask if the company is licensed in a state that does, and if the company says they are, ask them for their license number or how it can be proven.” This will require a little work on your part, but using these tips to find the right home warranty company for you can go a long way. It's worth studying up on Liberty Home Guard, a company that works to build positive customer experiences and earn your business. Liberty Home Guard is taking an intentional approach to customer service that is setting a new standard for warranty providers.

report_problem   Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly described State Farm as the best option for septic line protection. While State Farm does offer service line coverage, septic lines are NOT fully covered. State Farm's Service Line Endorsement policy only covers the wastewater line between the house and septic tank. It excludes coverage for septic systems, including motors, pumps, tanks, leach fields, and piping extending from the tank to the leach fields. Septic system malfunctions can make for expensive accidents. The average cost to repair a septic tank is $3,198, and that's lowballing it compared to the cost of installing a new system or entirely replacing an old one, which will knock someone back several thousand dollars. It's natural to get cold feet for a septic system when you think of it like this. "We have seen deals fall apart for originally enthusiastic clients, who upon completing their inspections and learning about what having a system of this sort means ultimately backed out," says Alison Bernstein, real estate expert for Suburban Jungle. "They became concerned about the price for a potential replacement, materials, maintenance, etc." If you have a septic system, you're faced with a set of unique challenges that aren't familiar to everyone: sewage backup, leach field overflow, and damaged pipes, to name a few. And with some of these challenges, you can face major costs for repair. It's natural that you want a homeowner's insurance or warranty plan that can help you take care of the costs, whether it's damage to your property or damage to the system. If you're looking for the best options for your septic system, we're going to cover the two main types of coverage — homeowners insurance and home warranty plans — and discuss their similarities and differences. Neither will cover every type of damage to your system, and that's why you should choose your coverage wisely and understand what it offers. Read on to find the best types of coverage for a septic system, and our recommendations. What will homeowners insurance cover for my septic system? In general, homeowners insurance policies cover damage to your home caused by accidents that are sudden and unintended, such as fires, explosions, and theft.However, septic system coverage is limited by the following exclusions: Homeowner negligence— Basic homeowners insurance won't cover anything that was caused by your negligence, such as flushing solid objects down your system or placing heavy objects over the tank. Acts of God — Many insurance companies don't cover flood and earthquake damage — you'll likely need a separate policy to address these perils. As the experts from Fantastic Services note, "Catastrophe insurance policies have a role when disastrous events harm your house. This type of insurance accompanies your standard homeowners' coverage." Systems exterior to the home's foundation — Some insurance plans won't provide full coverage to features outside the home, including your septic system. Here's the rub: Septic systems are generally located outside the four walls of your home. Consequently, it's regular for damage to the septic system itself to be unprotected by a standard homeowners insurance policy, unless the company offers a specific add-on septic system policy. Not Covered By Homeowners Insurance: Most Damage to the Septic System Itself "External damage consists of parking or driving a heavy piece of equipment over the septic tank itself," explains Garrett Lang, CMO of A1 Porta Potty. "Septic tanks are typically 1,000–2,000-gallon concrete boxes. If a heavy enough truck drives over the top of a septic tank, it could cave in the holding tank." Homeowners insurance usually won't cover that, and Lang notes that the only way to fix this damage is to replace the tank. Negligence can also result in internal damage that most homeowners' insurance policies won't cover. "Internal damage consists of sludge exiting the concrete holding tank," Lang explains. "This is what happens when you do not pump the tank every few years. . . . When it dries it can clog up your distribution box or lateral lines and stop the excess water from leaving the tank, rendering your plumbing useless. The only way to remove the dried sludge is to dig up the system." Again, not likely to be something an insurance policy will help you with. Covered By Homeowners Insurance: Damage to Your Home Caused By Septic Problems In fact, Lang advises that most insurance companies aren't going to help until the septic system damages your house, such as in instances where the system clogs and floods your home. What will a home warranty cover for my septic system? Unlike homeowners insurance, a home warranty policy covers the appliances in/around your home from normal wear and tear. Most home warranty plans won't cover these circumstances: Pre-existing conditions — Appliances that are already damaged, don't qualify for coverage. Many home warranty policies require you to wait 30 days before the plan will take effect to ensure that you didn't sign for a plan because you knew one of your devices needed immediate repair. Improper care — Appliances with unnatural wear and tear (such as a system damaged from the failure to pump it) won't qualify for home warranty coverage, either. You'll have to know how to take care of your septic system to be sure the damage was not inflicted by your household. Appliances and systems not specifically mentioned — Appliances not outlined for coverage in the plan won't be eligible. In other words, you're likely going to need a warranty plan with add-on coverage to take care of your septic system; most warranty providers don't include septic systems in their basic packages, but offer septic policy coverage for an additional price. Out-of-network technician damage — If you hire a technician outside of a home warranty companies' network, once you sign its contract, you could be out of luck for any damages the technician would create. "There are many unskilled plumbers out there and amateur septic system installation is a common issue," explain the experts at Fantastic Services. "Before you book a service, know how to find a reliable plumber near you." Coverage for a septic system can be easier to find with a home warranty company than some homeowners insurance providers, which typically require you to submit your information for a quote before they'll answer questions. Here is our top pick for septic system coverage under a home warranty: Our recommendation: Choice Home Warranty Choice Home Warranty is our top-rated home warranty company in the industry. The company has been in business for over a decade, and you can choose septic system coverage for $120 per year and a septic tank pumping for $65 per year. Choice Home Warranty also covers septic system parts, so if items like the tank, line, or pump itself break down, Choice Warranty can help. As Choice Home Warranty's website notes, "The sewage ejector pump, septic tank and line from the house are just a couple of things that are covered in a basic package. There are a few things that we can't cover however, so be sure to read the fine print." Does a manufacturer's warranty cover a septic system? You can't rely on a manufacturer's warranty for your septic system like you might be able to for home appliances like your washing machine or oven. "As far as manufacturers go, there are really no manufacturers' warranties," Lang explains. "The entire system consists of individual pieces installed by an independent contractor." And besides, the average life of a septic system is 25 to 30 years. Most manufacturer's warranties only cover a fraction of that time for appliances, so relying on a warranty wouldn't have been a good lifetime option even if it was an option. Are there any other septic protection plans to know about? The experts from Fantastic Services add that there are a few options outside your basic homeowners insurance: "A service line coverage saves a lot of trouble when damages occur. The policy covers any cost of repairs caused by the lines which provide water, power, and natural gas to your property. They'll also compensate you if a tree root pierces right through your service line." For example, HomeServe USA, offers protection plans that cover damages to plumbing service lines, including sewer and septic. For example, the Exterior Sewer/Septic Line Coverage Plan covers the following: Locating the blockage Excavation (and backfilling) Replacement or repair of pipes, seals, and joints Unblocking Fitting of external valves Pipe cutting, fusing, and welding Restoration of your grass, yard, landscaping, and pavement, when it was disturbed by a covered repair In sum Homeowners thankfully have a couple options for septic system coverage, and some warranty and insurance plans might be worth looking into. However, you should also expect that your policy won't cover everything and plan for routine maintenance on your septic system. With regular maintenance and vigilance, your septic system should have very few accidents.