Having a home warranty is all about reassurance that you’re covered when something big breaks.
When an appliance or major system, such as your heating and cooling system or water heater, breaks down, your warranty should relieve the financial strain of repairs or replacements.
But home warranty agreements are tricky. They often have clauses that give warranty companies options to deny claims. In other words, what you thought was covered was not, and now you have to fight to afford repairs.
Home warranties deny claims in a variety of ways, including saying that damage was pre-existing, alleging improper installation, and accusing you of lax maintenance.
Suddenly they’re talking about coverage limits that you didn’t know existed. They’re saying they don’t cover the particular cause of your equipment malfunction.
But when you’re running into problems with your home warranty, you don’t have to accept everything they say at face value. Don’t give up, and don’t fight it alone.
An experienced home warranty dispute lawyer can guide you and put you in the best position to get payment to return your home to working order.
In Ohio, Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal (HNB) has homeowner’s insurance lawyers and breach-of-contract lawyers who help people all over the state.
We’ve helped thousands of Ohioans secure millions in needed financial relief for more than 40 years.
We want you to be the next to say, “Helping me, that’s HNB.”
Contact HNB Contact HNBKnowing the difference between a home warranty and homeowner’s insurance is important to ensure you take the right course to get your home back in shape after a breakdown.
Homeowner’s insurance covers sudden and unforeseen damage caused by storms, break-ins, electrical fires, accidents and the like.
You pay monthly or annual premiums to protect your home should a disaster strike. Insurance policies are broader than warranties and often cover all the components that lead to appliance or system failures.
For example, if faulty wiring in your home leads to damage to your refrigerator and dishwasher, insurance may cover the repairs to your home’s electrical system and your appliances.
Home warranty agreements focus on specific systems or pieces of equipment.
They’re geared toward dealing with normal wear and tear, so your investments in household systems last to their fullest lifespans. They come with obligations you must fulfill to keep them viable.
Another major difference is that most mortgage companies require you to have homeowner’s insurance. In Ohio, a home warranty is optional.
You can add appliance repair or replacement options to your homeowner’s insurance, but this creates an overlap between insurance and a warranty.
It can be difficult to determine what damage falls under a home warranty or home insurance.
When you’re facing an expensive repair, have someone experienced help you make the right decisions to get the most out of what you have paid to protect your home.
At HNB Law, we have homeowner’s insurance and home warranty dispute lawyers who handle these situations every day.
We can guide you through the claims process, fight denials and appeal decisions. We’ll start with a free evaluation of your case.
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Below we list common issues that can void a warranty. But just because your warranty company brings up these issues, it doesn’t mean they’re correct or being truly fair with you.
Pre-Existing Problems: A home warranty won’t typically cover pre-existing damage. This is usually a defect that a professional service technician would have noticed before the warranty begins, such as a crack in a pipe or a faulty part in your furnace. It could also be a defect that a simple mechanical test would have detected, such as faulty wiring in your HVAC.
Failed Routine Maintenance: Most home warranties come with a requirement that a homeowner adhere to a routine maintenance schedule, such as regularly changing the filters on your central air conditioning, or having a technician do an annual check-up on your furnace. It’s also important to note that a warranty may require you to use a technician it has approved to meet your maintenance obligations. They can try to use that rule to deny you.
Improper Installation: Appliance installation must meet local safety codes. The warranty company may claim your broken appliance wasn’t installed properly, so you’re out of luck getting repairs or replacement covered.
Damage from Pets or Pests: Some home warranty agreements have clauses that exclude coverage for damage caused by pets or unwanted pests. Read the agreement carefully. Better yet, have a home warranty lawyer take a look.
Secondary Damage: Again, a warranty is specific to an appliance or other equipment. When a breakdown causes other damage, the warranty won’t apply. For example, your dishwasher goes haywire and overflows, causing water damage to your floor. The warranty may cover replacing your dishwasher, but floor repairs will have to come from your home insurance or your own pocket.
Coverage Limits: Home warranties often put a price cap on repairs or replacements. If the damage exceeds the cap, you may be on the hook for the balance.
If you’ve suffered an equipment or system failure in your home, and you have questions about what is covered, the HNB team helps.
Our home warranty lawyers know how to counter their attempts to deny you coverage. We can go after your home warranty company for failing to meet their end of the bargain. We handle denials, appeals and lawsuits.
If you live in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, or anywhere in Ohio, we’ll help you make your home warranty work how it’s supposed to—giving you backup to repair or replace an important piece of your house without taking a huge financial hit.
Call HNB Today Call HNB Today124 E. Third Street
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Dayton, OH 45402
9435 Waterstone Blvd.
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Cincinnati, OH 45249
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Willoughby, OH 44094
124 E. Third Street
Fifth Floor
Dayton, OH 45402
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