- What is a home warranty?
- What is Basic Home Warranty Coverage?
- I'm in the market for a home. What's
the benefit of buying a home covered by a home warranty?
- I'm selling my home. Why would I want a
home warranty?
- My home systems and appliances are old.
Does that matter?
- Doe most home warranty companies need to
inspect my home systems and appliances before I enroll?
- Is there a fee for each visit?
- What is a trade service call fee?
- Is there a limit to the number of
repairs a home warranty company covers?
What is
a home warranty?
A home warranty is a service contract, usually covering one year,
which helps protect homeowners against the cost of unexpected covered
repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break
down due to normal wear and tear. In California, before purchasing a
home warranty, first check with the Home Warranty Association of
California to see if the company is a member.
What is
Basic Home Warranty Coverage?
Generally, basic coverage for a home under 5,000 square feet,
regardless of age includes the home's heating, plumbing, electrical
system, water heater and major appliances, such as range/oven/cooktop,
dishwasher, garbage disposal, etc. Home warranties are available for
homes that are over 5,000 square feet for an additional fee.
I'm in the
market for a home. What's the benefit of buying a home covered by a home
warranty?
A home warranty helps provide protection during and after a home
purchase. When a covered system or appliance breaks down due to normal
wear and tear, you're protected for repair or replacement. There's no
need to get back in touch with the real estate agent or track down the
previous owner.
I'm selling my
home. Why would I want a home warranty?
A home warranty gives buyers additional confidence in a real estate
transaction—they know that most home warranty companies will stand
behind the covered systems or appliances in the house. If they break
down, buyers are covered for repair or replacement. An added benefit to
the seller is that buyers will be calling us with their problems—not
you.
My home
systems and appliances are old. Does that matter?
No, to most, the age of a home or its systems and appliances does not
matter. We cover items that are in good working condition at the time
you purchase the plan and properly maintained. Plus, Most home warranty
companies cover all makes and models of appliances and systems.
Does the home
warranty company need to inspect my home systems and appliances before I
enroll?
For the most part, no.
Is there a
fee for each visit?
For the most part yes, a fee called a trade service call fee is paid
directly to the contractor for each covered breakdown, no matter what
the actual cost of the repair or replacement for your covered item.
What is a
trade service call fee?
A trade service call fee is the amount due when a contractor visits
your home. Each type of breakdown falls into a "trade"
category, for example: a leaky pipe qualifies as a plumbing breakdown,
while a broken dishwasher is an appliance breakdown.
Since it may require more than one contractor or several unrelated
trips to the house by the same contractor (once to fix the pipe, another
to fix the dishwasher), there is a fee due for each "trade" a
service call covers. It's perfectly alright to report more than one
breakdown at a time. Additional fees may apply if the repairs fall into
different categories.
Is there a
limit to the number of repairs a home warranty company covers?
For the most part, no. However, all questions regarding a home
warranty should be addressed directly to the home warranty issuer.
Preventative Maintenance
| SUMMER |
Top |
- Keep curtains closed when
temperatures are at their peak.
- Use exhaust fans when cooking to remove excess heat and
humidity.
- Close registers in rooms that are not being used. To avoid
damage to your central
heating system, close no more than one fourth
of the area of your home.
- Caulk and weather-strip all windows to close any air gaps.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees.
- Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use.
- Move furniture away from vents, registers and radiators.
- Change the filter on forced air units. |
|
| WINTER |
Top |
- Install a door sweep.
- Caulk or apply weather-stripping around problem draft areas.
- Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them
before winter.
- Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned early in the season.
- Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use.
- Move furniture away from vents, registers and radiators.
- Open the drapes during the day for the free solar heat and
close them just before
sunset.
- Change the filter on forced air units. |
|
| GARBAGE DISPOSAL |
Top |
- To clean the disposal, push
ice cubes through it while running cold water.
- Always remember to run water during use and for at least two
minutes after you
finish. This prevents stoppage.
- If the garbage disposal is leaking, check to make sure that
the sink and drain
connections are not loose. |
|
| DISHWASHER |
Top |
- If your dishes aren't cleaning
well, run the hot water from the tap. This will allow
hot water to flow to the dishwasher
immediately. Also check that the hot water
setting is correct.
- Vinegar should take mineral deposits off the heating element
which causes
dishes to stay wet. Make sure element is not
hot when cleaning. |
|
| WATER HEATER |
Top |
- If the water heater is not hot
enough or is too hot, make sure your thermostat is set
correctly. A water heater blanket is helpful
to keep the water temperature constant. |
|
| GAS RANGE |
Top |
- IMPORTANT!!! If you smell gas
around your oven, turn your gas off, air out the
room and notify the gas company immediately.
- If the flame on your cooktop isn't burning steadily, turn off
the burners then clean
the burner surface. Afterwards, reset the
burners. |
|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
Top |
- If any lights or outlets don't
work, check your breakers at your electrical panel.
If a breaker is not in the on position, turn
the breaker off and then on. Or call
First American if you have a warranty already
in effect. |
|
| HEATING SYSTEM |
Top |
- Check filters bi-annually.
- Set your thermostat to 69° F or less during the day, 60° F
or less at night (or when
you leave your home for more than four hours).
- Bundle up. Try putting on a sweater or throwing an extra
blanket on the bed
before you turn up the thermostat.
- Bundle your home too. Exterior doors should be tightly shut
and avoid frequent
in-and-out traffic. Padded door runners help
reduce drafts under doorways.
- Use zone heating. Don't waste energy and money by heating a
room you're
not using. Close doors and/or vents to that
room. To avoid damage to your
central heating system, close no more than one
fourth of the area of your home.
- Use solar power. On sunny mornings, open your drapes on the
eastern and
southern windows of your home. In the
afternoon, open your drapes for your
western windows to get the most exposure to
the sun. |
|
| AIR CONDITIONING |
Top |
- Replace filters monthly during
the hot summer season.
- Have annual system maintenance service done before the air
conditioning
season begins.
- Keep condensing unit free of debris. |
|
| POOL MAINTENANCE |
Top |
- Clean your pool at least once
a week.
- Remove debris with a hand held skimmer net.
- To maintain a proper water level, add fresh water and allow
the water to flow
into the skimmer every time you clean the pool
or when needed.
- Take a water sample into a local pool store so they can test
your pool's chemical
levels. Green water may be a chemical problem
and not a mechanical problem.
- Vacuum and scrub the pool walls to remove accumulated dirt,
scum, and oil.-->
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