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If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of taking out a home warranty, then it’s important to factor in the growing effects of climate change.
With our properties at a significantly increased risk of flooding, as well as the fact that they now need to be able to withstand harsher winters and hotter summers, having a home warranty in place is more important than ever before.
Keep reading to find out exactly how a home warranty can protect your property and give you peace of mind knowing that all your major home systems are covered, too.
What is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty covers many of the main appliances and systems in your home and so can protect against unexpected expenses in the event of, for example, your heating breaking down.
As well as home heating systems, a warranty will usually also cover things like air conditioning, many kitchen appliances, the water heater, plumbing, garage door, sump pump, toilet, and some electrical systems.
Many home warranty policies will also allow customers to add additional cover for items like water purification systems, generators, trash compactors, and humidifiers.
Flood Risk
Climate change has put more homes than ever before at an increased risk of flooding – many of these properties are built on areas previously designated as having little or no flood risk. This could spell disaster for those without adequate protection; once the flood waters have receded, residents could be looking at a massive repair bill to fix affected home systems and appliances.
A home warranty can come to the rescue in a situation like this, enabling homeowners to replace or repair these vital elements of their properties and get back to normal as quickly as possible.
Increased Use of Air Con and Cooling
It’s a fact: the planet’s heating up. This means that many more of us will be relying on air conditioning units and other cooling systems in our homes as the years go by. These systems are typically fairly expensive to repair or replace, making taking out a home warranty really important, avoiding the stress of an unexpected bill – even more likely with increased usage.
Roofing Stresses
With wilder weather, a direct result of climate change, the very structure of our homes are going to come under more pressure: meaning that the effects of normal wear and tear are likely to be significantly accelerated.
Roofs could bear the brunt of this, with accumulated storm damage, as well as the increased stresses of additional rain and snow weight, making leaks and other problems more likely to occur. While most home warranty policies don’t include roof cover as standard, most offer roof protection as an add-on element.
Protecting Heating Systems
With winters gearing up to get harsher and colder, it’s even more vital for homeowners to make sure that, if their heating system breaks down, they can get it repaired as soon as possible. A home warranty can ensure that, at whatever time of year that you experience an issue with your heating, a qualified technician will be on hand promptly to get it back up and running again.
Replacing or repairing a heating system can be a major expense, so knowing that it’s covered in the event of an emergency can be a huge weight off your mind.
How to Choose a Home Warranty
So, now we’ve established why getting a home warranty is a great idea, how do you go about selecting the perfect policy for your needs?
Establish What You Need to be Covered
Firstly, assess what you have in your home that you want to be protected. While the majority of customers are likely to need cover for their plumbing, heating system, and air-con, if your kitchen appliances are brand new, then it’s worth bearing in mind that they will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty for at least a year.
Choosing a plan that allows you to only purchase cover for the components you want could save you money.
Research Your Options
Next, have a look at the companies out there offering a home warranty. As well as cost, pay careful attention to any terms and conditions; for example, are appliances or systems over a certain age still covered? Is the company’s policy to always replace faulty items, or are repairs carried out if possible?
Have a look at as many online reviews as you can from former and current customers to get an idea of the kind of service you can expect to receive.
Assess the Nature of the Customer Care
And finally, before signing up for a warranty, it’s important to satisfy yourself that the standards of customer care offered are high. If something goes wrong or breaks, you’ll need to be able to get hold of the company as soon as possible to start the process of getting things put right. To this end, find out how easy it is to contact customer support and whether this is 24/7.
Once your home warranty is in place, you can relax and enjoy your home, knowing that its essential systems – and your bank balance – are protected.
