Yes, in many instances, a home warranty covers air conditioning units. With summers seeming to get hotter every year, having peace of mind that you have a solution for air conditioning breakdowns is valuable. Repairing or replacing your air conditioner can be extremely expensive and inconvenient. But with a home warranty, you can protect yourself, your air conditioner, and your budget.
Let’s look at how a home warranty from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10 HBW) can help you when your air conditioner breaks down.
Will a home warranty replace your air conditioner?
In certain circumstances, yes, a home warranty can replace your air conditioner. But replacement isn’t the first course of action for home warranties. Let’s look at the process behind how a home warranty protects your air conditioning unit.
A home warranty is a type of annual protection plan for your home’s systems and your major home appliances. Generally, a home warranty will cover the costs to repair or replace a covered item if it breaks down due to normal wear and tear. A few standard items a home warranty will cover include the following:
- Your home’s HVAC system, which often includes your home’s air conditioning unit
- Electrical systems, plumbing systems, and water heaters
- Major appliances, such as your refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven
When it comes to your air conditioner, your home warranty coverage will first aim to repair any breakdowns that occur from routine wear and tear. If that absolutely isn’t possible, a home warranty will help you offset the costs to replace it, up to the clearly stated dollar limits within your Home Warranty Service Agreement.
What types of air conditioning units does a home warranty cover?
There are many different kinds of air conditioning units on the market. A home warranty from 2-10 HBW can cover all of the following kinds of air conditioners:
- Centrally ducted systems
- Geothermal systems
- Water-source systems
- Evaporative coolers (i.e., swamp coolers)
- Built-in electrical wall units
One of the important keys to home warranty coverage is that you must properly maintain your air conditioning unit. A home warranty covers breakdowns that result from routine wear and tear. If you don’t take care of your air conditioner, and a Service Contractor determines that the unit broke down from lack of maintenance, it may not qualify for home warranty coverage.
If you’re asking yourself, “What does it mean to properly maintain my air conditioner?” you aren’t alone. You don’t need to be an HVAC specialist to properly maintain your air conditioner. As part of your HVAC system, there are several things you can do to maintain your air conditioner.
- Change your air filters at least once every three months
- Keep debris away from your air conditioning unit
- Clean your unit after you cut the grass
- Don’t try to fix problems yourself—call an expert
Even with proper maintenance, your air conditioner will still break down at some point. When that happens, your 2-10 HBW home warranty plan would apply. The average cost to repair an HVAC system without a home warranty hovers around $425 per repair. The average cost to replace your HVAC system without a home warranty is about $6,400+. A home warranty can really protect your budget when you have an unexpected breakdown.
What air conditioning isn’t covered by a home warranty?
A home warranty can cover so many parts of your air conditioner. But there are some limitations to what a home warranty will cover in terms of your air conditioner. For example, a home warranty will not cover any of the following types of air conditioner:
- Standalone air conditioners
- Unmaintained air conditioners
- Air conditioners that break down for reasons other than routine wear and tear
When we talk about routine wear and tear, we’re talking about everyday use. So, say you take care of your air conditioner, and one day, it stops working for no obvious reason. That’s likely covered by your 2-10 HBW home warranty.
But say your air conditioner stops working after a major hail storm. Your home warranty would likely not cover that breakdown, since it wasn’t caused by routine use. Instead, you’d use your homeowners insurance to try to fix that problem.
Finally, if your air conditioner is still under a manufacturers warranty when it breaks down, you’d use the manufacturers warranty, not your home warranty.
What’s the difference between a manufacturers warranty and a home warranty?
A manufacturers warranty usually comes with a brand-new system or appliance. They typically last for one year, only cover that brand-new system or appliance, and are non-transferable.
A home warranty, on the other hand, can cover a wider range of systems and appliances. For example, a home warranty from 2-10 HBW can cover your air conditioning unit, water heater, and refrigerator against unexpected breakdowns. It’s also transferable among owners.
So, if you experience an issue with your air conditioner and you bought and installed it within the last year, you’ll want to contact your manufacturer first. If they don’t cover the issue, it’s possible that a home warranty from 2-10 HBW can, provided you bought your home warranty before the item broke down.
Why purchase a home warranty to cover your air conditioner?
As a homeowner, there are so many things you need to do to properly maintain your home. A home warranty protects you against unexpected breakdowns, making protecting your home simple and affordable.
Keep in mind that the average cost to repair your HVAC system is $425 for each repair. Unfortunately, when things go wrong with a complex system like your HVAC, it’s rarely a one-time fix. And with HVAC replacement costs averaging $6,400+, a problem with your air conditioner could be just the beginning. A home warranty gives you peace of mind that when you experience an unexpected breakdown, you likely won’t have to address it all alone.
Additionally, when you purchase a home warranty from 2-10 HBW, you get access to qualified, local, approved Service Contractors. No more guessing or wondering about the quality of the company fixing your issue. This, along with 2-10 HBW’s easy-to-use Homeowner Portal, make protecting your home simple and affordable.
2-10 HBW offers the most comprehensive home warranty coverage for homeowners. Let us help you protect your home.
