How to choose the best home warranty for water and flood damage
Water and flood damage in your home can be disastrous. Ideally, water should never be allowed to accumulate in crawl spaces, basements, floors or walls. Even a slow leak will rot drywall and studs, create black mold, and weaken structural elements like beams and joists if left unchecked.
Most issues are caused by easily correctable damages that can be fixed before a problem arises. If you resolve these issues at the time of detection, you can reduce the damage or even stop it altogether. However, hiring experts or contractors to complete these home repairs (even at the onset) can cost quite a bit in service fees. At such times, you can often use home warranty providers or a homeowners insurance policy.
Home warranties are service contracts designed to protect you from the financial burden of maintaining and replacing your home’s primary systems and appliances. You can use the warranty to repair and replace home appliances and systems if they age or succumb to normal wear and tear. Any damage caused by flood water is not covered within the normal coverage limit that a home warranty offers.
We get it! This can be confusing. Read more about whether a home warranty covers water and flood damage.
Do home warranties cover water and flood damage?
Home warranties are beneficial but have some exclusions and don’t cover everything. Water damage is not a covered repair and maintenance issue, even if it happens because of a failure or breakdown of one of the systems covered by the warranty. However, a home warranty can pay for the repair of the appliances that caused the leak. For instance, if a plumbing issue results in water damage, a home warranty can cover the service call fee for the plumbing issue.
Purchasing a home warranty will ease the financial strain when a major system or home appliance fails. You’ll have to pay warranty insurance premiums upfront, but the savings is worth the extra cost. Besides, you can get some peace of mind knowing you’re covered for a portion of the costs if something goes wrong.
A home warranty can save you from the cost of replacement or repair of covered items. Usually, home warranties cover appliances, electrical systems, kitchen appliances, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and plumbing stoppages. Home warranties do not cover structural features, windows, floors, doors, trash compactors, countertop ovens, outdoor sprinkler systems, garbage disposal units or freestanding appliances. The general idea is that if items in good or satisfactory pre-existing condition at the time of purchase stop working due to normal wear and tear, they are covered.
For instance, let’s say you move into a new home and your air conditioner stops working or the refrigerator suddenly breaks down after one week. In this case, your home warranty coverage can save you from expensive repair and replacement costs.
How home warranties help you in the event of water and flood damage
A home warranty can help you pay for the expensive and unavoidable repairs that might be an add-on burden in the event of water damage. While a warranty doesn’t cover water damage, it can help you pay for home system malfunctions that can cause water damage, such as an aging plumbing system, faulty HVAC system or malfunctioning septic system. A home warranty can benefit you in incidents like when a pipe bursts, water heaters fail, water leaks or a washer seal fails.
A significant advantage of having a home warranty is that instead of avoiding repair because it costs too much, you can connect with your warranty provider to solve the problem before it worsens. It will result in considerable financial savings because your warranty will cover the initial repair costs.
For instance, if your washing machine hose starts leaking, it can result in flooding. If left unrepaired for a while, water can get under the foundation and cause cracks in your floor tiles. Here, your house warranty will not cover the cost of repairing the foundation or floor tiles, but it will cover the expenses of fixing the washing machine. The leak won’t result in other damages if you contact your warranty service provider early and repair the appliance. This saves you repair and replacement costs.
Common causes of home water damage
Water damage can happen for many reasons. It may result from severe weather, clogged sewer systems, pipe bursts or other events. As a responsible homeowner, you must understand the types of water damage a house warranty can cover.
Here are a few common reasons for home water damage. While this list isn't exhaustive, it may help you understand what a home warranty from Cinch Home Services can cover.
- Burst or leaking pipes. One of the most common sources of water damage is a leaky or burst pipe. The underlying causes are frequent temperature changes, normal wear and tear, and a lack of insulation. You should check for toilet leaks or overflows, faucet drips, and water surrounding showers and tubs. They can indicate severe problems that you may not be able to see. The best way to avoid water damage is to stop leaks as soon as they occur. (House warranties usually cover leaking or burst pipes.)
- Damaged sump pump. Sump pump leaks are common. Usually, these are caused by cracks in the bottom of the sump pump. Sometimes, incorrect installation of pipes, clamps or other sump pump parts leads to leakage. Leaving these leakages unchecked can result in flooding and floor damage. Contacting your warranty provider early on will help fix the sump pump and prevent these problems.
- Faulty appliances. Common domestic appliances (e.g., water heater, washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher) can all cause water damage because the hoses and pipes connected to these appliances typically deteriorate and crack. A home warranty can address these sources of damage, but the home warranty won't cover the actual water damage. For example, the warranty would help with your plumbing pipes, but not your bathtub damage.
- Toilet damage. Home warranty protection packages cover some toilet issues. For instance, a home warranty can help if you have issues with your toilet tank, wax ring seals, bowl, flange or tank assembly parts. However, a warranty does not cover issues like toilet overflow brought on by clogged sewer lines.
Water and flood-related systems covered by home warranties
A home warranty does not usually cover water or flood-related damages. However, Cinch's home warranty plans cover the following appliances and systems that can cause water damage:
Appliances
- Air conditioner. As a rule of thumb, all air conditioners leak water while running. Still, dripping in the wrong volume or from the wrong place can be a sign of early damage and turn into a source of water damage.
- Clothes washer. Clamps in the water hose or leaks around it signify damage, which can soon result in a puddled floor.
- Refrigerator. Refrigerators can also create water damage, especially when their defrost drain is clogged or frozen.
- Dishwasher. A dishwasher has plumbing connections through valves, hoses and switches, making it susceptible to becoming a source of water damage.
Systems
- Toilets. The most common culprits of clogged toilets include too much toilet paper and foreign objects. The dirt in the toilet accumulates and clogs when it is not cleaned regularly.
- Water heater. The primary causes of water heater failure are burst tanks and leaks. Experts recommend replacing your water heater every 10 years. Otherwise, it can lead to other damage.
- Plumbing system. Usually, the leaks from plumbing systems result from corrosion, high water pressure, broken water connectors, extreme temperatures and weak, leaking pipe joints. These leaks can lead to significant water damage in your house.
- Sump pump. While a well pump draws in water from a well, a sump pump draws water out from a flooded basement or water-logged area. If a sump pump’s check valve is faulty or the float switch jams, it can result in water leakage.
Discover the Cinch warranty plan that works best for you
A home warranty can save you from unexpected and unnecessary financial burdens by covering costs related to home appliances and built-in systems repair or replacement, which is why it is critical to pick the best home warranty plan.
In addition to covering appliances, many home warranty companies also cover built-in systems associated with the home. They offer additional coverage for air conditioning, heating, and electrical and plumbing systems.
To select a home warranty that best suits your needs and requirements, consider the following factors:
- Comprehensive coverage of appliances and home systems
- Response time for service requests
- Workmanship guarantees
- Reviews
Cinch Home Services is one of the best home warranty companies and offers separate and combo plans for major appliances and built-in systems. We take pride in providing a variety of protection plans and coverage options so that you can choose your best plan based on your requirement and budget.
Cinch’s basic plan is known as the Appliances plan and covers the following:
- Clothes washers
- Clothes dryers
- Cooktops
- Built-in food centers
- Dishwashers
- Built-in microwaves
- Freestanding ice makers
- Refrigerators
- Range exhaust hoods
- Wall ovens
- Built-in trash compactors
Cinch’s Built-in Systems plan covers the following:
- Attic and ceiling fans
- Air conditioning
- Ductwork
- Doorbells
- Central vacuums
- Garbage disposals
- Garage door openers
- Electrical systems
- Heating systems with ductwork
- Sump pump
- Toilets
- Smoke detectors
- Plumbing systems
- Instant cold/hot water dispenser
- Water heater
- Built-in jetted tub or whirlpool
In addition to these separate plans for appliances and built-in systems, Cinch offers some of the best value packs that cover complete homes, including add-on coverage for additional protection.
All Cinch plans come with a 180-day quality guarantee. If any damage persists, we will correct it at no additional cost. Select home warranty coverage from Cinch is available in all 48 continental states (only excluding Hawaii and Alaska). Reach out for your instant quote today!