Does a Home Warranty Cover Garage Doors & Parts?
Key takeaways:
A home warranty can be an excellent way to offset the costs of repairs to your home appliances and home systems. However, after purchasing a home warranty, you may not be fully aware of what is actually covered by your home warranty plan.
When something that is not considered a major appliance falls into disrepair, you may be stuck wondering if your home warranty contract will cover a portion of the costs for the repair or replacement of the appliance. A garage door falls into this category.
Having a garage is something that not everyone considers as a benefit to their home. Some people use their garage as a workspace. However, whether it’s attached or detached, having a garage helps keep your vehicle and belongings safe.
Before you hire a service contractor and pay for repair or replacement, it is important to find out if home warranties cover garage doors so you can go easy on your budget.
What is a home warranty?
If you are new to home warranties or looking to buy one, you may be wondering exactly what a home warranty is.
A home warranty plan is a contract between you and a home warranty company. The basic coverage in a home warranty usually includes your plumbing, water heater, electrical systems, water softener, sump pump, heating and air conditioning systems as well as appliances, such as your stove, oven, refrigerator, clothes dryer and washing machine. Generally, warranty companies also offer the option to add other appliances and systems, like your septic, pool and spa, to your plan at a higher premium.
When you have selected and paid for a home warranty, you will be covered in no time. When you have an appliance or home system that requires a repair or replacement, the process is simple:
- Contact your home warranty provider.
- Pay a service fee for the service provider.
- A technician in your warranty provider’s network sets up an appointment.
- A qualified technician comes to your home to repair or replace your broken appliance or system.
Home warranty companies aren’t just about convenience. Your appliances must be in good working order to be considered for coverage, and you must make every effort to maintain them throughout the contract term.
What is the difference between a home warranty and home insurance?
If you have an item that is not in your warranty coverage, you may be wondering if your homeowners insurance policy will cover it.
Your home warranty will cover most of the appliances and systems in your home for breakdowns due to normal wear and tear. This differs from a home insurance policy that covers damage and loss caused by sudden catastrophes or acts of nature, such as fire, floods or hail.
It is important to review your home warranty coverage and your homeowners insurance to be aware of what is covered before you end up in an emergency situation.
Is your garage door covered by a home warranty?
Under a home warranty, your door, tracks and springs are probably not covered. Unless your garage door is damaged in peril, where your homeowner's insurance should cover it, you should plan to pay for any required repairs or replacement out of pocket.
Again, reading your home warranty contract’s terms and conditions will help you determine what is included in your plan and whether or not any repair or replacement to your home systems or appliances is your responsibility.
Does a home warranty cover garage door openers?
Fortunately, your garage door opener is usually covered by most home warranty plans offered by providers.
Having a garage door opener is an additional convenience and makes a world of difference during inclement weather. A homeowner may have a door opener button installed in their car so the garage door can be opened while driving up to the house.
The simple act of pressing a button will open or close your garage door, allowing your vehicle or anything you need to move in or out of the garage to be easily accessible. When your door opener fails to work or your door won’t close, you will have to manually open and close your garage door, which can add unnecessary stress and physical work.
A home warranty covering your garage door opener is an added convenience that protects you and your wallet from costly repairs.
Preventive tips to keep your garage door in good repair
Even if your garage door is not covered by a home warranty plan, there are ways that you can maintain your garage to help avoid garage door repairs.
To keep your garage door functioning smoothly and efficiently, operating for years to come, follow these maintenance instructions:
- Observe the garage door in operation. Does it sound like it is working normally? Does it move smoothly, or is it catching at any part of the tracks? Any odd noise, like scraping or squealing, or jerky movements may signify a larger issue and should be addressed promptly.
- Inspect the electrical wiring regularly to ensure that wiring mishaps don’t cause the door to malfunction.
- Replace the weather stripping. If the weather stripping at the bottom of your garage has started to pull away, is cracked or has missing pieces, you will need to replace it. Weather stripping keeps out the elements as well as rodents or birds that can wreak havoc on systems in your garage or home. You can easily pick up weather stripping at the hardware store by measuring and cutting to size.
- Check the hardware. Tighten screws that are loose, and replace anything that may be missing.
- Balance your garage door. Garage doors can become unbalanced by frequent opening and closing. If your garage door is unbalanced, your opener will have to work harder to open and close it.
- Lubricate any parts that are required for movement. Spray lubricant and grease will help promote efficient movement of parts.
- Call for help if there is an issue with the cables holding your garage door. A professional should do any maintenance on the cables as they hold the door up, and consequences could be deadly if the cables are faulty.
- Take care of your door. Check for warped spots, rust and any peeling paint.
Lastly, before you purchase your garage door, find out if a manufacturer’s warranty can be added on. This protection plan can provide the coverage you need and save you the added cost to repair any breakdowns or major defects.
Why choose Cinch Home Services for your home warranty?
Cinch Home Services offers great customer service and a variety of options for warranty coverage with different price points for any budget.
With a home warranty from Cinch Home Services, you can be sure that you will have protection against most of the cost of repairing wear and tear issues with your home appliances, including your garage door opener.
Contact us to get a quote on your home warranty.
* Subject to plan terms and conditions.
*The information in this blog library is intended to provide general guidance on home warranties, and on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
*Our blog library may link to third-party sites that offer products, services, coaches, consultants, and/or experts. Any such link is provided for reference only and not intended as an endorsement or statement that the information provided by the other party is accurate. We are not compensated for any products or services purchased from these third-party links.