Appliance warranties

We deliberately don't publish any specific manufacturer's warranty terms. They vary by brand, by product line and by year, and a paraphrase is useless when you're making a claim. Find the paperwork or look up your model on the manufacturer's own support site using the model and serial number from the data plate.

Extended warranties and service plans are insurance, and should be judged as insurance. Typical repairs run around $150 for a dryer, $200 for a dishwasher or oven, $300 for a washer and $400 for a refrigerator. If a multi-year plan plus its deductible costs more than one or two of those, you're paying a premium for certainty rather than saving money. That can still be the right call if an unexpected $400 bill would genuinely hurt.

Home warranty policies cover multiple systems and appliances for an annual fee plus a per-visit charge. The recurring complaints are about what's excluded, caps per appliance, and who chooses the contractor. Read the exclusions and the caps first, not the marketing.

Coverage often depends on how the appliance was installed and maintained. Keep the purchase receipt, the installation record, and any maintenance history. And note that using an unauthorized repairer can jeopardize coverage on some plans — check before booking, not after.

How to choose

Check coverage before booking the repair

Model and serial number into the manufacturer's support site takes two minutes and can save the entire bill.

Judge extended plans against real repair prices

$150–$400 covers most repairs. Price the plan plus deductible against that.

Read a home warranty's exclusions and caps first

That's where the disappointment lives, not in the headline coverage list.

Confirm whether an unauthorized repairer voids coverage

Some plans require their own contractor. Booking your own first can end the claim.

Keep receipts and maintenance records

Claims are frequently denied for lack of proof of purchase date or proper maintenance.