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Does A Home Warranty Provide Coverage For Garage Doors?
PUBLISHED: DEC , 28 2021 • 6 MINS READ
While home warranty plans don’t cover garage doors, they provide coverage for a critical component of the garage door – the garage door opener. A snag in the functioning of the door opener can make your garage and car inaccessible and ends up disrupting your schedule. A home warranty plan can help ease your vexation by covering the hefty repair or replacement sums. This blog will apprise you of garage door opener coverage, exclusions, the best companies to consider, and general maintenance tips.
Best Home Warranty Companies for Garage Door Opener Coverage
Many home warranty companies have garage door openers included in their basic plan offerings. At an affordable premium, these plans cover critical systems like HVAC, water heaters, septic tanks, kitchen appliances, in addition to garage door openers. Additional costs include a service fee paid at the time of service visit.
We have analyzed several factors like coverage, affordability, customer reviews, and offers. Here’s a list of our top five recommendations:
✓An extensive network of professionals to handle claims
✓Covered – Control board, motor, chains, belts, gears, pulleys, sheave fork, axle bolt, and switches of a garage door
What does garage door opener coverage exclude?
A home warranty plan offers restricted coverage for the garage door opener. Any pre-existing conditions are generally not covered. Talking specifics, no companies cover the garage door, spring, and garage door track assembly. The service contract you sign has payout limits and exclusions mentioned in the fine print.
Most companies have exclusions for specific parts and components of a garage door opener. These exclusions may vary from one company to the other. Here are a few examples –
Cinch Home Services coverage doesn’t include batteries, damage caused by door malfunctions, all door assemblies including door panels, tracks, rollers, hinges, cables and springs, frequency interference, lights, sending units, touchpads and keypads, transmitters, and remotes.
Service Plus Warranty has listed hinges, springs, sensors, chains, travelers, rollers, lights, keypads, wall buttons, remote receiving, and transmitting devices under exclusions.
Select Home Warranty doesn’t cover springs, brackets, and rails.
The companies have payout limitations for repair and replacement services, both aggregate and per-item limits. ServicePlus has a coverage limitation of $500 per contract term. Select Home Warranty provides up to $500 per claim. Any amount over the limits mentioned above comes out of your pocket.
How To File A Claim When Your Garage Door Opener Malfunctions?
A common problem may be the garage door not opening or closing. Other issues include the remote or keyboard not working. If a fault occurs in the motor, chances are it will keep running even after the door has closed. These issues need to be addressed immediately, and having a home warranty makes dealing with them more manageable.
When you purchase a home warranty plan, the coverage typically begins after a 30 day waiting period. Once this gets over, you can file claims when appliances and systems break down. The claim filing process is relatively simple, as you’re required just to follow these steps –
You can request service online through the home warranty company’s website. Alternatively, you can contact the customer support team directly using their phone number.
The company processes your request and assigns a service technician. The technician will diagnose the problem and report it to the home warranty company.
If the issue is covered under the warranty plan, the company approves the claim, and the service technician performs the repair.
Upon fulfillment of the claim, you will have to pay the service fee, also known as a deductible, as per your selected plan to the technician.
The faulty component may qualify for replacement if the home warranty company fails to repair it. If the replacement is not possible, the company usually pays cash instead. The amount you receive is the depreciated value of the component, which the company calculates and pays.
If the company cannot assign a service technician, they may allow you to hire an independent contractor yourself. The company would reimburse the amount you would spend on the repairs. It must be noted that the same dollar payout limitations may apply for the reimbursement. You must read the fine print of your service contract to better understand the company policy.
The costs of repairing or replacing a garage door opener
Though garage doors have a long lifespan, the garage door openers are not immune to wear and tear. The garage door opener repair cost ranges from $50-$300, depending on the type of malfunction. The replacement cost ranges between $300-$500. These pricey repairs and replacements can cause a dent in your finances.
The cost of home warranty plans ranges between $40-$75 per month on average. In addition to the premium, you must pay a service fee between $50-$75 during the service visit. You can purchase the plan to protect yourself from these unexpected repair and replacement costs. The premium and deductible combined cost less than repairs or replacement generally. It’s also worth noting that numerous other appliances and systems are covered under the same warranty plan.
Tips to maintain the garage door opener
Home warranty service contracts state that covered items should be well-maintained, as improper maintenance can be grounds for claim denial. Periodic maintenance is crucial for the efficient and safe operation of garage door openers, primarily because the garage door is the largest moving element in the house. Any mishap can cause severe damage and injury. Here are a few tips to maintain your garage door opener-
As mentioned in your user manual, parts like springs, hinges, rollers, and tracks should be lubricated regularly using lightweight household oil, white lithium grease, spray silicone, or any other lubricant.
Perform tests to check the balance of your garage door.
Look for signs of frayed or broken parts.
A regular inspection of the garage door opener can detect potential threats.
Inspect the insulation, weather stripping, or any other protection element applied on the garage door.
Is home warranty useful to cover garage doors opener?
If you’ve got an aging garage door opener, purchasing a home warranty would be a wise decision. It’ll help you save on hefty repair or replacement costs in case of breakdowns. The coverage limits provided by the home warranty companies are sufficient for the service required. The plans are flexible and fall under various budget categories, making your finances less strenuous. There are several options available in the market, from which you can choose the company best suited for your needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q.
How to replace a garage door opener?
A.
To replace the garage door opener, you have to remove all parts of the existing system using tools available at your home. It can be a hassle to get it right and is best done by professionals. Having a home warranty provides you peace of mind as they send experienced service technicians to handle the replacement and pay for it.
Q.
How can I get my garage door covered?
A.
Home warranty plans do not provide coverage for garage doors. If you wish to get your garage door covered, you can consider purchasing homeowners insurance.
Q.
How do I know if my garage door needs to be replaced?
A.
Inspect your garage door opener for visual signs of damage or wear and tear due to age. Some could be broken springs or tracks misalignment. If you notice any, you can consider getting it replaced.
Q.
Is it better to repair or replace garage door opener?
A.
In case of a malfunction, you should first diagnose the root cause of the problem. Depending on the issue, you can decide whether to repair or replace your garage door opener. If repairs cost more than replacement, replacement is the obvious choice. You should also consider a replacement if your device is nearly ten years old, which is the average lifespan of garage door openers.
Q.
Do garage springs have a warranty?
A.
Garage springs come with a manufacturer’s warranty. The duration of this warranty may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Q.
How long is a garage door warranty?
A.
A garage door warranty, on average, lasts for three to five years. The duration may vary depending on the manufacturer from whom you purchase it.
Q.
Does landmark home warranty listing policy cover garage door openers?
A.
Yes, the Landmark Home Warranty listing policy covers repairing and replacing mechanical parts of garage door openers.
Q.
How much is a new garage door?
A.
The price of the garage door varies depending on the type. The price starts at $700 and may go up to $5000-$7000 or more. The average cost is $1100-$1200.
Q.
How long do garage doors last?
A.
The average lifespan of a garage door falls between 15-30 years, depending on usage. With proper maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your garage door further.
Q.
Can a bent garage door be fixed by a home warranty?
A.
No, garage doors are not covered by a home warranty plan. Hence, bent garage doors cannot be fixed by a home warranty.
Q.
Does American Home Shield pay for repairs?
A.
American Home Shield pays for the repair or replacement of any item outlined in the service contract.
Q.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover the garage door damaged by your car?
A.
Yes, homeowner’s insurance covers garage door damage caused by external factors like damage by the car.
Q.
What causes a spring to break on a garage door?
A.
The most common reason for spring to break is general wear and tear. The lifespan is shortened in case rust gets accumulated onto it. Eventually, the lack of maintenance causes the spring to fail and break.
Q.
Can I use my smartphone to operate my garage door opener?
A.
Yes, you can integrate your smartphone with your garage door opener to operate it.
Q.
How do I fix my garage door opener?
A.
It is essential to know the cause before you fix any issue. Look for any signs of damage or check the batteries. You might need professional help in certain situations. If you have a home warranty, you can file a claim. The company will send a service technician to inspect and rectify the problem or replace it.
Q.
Why does my garage door open but will not close?
A.
There are several reasons why your garage door might not close. The issue could be with the sensor or loose wires in the motor. The fault could also be in the motor control board. It would be best to seek professional help to diagnose the problem and fix it.
