Home Warranties And Roof Coverage
The recent severe weather has brought to the fore one of the more common questions Warranty Administration addresses, and that is roof coverage. It has undoubtedly been the number one inquiry from Texas residents following Hurricane Irma in September of 2017, and has been the number one department inquiry overall since. For the purposes of this examination, we are going to put aside a discussion of damage caused by acts of nature, which is expressly excluded in Section VIII.7.d. of the warranty from all sections of the home.
Roof Leak Repair Emergencies
Roof leaks rarely make themselves known on beautiful sunny days. Rather, they pop up during heavy rainstorms or when your roof is covered in melting snow. But given the risk of damage to your roof and home if you ignore even the smallest roof leak, its important that you call a technician for help right away. Thats why Choice Home Warrantys professional roof repair technicians are always available to help with roof leaks.
When home owners submit a claim, Choice Home Warranty immediately dispatches trusted local professional technicians to assess and repair roof leaks. Work orders are approved within minutes so that technicians can get your roof leak repaired as quickly as possible, saving you time and potential damage.
I Have Homeowners Insurance How Is An Hsasm Home Warranty Different
Unlike homeowner’s insurance, an HSA Home Warranty is a service contract that covers essential applications and home system components when they break down due to normal wear and tear – items that most homeowners insurance plans do not cover. Consider it the perfect complement to this standard insurance, not a substitute for it. Discover the confidence of an HSA Home Warranty today.
Also Check: How Can I Tell If My Roof Is Leaking
Water Heater Repair Or Replacement
Your family needs a functional hot water heater for bathing, washing clothes and doing dishes, and a new hot water heater can cost several hundred dollars or more. Our warranties cover repair or replacement of many components of your hot water heater, including tanked and tankless models, that malfunction due to normal wear and tear. As with other appliances, you dont need to provide a maintenance record for coverage.
How Does A Home Warranty Work
If a covered appliance breaks or a system malfunctions, your home warranty provider will send a qualified technician to your home at a time you schedule with that technician. The technician will diagnose the problem and recommend a solution. In many cases, your only cost will be the service fee* for the technician’s visit.
You May Like: Is Red Roof Pet Friendly
Do Home Warranties Cover Plumbing
Lets face it plumbing issues stink! Plumbing is one of those home systems we tend not to appreciate until theres a problem with it.
Lets face it plumbing issues stink! Plumbing is one of those home systems we tend not to appreciate until theres a problem with it. They can occur without any warning making for an unpleasant surprise that you have no choice but to address immediately.
Plumbing problems arent just unpleasant they can also be expensive. Not only does the issue itself needs to be remedied, but also leaked water can cause several residual issues such as floorboard rot, drywall damage and mold, among others.
Related:
Differences In Home Warranty Roof Coverage
Whether your home warranty will cover roof leaks can vary depending on what you bought. In some cases, roof leaks are not part of the original package and you may need to pay extra for it.
Even with a warranty that covers it, it may only cover up to a certain amount and if your leak goes above that amount, you may be liable for paying whatever is not covered.
If the damage is bad enough that the whole roof needs to be replaced, it’s very likely that a warranty will not cover that at all and you’ll have to either turn to your homeowners insurance to pay for it or pay for it out of pocket.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Calculate Roof Square Footage
Are Roof Leaks Covered By A Home Warranty
A home warranty is a service contract that covers specific items, like home appliances and home systems, depending on the plan your purchase. The best home warranty providers cover issues that result from typical wear and tear and do not cover issues that arise if you use an appliance or system incorrectly.
When you have a home warranty and need a repair on a covered item, you call your home warranty company, who will arrange for a pre-screened service technician to come to your home. The technician will determine if the issue is covered, and if so, they will repair it if possible. All you will be charged for is the service call, a fee that generally ranges from $75-$125. Pricing is different for each provider, so check your service contact to know what your fees and monthly premiums will be.
Home warranties allow you to limit the cost of unexpected repairs because you only have to pay the service fee rather than the entire cost to repair or replace covered appliances or systems. With something like a roof leak, which is only going to get worse as time passes, its important to act as soon as you discover the leak. If knowing youll only have to pay a small service fee will prevent you from delaying the repair, home warranty roof leak coverage could easily pay for itself. A home warranty covers an array of major appliances and systems that a home buyer may be interested in having covered, but a roof leak warranty is typically optional add-on coverage to a basic plan.
How To Find A Roof Leak
Spotting a roof leak as early as possible is critical for minimizing damage to your home and belongings. Unfortunately, it’s not always a straightforward process. Since roofs are typically sloped, it’s common for water to enter your home at one part of your roof, only to trickle down to another area where the leak becomes apparent.
The first and sometimes most difficult step you should take is to find the source of the leak. Check your roof for any probable points of entry, such as a misaligned shingle, a raised nail, cracks near vent pipes, a misplaced gutter or a crack in the base of your chimney.
If you can’t identify the point of entry by looking at your roof, try checking your attic. Search the interior for mold or moisture, or look for wet wood on a rainy day. Alternatively, you can spray your roof with a garden hose to locate the leak.
While this may seem counterintuitive, doing this on a dry day will allow you to fix the leak at a time when you control the amount of water that can enter your home. If you still can’t find any crack or puncture, it may be possible that the source is a plumbing leak.
If you identify a roof leak early, it usually does not require much effort to fix. Often, a replaced shingle or rubber sealant will solve the problem. However, if you’re uncomfortable doing maintenance on your roof, you should ask a professional to take care of it.
Read Also: How To Tell When You Need A New Roof
Washer Dryer And Fridge
Even though home warranties provide some coverage for household appliances, washers, dryers, and refrigerators are often excluded from standard home warranty contracts. Read the fine print and make sure these appliances are part of your warranty if you have concerns about them giving out. In most cases, you can add on enhanced coverage to include these appliances if they arent part of your standard home warranty.
Does Home Warranty Cover The Roof
Does the home warranty cover the roof? Well, first of all, you need to learn about the term of the home warranty. It cannot be denied that this is an attractive deal found by the homeowners.
Their main selling point is to protect the homeowner from unexpected expenses when a major system in the house gets down. But is it worth it? What should you expect? It will help if you read this article.
Commonly, the home warranty is included when a person buys a new home or transfers it to another homeowner. But does a home warranty cover the roof? You can agree, so the roof of your home will be included in the policy in the first place.
This article will show you things related to the home warranty, so you know what to expect and the actions needed to take beforehand.
Read Also: How Much Roofing Cost Per Square Foot
Roof Coverage In Home Warranty
In many of these situations, it may seem like the costs are minor, but that is only true for problems that are caught well in advance. However, given the fact that water takes a long time to do any noticeable damage, thats likely already the case when you realize a leaking roof. This is important to know what home warranty covers.
Also, many of these problems arise independently of each other. Shingles get damaged during vent installations or a hailstorm. Caulking erodes in the rain and gutters get clogged in fall. Insulation gradually absorbs moisture, cycles of freezing and thawing crack the roof tiles.
These never seem like a pressing fix at the time after all, its only a small hole here and there. The continuous, developing wear and tear is clearly visible to the professional eye, even if you can spot a couple of the leaks yourself.
As a consequence, getting your roof covered by a home warranty that covers roof leaks is always a good idea. This is because the problems caused by roof damage can lead to other, more serious structural issues which are far more expensive to fix than a few shingles.
Before doing that, however, its important to understandthe difference between home warranty and home insurance. The primary difference is not what items they cover, but the nature of the damage to those items. The home warranty is a service contract, and covers repairs to your home and appliances necessitated by wear and tear over time.
Look For The Following Problems:
- Visible dips
- Warped, cracked, or missing shingles
- Loose or forced up flashing around the chimney and skylights
- Moss or mold growing between shingles
- Leaves or pine needles in the gutters
- Snow or ice weighing down the shingles
You can remove moss, mold, leaves, pine needles, snow, and ice yourself with your hands or a soft-bristled brush. However, we would recommend hiring a professional if you come across larger issues, like damaged flashing or shingles and dips.
Read Also: What Is A Hail Resistant Roof
How To Find Roof Leaks
The fastest way to find where a roof leak is coming from is to work upwards from any damp or mold-covered patch of the ceiling indoors. Though this is not always so simple. Locating the leak becomes difficult when the path of the water is not immediately apparent.
If the leak is hard to find, pour water over some likely areas and ask someone to call out when there is a visible drip in the home. Cracks inside the wall can also be conduits for water, leading it in unexpected directions.
Shingled roofs offer challenges to a simple upward path to the source of the leak, but they also come with handy clues to it. Just as mold and mildew gather at the ceiling leak, so do they at the source, often under the shingles in that spot.
If mold has not yet formed, there should be a trail of water formed by the slope of the roof leading you to the source.
No, American Home Shield Home Warranty does not cover roof leaks but you can review a host of the top companies on Home Warranty Reviews that cover roofs. Some of the companies include Choice Home Warranty.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage
Whether it’s from a leaky roof or a burst pipe, water damage can be devastating not to mention expensive. Homeowners insurance covers certain types of water damage, including sudden and accidental, as well as internal water damage but does not cover damage caused by lack of maintenance, neglect or flooding.
Water damage is one of the more frequent claims made by homeowners, with one in 50 insured homes making claims with their insurer for water damage or freezing, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The exact amount of coverage you’ll have depends on your policy and any additional endorsements. It’s important to figure out what types of damage your insurance policy does and doesnt cover, as well as the other coverage options you may need to keep your home, loved ones and belongings safe.
We’ve outlined what every homeowner needs to know about homeowners insurance and water damage, including when home insurance covers water damage, when it doesnt and additional endorsements you may want to look into.
Don’t Miss: Are Metal Roofs Cheaper Than Shingle Roofs
How Much Does A Roof Leak Cost To Fix
Although repairs could be expensive depending on the scope of your loss, it’s a good idea to have a professional examine your home’s water damage rather than trying to fix it yourself.
The total cost to repair your leak and any damage it causes depends on the size of the leak, its source and the length of time it exists before you fix it. If you only need to apply a rubber sealant to a leaking vent, your repair could cost less than $100.
On the other hand, if you need to reshingle a section of your roof, the materials and labor may cost $400 to $700. Significant roof repairs including new shingles, plywood, cement and metal flashing could cost anywhere from $700 to $3,000. Other factors, such as the danger involved with working around and repairing a skylight or chimney, may also affect your total costs.
Except for the most basic leaks, it’s best to have a professional assess the damage and recommend repairs. Performing work on your roof can be dangerous, and while you may feel like you’re saving money by repairing a leak yourself, you could end up costing yourself far more if your repairs are inadequate and lead to wood rot or mold damage.
Additionally, if your insurance company realizes that new damage is the result of work you tried to perform yourself rather than having a professional do the job, they may claim that you’re responsible for the damage and deny your claim.
When Should You Purchase A Home Warranty
When to purchase a home warranty largely depends on your current situation. If you are an existing homeowner who wants to protect your home systems and appliances, then now is the time. On the other hand, if you are in the process of selling a home and want to make it more attractive for buyers, then a home warranty is a great way to do that. A home warranty will reassure your prospective buyers that they are covered if anything goes wrong after the sale.
Don’t Miss: How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Roof
What Roof Warranties Cover
Unfortunately, its essentially impossible to find a warranty that will completely cover the cost of a full roof replacement. Roofs are expensive to repair and replace, and companies are not prepared to take on that cost on behalf of homeowners. However, that doesnt mean roof warranties wont significantly reduce repair costs. Heres a quick recap of the types of warranties and what they cover.
| Whats Covered |
Why Is Roof Maintenance Important Lets Look At Some Of The Reasons Below:
High wind speeds, substantial precipitation, snow, or hail would all be able to negatively affect your rooftop after some time. Examining your rooftop after this sort of weather can keep you in front of any climate related damage.
Consistently removing any leaves that build-up over time, branches, and ultimately debris of any kind can keep most drainage issues from happening. Cleaning up any semblance of moss or greenage is additionally an efficient and effective method of maintaining the integral functionality of your roof, in turn extending the longevity of the roofs life span.
Warped, broken, or missing shingles are altogether signs that your rooftop will need a fix or two. Annual or biannual routine maintenance, or after severe weather conditions will keep you in the loop of any present or potential issues.
Recommended Reading: How Much To Repair A Trailer Roof
What Is The Maximum Limit Of Your Claim
In the home warranty industry, the standard plans are the best-selling home warranty plans because they cover almost all the basic appliances and systems. So, if you are looking forward to purchasing a standard plan, make sure that you learn about their annual premiums and coverage. Also, ask for the maximum limit for your claims, just to ensure that you have all your appliances and systems properly covered under the budget-friendly plan.
My Roof Is Leaking: Is It Covered By Insurance
By admin | October 17, 2014
Part of being a homeowner means keeping up on important repairs, especially roof repairs. Owning a home is expensive, but it becomes even more expensive when you have to come up with thousands of dollars for an unexpected roofing job. Having the right home insurance can help save you hundreds of dollars when it comes to repairs, but if you havent looked at your homeowners policy recently, you may be surprised what is and isnt covered by your home insurance.
Also Check: What Does A Roofing Contractor Do
