Do home warranties cover ovens, ranges and cooktops?

What oven, range and cooktop services does a home warranty cover?

Home warranties almost always cover ovens, ranges, and cooktops, but some plans focus on home systems and may not cover kitchen appliances. Other plans may not cover specific appliances, such as wall ovens, may not be covered under some appliance plans.

Your policy might also only cover specific parts of your oven, range, or cooktop, so it's important to review your contract. For example, warming drawers that aren’t incorporated into the range or oven unit may not be included.

Potential exclusions to oven, range and cooktop warranty coverage

Even with home warranty coverage for your oven, range or cooktop, there's still a chance your claim may encounter some obstacles. Here are some common exclusions in your home warranty contract that could affect your ability to get a repair or replacement:

• The appliance wasn’t taken care of properly.
• Your oven, range or cooktop was installed improperly.
• It has preexisting issues.
• The policy has limited coverage for specific brands and models or old appliances.
• Your homeowners insurance already covers the problem with the appliance (like fire or flood damage).
• The damage didn’t come from regular wear and tear.
• Unauthorized technicians performed the repairs.
• Your policy doesn’t cover professional-grade appliances.

Additionally, your policy might have a cap on how much the home warranty company will pay for a repair or replacement. You'll be responsible for covering the additional costs yourself.

For example, American Home Shield has a coverage cap of $2,000 per appliance on its ShieldGold plan ($4,000 with the ShieldPlatinum plan). This cap covers the diagnosis and repair or replacement of your oven, range or cooktop.

What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover ovens, ranges and cooktops

If your home warranty plan doesn't cover ovens, ranges or cooktops, you can make changes to your package. You might have the option to upgrade to a package that includes oven, range and cooktop coverage, or you could add it to your current plan as an extra feature. This will add a little extra to your home warranty costs, though.

Another thing to consider is your homeowners insurance. Your policy could cover oven, range and cooktop repairs in certain situations — like if a fire or flood impacts your home.

Bottom line

Home warranty companies typically cover ovens, ranges and cooktops as part of their appliance coverage. However, protection may vary depending on the specific terms of your home warranty package’s contract. Be sure to review your policy to understand what is covered and any limitations or exclusions that may apply to your appliances.