Does a home warranty cover garage doors?

What does a home warranty cover?

“While each home warranty company has its own set of coverages depending on the plan you choose, most cover your home’s systems and appliances as long as they’ve been properly maintained,” said Angel Conlin, chief insurance officer at Kin Insurance. “Some have different plans that cover one or the other; others may offer plans that cover both. And many offer optional add-ons for an additional charge.”

Home warranties cover a wide range of home systems, including:

• HVACs
• Air conditioners
• Furnaces
• Plumbing
• Electrical systems
• Water heaters
• Ductwork

Many home appliances are also covered in basic plans, such as:

• Washers
• Dryers
• Garbage disposals
• Refrigerators
• Stove or ovens
• Built-in microwaves
• Dishwashers

Some home warranties also cover these extras as part of a standard plan or in an add-on plan:

• Swimming pool pumps
• Hot tubs
• Ceiling fans
• Garage door openers

“When purchasing a home warranty, you should review what each plan offers to make certain that your areas of concern are covered,” said Conlin.

» LEARN: What does a home warranty cover?

Home warranty garage doors coverage

While the door, springs and tracks aren’t covered, home warranty plans often do include the garage door opener. Openers are usually included in base plans, but some companies may require you to get an add-on package. This includes all of the components of the garage door opener, as well.

Most home warranty companies have a waiting period of at least 30 days before you can file a claim.

Garage door openers cost $150 to over $600. Installation fees could add hundreds of dollars more to replace a garage door opener. Having a home warranty can prevent you from paying a large amount out-of-pocket for these expenses.

You should also purchase your home warranty prior to having any potential issues. That means if you’re already having problems with your garage door opener when you purchase a home warranty, the company won’t pay to repair or replace it.

A home warranty may be an added monthly expense, but you may still want to investigate the option if you’re a first-time buyer with no home maintenance experience or you’re buying an older house or a house with older appliances, says Conlin.

» LEARN: How much does a home warranty cost?

Tips for maintaining garage doors

Most homeowners don’t realize anything is wrong with their garage doors until they stop working.

“Unfortunately, it is fairly common for garage doors to fail at some point and the repairs can be quite costly if you aren't able to do them yourself,” said Josh Bartlett, a home improvement expert. Luckily, maintaining garage doors isn’t too tricky. Bartlett offers these tips:

• Visually inspect your garage door from time to time. You should look for bends or dents on the door itself, bends on the track that the rollers move through, sagging in the middle of the door when open, and gaps that might develop under the door when closed (showing that the door has become uneven or off-track).
• Listen to your door sometimes while it’s opening and closing. Some noise is expected, but you shouldn't hear grinding or scraping, which could indicate that the door has gotten off track or a piece has broken.
• Lubricate your garage door at least twice a year. Use silicone-based spray lubricant to spray the wheels, tracks, hinges, pulley, springs and any other moving parts.
• Check your safety auto-reverse feature. Most garage doors have two safety checks in place. One, a photocell is installed near the garage floor to prevent the door from closing if there is something in the way. Two, if the door comes into contact with something on the way down it should stop and reverse. Check to make sure both of these features are working.
• Check the weatherstripping. If you see light coming in anywhere around your garage door, you need to take a look at the weatherstripping and replace it as needed. If you see air, then you are losing heat (or letting it in, depending on the season), which will cause temperature issues inside your garage.

Bartlett says that it is important to remember that garage door tension springs can be VERY dangerous and when in doubt homeowners should always call a professional to avoid injury. Other areas of the garage door (tracks, moving parts, etc.) are DIY-friendly.

» LEARN: Annual home maintenance checklist

Bottom line

Home warranties typically cover HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, water heaters and various appliances. While they don't usually cover garage doors, tracks or springs, garage door openers are often covered, either in the base plan or through add-ons.

The cost of a home warranty ranges from $40 to $80 per month, with additional trade service fees for claims. This is a small price to pay when out-of-pocket repairs or replacements are much higher.

It's essential to have a home warranty before issues arise since most companies have a waiting period before coverage kicks in. Regular garage door maintenance, including visual inspection, lubrication, and safety checks can also help you prevent costly repairs.