What Do You Actually Need?

Standard coverage applies

Focus on appliances and interior plumbing; HVAC may be building-owned — verify

Verify HOA vs. owner responsibility for HVAC and roof

Must disclose to warranty company; affects pricing and terms

Most common; verify both heating and cooling are covered

Verify heat pump coverage explicitly — some plans exclude or sub-cap

Many standard plans exclude these; verify coverage or get add-on

Not covered by any standard plan; skip AC coverage entirely

Verify boiler coverage — different from forced-air furnace coverage

Low claim risk; cap adequacy matters less right now

Moderate risk; adequate cap starts to matter

Higher risk; HVAC cap is now your most important metric

High risk; cap adequacy is the single most important factor in your decision

$5,000+ cap per unit — $3,000 caps are inadequate

$4,000–$5,000 cap adequate for most replacements

$4,000+ cap covers most scenarios

High labor costs — $5,000+ cap recommended

$3,000–$4,000 cap may be sufficient

You MUST have a per-unit cap, not a combined cap — combined caps split one limit across all units

Single unit; combined vs. per-unit distinction does not apply

Standard plumbing coverage applies

Well pump add-on required — not covered in base plans

Interior drain line covered; exterior lateral is NOT covered by home warranties

Septic add-on required; drain field typically excluded even with add-on

Most companies exclude polybutylene — verify coverage explicitly before buying

Standard coverage applies; if unknown, a plumber can check

Check whether ice maker is included or a separate add-on

Included in virtually all base plans

Included in virtually all base plans

Countertop microwaves are typically not covered

Pool/spa add-on required ($15–$50/month); covers pump, heater, filter — structural and liner excluded

Skip this add-on

Standard coverage includes primary pump; verify battery backup is included

Standard plan covers primary pump in most cases

Skip

AHS includes this; most others require add-on or exclude it entirely

Skip

Motor covered in most plans; door, springs, and tracks are not covered

Skip