Warranties can be incredibly helpful in terms of saving money and extending the life of your appliance, but they can be tricky to understand. Here’s a breakdown of how warranties typically work—and how you can make them work for you.

Appliance Warranty Options

Most appliances come with a standard manufacturer’s warranty. This type of warranty is typically valid for a set amount of time after purchase and covers the cost of repairing or replacing any defective or malfunctioning parts. 

In many cases, you can choose to purchase additional coverage known as an extended warranty or protection plan. This will increase the length of time your warranty benefits are active and may also include coverage for additional repairs or replacement parts.

In both cases, though, it’s important to read the fine print so that you know exactly what’s covered—and for how long. Every warranty is different, so you should look over the terms as soon as you get them.

Know Your Warranty Coverage

Manufacturer warranties usually only cover costs related to defective materials or workmanship. In short, the manufacturer only cover repairs if they caused the problem. Other appliance repair issues that come up may not be covered. This includes damage from:

• Normal wear and tear
• Accidents
• Misuse
• Incorrect installation
• Unauthorized repairs or modifications

An extended warranty or protection plan may cover some of these issues, such as normal wear or accidents, but that’s not a given. Always double check the scope of your coverage before you report a problem or make any repairs.

Access Warranty Coverage Correctly

Even if you have an issue that’s covered under a manufacturer’s warranty or extended warranty, you may still need to follow a certain procedure in order to use your warranty coverage. Again, this will vary from company to company, so make sure you review the steps for your specific appliance and manufacturer.

Typically, the first thing to do is contact the customer service department to report the problem. They’ll provide additional instructions so that you can arrange for service from an authorized provider.

At every step, it’s important to keep a record of what the problem is, who you speak to, and when you speak to them. This documentation will help you keep track of the process and will protect you if there are any issues or disputes about coverage down the line.

If you use email or chat to report a problem, you can often download a record of your communication. If you contact the manufacturer by phone, make sure you get the name of the representative and any case or reference numbers connected to the call.

If you report a covered problem through the correct channel, you should be all set in terms of getting the repairs or replacement parts you need at no additional cost. Just remember to read the fine print and contact the manufacturer before you take action.

The team at Morris County Appliance Repair is here to help with all of your appliance repair needs in Rockaway, Chatham, and the greater Morris County area—so call us today! We’ll be happy to walk you through the warranty process and we can assist with all your repair needs whether they’re covered under warranty or not. We offer both regular and emergency service and we have weekday and weekend appointments available for your convenience. We’re here to put our 50 years of experience to work for you. Morris County Appliance Repair—You Can Count On Us!