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mmphoto412 t1_je4o9sa wrote

Reply to comment by Bungalow_Man in Home Warranty Recommendations (for appliances) by StopOhThenWigleWitIt

>it, but my hot water tank started leaking within the period and it still cost over $400 to replace. The warranty company told us which local plumber we could use, so there was no shopping around, and only the tank was covered. They charged for the expansion tank, flue modifications, permitting, haul away, etc. I think you'd be better off putting that money somewhere where y

One of my friends had similar experience getting a water heater replaced via warranty. You had to use whatever plumber they use. The one they got had alot of 1-3 star reviews, and probably would have been out of business if it wasn't from the warranty company.

Like you said they were charged for everything and anything that was not the tank, items that you would expect to be included in the installation cost. They also charged inflated prices for those items, to the point that using the warranty was almost as expensive as hiring a plumber yourself.

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StopOhThenWigleWitIt OP t1_je6tfpv wrote

Thank you both. These are the first-hand stories I was hoping to gain from my post. The hot water tank is my biggest concern and likely the most costly appliance I'll need to replace. It is past its lifespan. My current plan does include haul away fees and the cost of the tank. I'll have to check on flue modifications, expansion tanks, etc. Very helpful!

My two experiences with local contractors assigned to past service calls were really positive but I realize those may have been outliers. Each contractor averaged 4/5 stars but as you mentioned, I wasn't able to choose them. It was also a plus to get a service call to my door within 24-48 hrs after repairs were needed. Over the summer, I scheduled some home repairs (not covered by warranties) that took weeks to months to get someone on-site. Most users are right to assume these companies are fraudsters, but in some cases they do benefit the home owners.

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