Dishwashers fail for a variety of mechanical and electrical reasons. A broken impeller is a common cause of mechanical breakdown. Home Systems Protection coverage is available for this and to upgrade an older unit to one that’s more energy or water efficient if a unit is not repairable.
Your dishwasher must heat water to at least 140° to melt detergent and clean grease off dishes.
Cleaning and drying settings affect the amount of energy used and operating costs.
Run the dishwasher only when full and choose self-dry instead of heated drying to improve energy savings.
A dishwasher's life expectancy is 9-11 years. By replacing one manufactured in 1994 or earlier with an ENERGY STAR® qualified unit, you could save more than $25 a year in utility costs.
Whether the range’s sensitive control panel, heating elements, or cooktop fails, repair parts or replacement, if necessary, plus labor, are covered.
An electric range in full operation uses more power than any other equipment in your home. The smaller burners use less power.
Using the stove and oven in the summer contributes to unwanted heat, increasing air conditioning energy consumption.
When you open the oven to check on food, the temperature drops 25-30° requiring extra energy to return to the set temperature. To save energy, use the oven window and inside light.
Life expectancy is 12-13 years for a range. Replacing yours with a newer, more efficient one can reduce energy consumption.
Refrigerator compressors are the main breakdown culprits. Home Systems Protection coverage includes the replacement of the compressor and resulting spoilage.
Your refrigerator, one of the few appliances operating 24/7/365, typically uses more energy than any other kitchen appliance over the course of a year.
Opening refrigerator or freezer doors too often or for too long makes cooling components run more frequently and consume more energy.
Refrigerators have gotten much more efficient over the last 20 years. When buying a new refrigerator, look for lower operating cost ratings to get better efficiency and energy cost savings.
If Ice Maker cubes are too small, you may need to replace the water filter or the water supply valve may be obstructed. A couple of simple steps can resolve this.
ENERGY STAR® recommends replacing refrigerators manufactured before 1993. Energy-efficient refrigerators use 15% less energy, as required by the federal standards, and use 40% less energy than models sold in just 2001.
A gas fireplace is more efficient than an older furnace, and can be used to provide main floor zone heating to reduce overall energy costs.
Most gas fireplaces are installed with pilot lights that are on 24/7. If you convert these standing pilot lights to on-demand pilot lights that fire up only when necessary, you can save additional energy and money.
In some states, ventless gas fireplaces are an available option for homes without a chimney. These are considered safe for homeowners because they include an oxygen-depletion sensor that turns gas off before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels in the room.
Home Systems Protection coverage protects you from loss for televisions and other home entertainment systems and devices. Electronics failure is the most common cause of loss.
Solid state flat screen LED and LCD televisions provide a better viewing experience while using less than half the power of older cathode ray tube TVs.
TVs use power when they are turned off (up to 10 watts) so they're ready to respond instantly to a remote control. Turn off a switched power strip or unplug the TV to eliminate this energy loss.
Since televisions are sensitive to voltage fluctuations, always use them with surge protection and unplug them during thunderstorms and when you go on vacation.
Like this fan, equipment powered by electricity is vulnerable to surges and irregular power fluctuations that can cause the motor to burn out.
Ceiling fans are a very energy-efficient way to circulate air and they make heating or cooling more effective, as heat tends to collect at the ceiling, cool air at the floor.
With lights off, these units use 10-100 watts of power depending on motor size and operating speed. Lower speeds consume less energy.
Incandescent ceiling fan lights can use more than 80% of overall power for this device. Replace incandescents with Compact Florescent Lamps (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs to reduce lighting energy consumption by 75% or more.
Desktops, laptops, tablets and printers are covered devices. Complete replacement is common when sensitive circuitry fails.
Desktop computers use 60-250 and laptops 15-45 watts of power while running. Place computers in standby/sleep mode while not in use to reduce power consumption to 6 watts or less.
Computers and printers are very susceptible to power surges and spikes. Always use them with a surge protector to avoid potential damage and loss of data. Remember to unplug these devices when you go on vacation.
ENERGY STAR® rated printers have built-in power-saving features and default settings. By setting your printer to duplex mode you'll save money on paper and energy costs.
Home Systems Protection coverage kicks in when a worn bearing causes the motor to seize or burn out, or an electrical circuitry in the control board fails.
Clothes drying accounts for nearly 6% of home electricity expense. This can add up to an energy cost of more than $1500 over the life of the dryer. Hang clothes to air dry to save significant energy and reduce bills.
Obstructions or excessive lint build-up in the dryer vent or vent duct prevent the dryer from heating properly, resulting in longer drying times and wasted energy. Remove lint after every load.
Nearly 90% of energy used to wash clothes is for heating the water. Reduce energy use and electric bills by hundreds of dollars a year using lower wash temperatures or cold water.
The average clothes dryer – gas or electric-powered – is expected to last about 13 years.
Home Systems Protection coverage is critical because even modern circuit breakers can fail to trip. Surges, spikes and overload can cause arcing and short circuits that can damage the main panel, wiring, switches, outlets – even plugged-in devices.
Your electrical panel distributes power coming from the electric utility system to a number of user circuits within your home.
Old electrical panels may contain fuses which must be replaced after an overload, and can result in circuit overheating and fire risk if replacements are not sized properly.
Newer electrical panels utilize circuit breakers which trip with visual and tactile indications when overloaded and require only a simple reset to restore power to the circuit.
Pre-1930 homes may have "knob & tube" systems, which pose a potential safety hazard due to
An aging water heater is subject to rupture, potentially causing significant water damage, Coverage for breakdown is a considerable savings for very little investment. Water heater losses are common.
More than 20% of every dollar you spend on energy goes to heating water. Wrap exposed hot water pipes with insulation to minimize heat loss.
By wrapping your older water heater with an R-12 water heater blanket, especially if it's in an unheated area of your home, you can save up to 10% on water heating costs.
Tankless water heaters save energy by providing hot water only when needed. Unlike traditional storage water heaters, tankless units lose no standby energy and will cost you 10-20% less.
Most conventional hot water heaters last 10-15 years. Consider replacing older units or those with problems.
Basic Home Systems Protection coverage includes your furnace. Oil and gas units have many parts that can fail. Electric units have fewer parts, but draw so much electricity, the wiring or circuitry can overheat and burn out.
Heating is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for 35-50% of annual energy bills in colder parts of the country.
The efficiency of new furnaces is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE), a measure of seasonal performance. A higher AFUE means lower energy consumption.
To maintain your system's efficiency, be sure furnace filters are inspected and replaced regularly. Homes with pets or smokers need to change filters more often.
Home Systems Protection coverage for sump pump failure pays for replacement or repairs to get it back in operation. Low voltage, wrong pump size and poor maintenance can cause breakdown.
For your safety, make sure the sump pump is plugged into a working ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet and the cord is in good shape.
Coverage is as essential as the systems that control air temperature in your home and the sensitive electronic devices used to program them.
Heating and cooling represent about 45% of your overall home energy use.
Set your thermostat a couple of degrees higher in summer and lower in winter for significant energy savings.
With programmable thermostats you can set different temperatures for different times of day and night, automating heating and cooling adjustments for comfort, while minimizing energy consumption.
Home Systems Protection coverage protects you from loss for televisions and other home entertainment systems and devices. Electronics failure is the most common cause of loss.
Solid state flat screen LED and LCD televisions provide a better viewing experience while using less than half the power of older cathode ray tube TVs.
TVs use power when they are turned off (up to 10 watts) so they're ready to respond instantly to a remote control. Turn off a switched power strip or unplug the TV to eliminate this energy loss.
Since televisions are sensitive to voltage fluctuations, always use them with surge protection and unplug them during thunderstorms and when you go on vacation.
Cut water use up to 50% by replacing your old shower head with a new low-flow style. By heating less water, you'll save a significant amount of energy and expense.
Frozen pipes can cause extensive damage to your home. Reduce the risk by installing rubber foam sleeves or fiberglass insulation on exposed pipes.
A running toilet, due to a faulty fill valve or flapper, can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. If you have a well, this will reduce the life of your well pump and increase electric bills.
Insulation reduces air movement in the area it occupies. Inadequate insulation is a leading cause of energy waste in most homes. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 or about 10-14 inches, depending on insulation type.
An R-value indicates insulation's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness and the lower your heating and cooling costs will be.
Vermiculite and perlite insulation materials are commonly found as attic insulation in homes built before 1950, and may contain asbestos. If you have it, don't disturb it. Only certified contractors can deal with this type of insulation.
Considering the constant use garage door openers get, it’s no wonder they break down. Home Systems Protection coverage helps lessen the hassle.
Keeping garage door wheels lubricated will reduce friction and excess noise, decrease stress on the motor, minimize energy consumption and extend the life of the unit.
Garage door opener circuit boards are susceptible to power disturbances such as voltage spikes and surges, so use surge protection to reduce likelihood of failures.
It's a big inconvenience when you can't open the garage door during a power outage. Garage door openers are now available with battery backup systems that kick in automatically when you lose electrical power.
Refrigerator compressors are the main breakdown culprits. Home Systems Protection coverage includes the replacement of the compressor and resulting spoilage.
Your refrigerator, one of the few appliances operating 24/7/365, typically uses more energy than any other kitchen appliance over the course of a year.
Opening refrigerator or freezer doors too often or for too long makes cooling components run more frequently and consume more energy.
Refrigerators have gotten much more efficient over the last 20 years. When buying a new refrigerator, look for lower operating cost ratings to get better efficiency and energy cost savings.
If Ice Maker cubes are too small, you may need to replace the water filter or the water supply valve may be obstructed. A couple of simple steps can resolve this.
ENERGY STAR® recommends replacing refrigerators manufactured before 1993. Energy-efficient refrigerators use 15% less energy, as required by the federal standards, and use 40% less energy than models sold in just 2001.
Windows with a lower U-factor are designed to reduce heat transfer from one side of the pane to the other, keeping more heat in your home and reducing heating costs.
In warm climates, windows with a lower Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) are designed to minimize entrance of heat from sunlight through the glass.
Use light-colored blinds or shades over windows to reduce direct sun on hot days. At night these same blinds and shades help minimize thermal energy loss through the windows to the outside.
Consider replacing older single-pane windows or installing storm windows to reduce energy loss and improve efficiency.
Doors are the single largest source of home energy loss through unwanted heat gain in warm weather and heat loss in cold weather.
Rubber and foam weatherstripping is inexpensive and durable, stays flexible for years and effectively seals air leaks around doors.
Consider an insulated metal or fiberglass door when replacing exterior doors. They are much more durable, have lower maintenance needs and seal and insulate better, saving you energy.
Pool heating, pump and filtration equipment are covered for breakdown, this may including motor damage, which is often the result of inadequate maintenance.
A pool filter pump is often one of the largest users of a home's electrical energy. You can save energy and money by reducing the filter pump's operating time. One complete water turnover every 24 hours provides adequate filtering.
Using conventional fuels to heat a swimming pool can be costly and consume a lot of energy. If your pool is in direct sunlight, solar energy could be more cost-effective.
Install an evaporative pool cover and keep your pool covered whenever it is not in use. This will prevent water evaporation and can save hundreds of gallons of water a month.
A lot of breakdowns are caused by lack of or improper maintenance, but these occurrences may be covered. Most failures occur with the compressor, condenser or air circulation fan.
Air conditioning accounts for more than 15% of the total energy use of the average home.
Today's best air conditioners use 30%–50% less energy than those built in the 1970s, and 20%-40% less than models purchased just 10 years ago.
Central air conditioners are rated according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The current minimum standard SEER rating is 13, which is 30% more efficient than the previous minimum standard SEER of 10.
Keep your outside central air conditioning condenser unit clear of obstructions and vegetation overgrowth to enable effective air flow and optimum energy efficiency.
Manufacturers set an expected life span for air conditioning systems at 15 years of typical use. In cooler climates, they may last several more years.
Service line coverage saves the day, paying for excavation, line repairs and landscaping repairs when underground wiring or piping is damaged on your property.
Plant trees and bushes away from underground utility lines to minimize the chance of damage from root systems which will lead to interruption of service, costly repairs, and landscape repair.
Contact your local one-call locator service (dial 8-1-1) prior to any excavation to have utilities mark their facilities. Failure to do so may result in fines or civil penalties.
Pipes are like arteries. Grease and soap residue build up over time and lead to clogs. Help avoid sewer blockage with routine sewer cleaning and sewer system checkups.
A well-maintained roof separates your home from unwanted environmental conditions.
Flashings should be inspected annually to insure a proper water-tight seal and reduce potential for roof leaks.
Multiple layers of shingles on a roof can mask undesired or dangerous roof conditions, including excessive material weight which could lead to roof structure collapse.
Most roof shingles are warranted for 15-30 years. If your roof age exceeds this warranty period, consider replacing the shingles to avoid potential problems and leaks.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels installed on your roof can generate enough electricity to supply power to some or all of your household appliances and equipment, significantly reducing your electric bill, while creating a smaller carbon footprint for your home.
Trees and tall bushes should be trimmed regularly to avoid shading PV solar panels in order to ensure optimal power generation from your PV system.
There are many covered causes of generator failures – low fluid levels, faulty electrical connections, overloading, improper maintenance, even nesting animals.
Backup generators with combustion engines can produce harmful emissions and should always be located outside of the home.
Maintain your generator regularly to assure it's available when needed. This includes replacing oil, changing air filters, and inspection of belts.
Fixed connections to your electrical panel should always incorporate a single-pole double-throw transfer switch to insure isolation from the utility system and avoid creating an unsafe condition for utility workers.
