Finding a new appliance for your home can feel like an exhausting process. It’s enough of a headache when you’re buying for the sake of a new home or upgrade, but if you’re shopping because an appliance croaked? Now, that’s stressful. A broken fridge means the hundreds of dollars you spent on groceries (sorry, I meant DoorDash) are now ruined. A broken dishwasher means tens of minutes spent washing tupperware and that one water cup you somehow never clean. You want to avoid this nightmare, my friends. Moreover, you’re going to need something reliable, and fast.

Set aside for a moment the “shiny objects” that make a new appliance appealing. Yes, a French door refrigerator is a super sleek addition to complement your modern kitchen. One aspect that often gets overlooked — and can really save you down the line — is a warranty. There are a few types of warranties available for major appliances. They may sound similar, but there are distinct differences that can give one an advantage over the other.

And hey, we get it. No one wants to read the fine print. There are so many words, and the letters are so tiny. Let’s break down how warranties differ, and what it really means for you. We’ll be quick about it, too. We know your broken dishwasher is taunting you.

Different Types of Home Appliance Warranties

Below are a few of the warranty types you will run into when purchasing a new home appliance.

Manufacturers’ warranty

A manufacturers’ warranty is one that is provided by the appliance brand. They may apply when the appliance is purchased through the brand’s website, but some manufacturers will make their warranty eligible through big box stores (think Home Depot or Lowes). Warranties provided by the manufacturers can vary greatly from additional warranties provided by retailers, or those provided by a third-party administrator. For instance, almost all manufacturers’ warranties offer a full-service guarantee. That means all parts, labor, and even the entire appliance are covered in the event of an issue.

Extended warranty

This one is exactly what it sounds like — a longer warranty. Appliance extended warranties build upon the initial 1-year warranty, and come at an additional cost. They can be offered by the manufacturer, retailer, or third-party administrator. These get tricky when it comes to understanding exactly what is covered, and under what circumstances. It may only cover parts, not labor, and vice versa. It usually doesn’t cover installation. If something that isn’t covered breaks, or the appliance stops functioning, you’re out of luck. Before you buy, take a look at what, exactly, is covered, and determine if it’s really worth the additional cost.

Home warranty

A home warranty is a protection plan that’s provided by a third party. It’s kind of like an insurance policy for all your home appliances, and is something homeowners may buy when they purchase a new home. It can cover the repair or replacement cost of stoves, dishwashers, and laundry machines. The upside is that it can cover a few things at once. The downside is that you are often locked-in for a few years, and if an appliance needs service, you don’t really know (or have control over) which service company is being sent to your home to address the issue. 

Retailer warranty

Stores like Home Depot and Lowes provide their own warranties to customers, and can only be purchased through the retailer. They are not required to include any of the same services a manufacturer might, so pay attention to where each warranty might overlap.

What to Expect: Full Replacement Warranties vs Parts

On to the next segment of our lesson: what the (insert expletive of choice here) does this warranty mean? There are two ways to evaluate your warranty: are they parts only, or a full warranty.

Parts Warranty 

A parts warranty is often baked into the fine print of extended warranties, but may also be present in manufacturer, retailer, and third-party warranties. These warranties lead with the good news — 10- and 15-year eligibility — but can sometimes bury the lede, which is that only certain aspects of your appliance are covered. Not to mention that labor and installation aren’t covered, so you’ll be financially responsible for service. If you opt for a parts warranty, keep in mind that you might have to spend a couple hundred bucks to fix any issue.

Compressor Warranty

 Every refrigerator has a compressor. It’s what keeps things cool (and quiet), so that you don’t open your cheese drawer and find that you’ve inadvertently cooked a quesadilla. There are often warranties specifically for the compressor, which is great. But given that compressors are kind of the star of a fridge, they really shouldn’t be giving out that fast if you bought a quality appliance (typically, compressors might start failing at the 8 year mark but they can last for well over 10 years). You’re more likely to have your ice maker, digital front panel, or drawers experience a blunder. Compressor warranties, unfortunately, tend to give a false sense of security. If anything else goes wrong, you’re paying out of pocket to fix what’s broken.

Sealed System Warranty

This is a more comprehensive warranty than a compressor warranty alone. It covers the compressor, condenser, evaporator, drier, heat exchanger, condensate loop, and other connective tubing. It does not cover the other components of a refrigerator, like electrical malfunctions.

Full Warranty

A full warranty has a shorter life-span, but covers the full appliance. Top to bottom, inside and out, you’re protected. There’s no “sorry, we can only cover this part, not that one,” and no additional cost for service, either. If something goes wrong with the appliance, you can get a brand new one, at no charge. Full warranties include installation as well. So, while 10- and 15-year warranties look attractive, you’re not getting the comprehensive coverage a full warranty provides and may have to shell out more cash in the event that something goes wrong.

1-Year vs. 2-Year Warranty 

Most manufacturers provide a 1-year full warranty. That’s awesome. But status quo isn’t really our vibe, so we upped the ante and offer 2-year full warranty for all home appliances. That covers everything….truly, everything, at no cost to you. All parts, services, and labor is on us.  

Where to Get a 2-Year Full Warranty

Here’s the thing: we pride ourselves on quality and service. From the moment you decide to purchase, we’ve got your back. You can find our 2-year warranty at several authorized retailers. It’s only available at those retailers, so be wary if you buy from somewhere else. We want to make sure you’re covered. And if you want that added peace of mind, we do offer extended warranties for our TVs, air products, sound bars, and kitchen packages.