Does a Home Warranty Cover Garage Doors and Openers?

It’s frustrating when your garage door won’t open when you expect it to. Sometimes, the issue is as simple as resetting your garage door keypad or replacing a specific component. But whatever the problem may stem from, a broken garage door can upset your daily routine.

That’s why many homeowners wonder, “Does a home warranty cover garage doors and openers?” While the answer may depend on your plan, typically, most home warranties will cover garage door openers but not the garage door itself.

If you have a home warranty, knowing what’s included in your contract can help you with costly repair and replacement expenses for covered items. Read on to learn how coverage works and what to expect when your covered garage door opener needs repair.

How Home Warranty Garage Door Coverage Works

When it comes to garage door openers, you’ll find that home warranty plans and what’s covered can be markedly different. For example, some home warranty companies include garage door openers in their basic plans, while others may offer them as optional add-on coverage.

Does First American Home Warranty cover garage doors? While most First American plans do cover garage door openers and may cover specific garage door components (either as a coverage option or an upgrade), they do not cover the garage door itself.

Why You Should Check Your Plan Details

Without home warranty coverage, repairs to a garage door opener could become a strain on your budget and peace of mind. However, depending on the First American home warranty coverage you have, your plan may cover many types of repairs or provide a replacement for covered items when the issue cannot be fixed.

It’s important to check your home warranty contract to understand the specific garage door components your plan covers. Look closely at:

• Whether “garage door opener” is listed under covered items
• Dollar limits for repairs and replacements
• Covered parts vs. non-covered parts
• Steps to make service requests and service fees

Attention to these details can help you avoid surprises after submitting a home warranty claim.

Garage Door Repair Costs vs. Home Warranty Coverage

Repair and replacement costs for garage door components can vary significantly. Depending on the part and repair complexity, you might pay anywhere from $100 for a minor fix to the opener to $800 or more for a large-scale repair or replacement.

That’s why many homeowners invest in home warranty plans to help offset covered repair and replacement expenses. With First American home warranty coverage for garage door openers, you simply pay a service fee, and we’ll assign a prescreened professional technician to come to your home to diagnose the garage door issue and begin repairing or replacing the covered item. 

Depending on the type of plan you choose, your garage door opener coverage can cover issues with the:

• Receiver unit
• Motor
• Carriage
• Center rail assembly
• Switches
• Push arm
• Capacitor

For many homeowners, protecting their budgets from repairs and replacements on covered garage door openers and components makes a home warranty a smart investment.

Tips for Protecting Your Garage Door

Even with coverage, you’ll want to maintain your garage door system to extend its lifespan. These routine maintenance tips can help reduce issues with your system:

• Lubricate moving parts: Keep rollers, hinges, and tracks greased so the garage door system runs smoothly and puts less strain on the opener.
• Check sensors regularly: Make sure nothing blocks or misaligns the sensors, as faulty safety sensors can prevent the door from closing properly or cause the door to close unexpectedly.
• Test the balance: An unbalanced door can strain the motor and other internal mechanisms, leading to breakdowns.
• Schedule inspections: Spot problems before they become expensive. Professional tune-ups can extend the life of your opener and reduce unexpected garage door repair costs.

Protect Yourself With a First American Home Warranty

Your garage door system helps conserve temperature efficiency within your garage and contributes to your home’s curb appeal, but it’s also prone to wear and tear. Components may fail, and the opener could eventually wear out.

Home warranty plans from First American can help protect your budget when your garage door opener and covered parts fail. Our plans also cover many additional home appliances and systems you rely on every day to keep your household running smoothly — providing peace of mind when they break unexpectedly.

Ready to protect your home? Get a free quote today and learn more about our comprehensive home warranty coverage and the many benefits it offers.