Lost $600 on a home warranty that refused to cover a leaky water heater because of 'pre-existing rust'

I paid $75 a month for two years and when my water heater started leaking last month they sent a guy who took one look and said I should have filed a claim before the rust formed, so has anyone actually gotten a home warranty to pay for anything?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_alice29d ago

Wait, did they actually say "pre-existing rust" as in rust that formed while you were paying them? That feels like they're setting you up to fail from day one. Rust on a water heater is pretty much inevitable after a couple years, not like you can file a claim before the thing even exists.

linda_murphy29d ago

Pre-existing rust, I swear they must have a time machine to catch that stuff. My water heater's only three years old and it already looks like a prop from a pirate movie. The fine print probably says "any rust that existed before you signed the contract counts, even if it wasn't visible yet." I'm half convinced they'd deny a claim for "pre-existing air" if the tank springs a leak. At this point I'm ready to file a warranty claim before I even buy the thing, just in case the universe decides to rust it ahead of schedule.