HOW WARRANTIES WORK
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HOW WARRANTIES WORK
PART
1
How Warranties Work Windows are considered good investments, which is why homeowners don’t much mind the expense. Moreover, windows -- as mandated by federal regulations in the United States -- carry warranties. This protects you from having them become a constant drain on your pockets.
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HOW WARRANTIES WORK
• Coverage. Arguably the most important aspect of your window warranty, coverage dictates which defects and services will be dealt with and shouldered by your manufacturer, should your window need them. Your coverage also determines what your manufacturer is obligated to do, should the window fail -- including repair, replacement, or refund of your faulty window units. • Length of coverage. How long your warranty is good for is also essential. There are various types of warranties; some are limited, and some are not. Some are transferable, and some are not.
• Conditions and limitations. Some window warranties also have conditions which, if not adhered to, can render the coverage void; for instance, having your windows repaired by a professional who has not been properly accredited by the manufacturer. There are also limitations to the coverage. “Consequential” damage is usually not covered, as in the case of window components falling off and damaging your landscaping.
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HOW WARRANTIES WORK
TIPS FOR INSPECTING THE WARRANTY Get everything in writing. Being furnished with a written warranty is not required by the law, so there are companies known to only speak about their warranties. Protect yourself by making sure your window manufacturer or installer prints out a copy of their warranty and hands it to you. If you don’t get anything from your installer, however, it is necessary to know that in most states, the lack of a warranty presupposes the existence of an implied one – unless the manufacturer or contractor explicitly says there is none. Ask questions. If there is anything you do not understand, or you have a concern, immediately raise it with the manufacturer or installer.
Use your windows according to the warranty specifications. Also, follow the conditions in your warranty to the letter to avoid potential problems.
Now that you know how a warranty works, the next thing to learn is how it does not work. We will discuss that in the next installment of our e-book. Stay tuned! NO MORE QUANDARY ABOUT WARRANTY
HOW WARRANTIES WORK
PART
2
Common Misconceptions About Warranty We talked about the importance of a warranty, and its essential inclusions. Now, let’s see what it does not do, and what you can do about this fact. Every homeowner knows a warranty is important to making the most of one’s investment. But not every homeowner knows which facts about a warranty may be true, and which are not. Here are some common misconceptions.
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COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WARRANTY
A lifetime warranty lasts forever. The biggest misconception about warranties is the thinking that they last forever – so let’s re-establish expectations. There are lifetime warranties, but these have differing lengths of coverage, depending on the manufacturer. Some are covered throughout the lifespan of the product, while others are covered for as long as the product is on the market. If the product is discontinued, for instance, your lifetime warranty usually expires. A good rule of thumb is to always ask your manufacturer or installer what the length of coverage of your warranty is actually based on. As mentioned in the first part, warranties also come with conditions. It is important to avoid violating these conditions to prevent having your warranty voided. You can always buy a thing “as is”. If a manufacturer explicitly says in writing that the product comes with no warranty, you cannot file any subsequent claims if your product fails. This is known as an “as is” sale, which removes any post-purchase obligations on the part of the manufacturer or seller. But in some states including Kansas, Vermont, Maryland, and West Virginia, “as is” sales are not allowed. NO MORE QUANDARY ABOUT WARRANTY
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WARRANTY
If it is not explicitly declared, it is not covered. Another mistake homeowners think about warranties is that they are not eligible for anything that is not explicitly printed in their copies. But this is not always true. Implied warranties exist to provide coverage for specific purposes. For instance, a window product carries an implied warranty that it should be able to protect your home from the elements. So if it fails to do that, you have grounds to file a complaint.
Lastly, warranties are not always non-transferable. Some warranties carry the coverage from owner to owner. So if you have plans of selling your home and your windows will remain covered by your current warranty even when you transfer ownership, this can add resale value to your home.
Speaking of warranties, Renewal by Andersen offers one of the best and most comprehensive. Let’s explore it in the last chapter of our e-book NO MORE QUANDARY ABOUT WARRANTY
HOW WARRANTIES WORK
PART
3
An RBA Warranty Glossary We talked about what a warranty is good for and what it excludes in the first two parts of our e-book. Now, let’s take a closer at how the of warranty offered by an established brand, Renewal by Andersen, holds up against others. If your windows are purchased from Renewal by Andersen, you can count on good coverage. To help you better understand your warranty, however, here are some terms explained:
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AN RBA WARRANTY GLOSSARY
Limited warranty. Renewal by Andersen windows have fully-transferable limited warranties for each part of the window unit, more commonly known as the 20-2-10. This gets you:
• 20 years of limited warranty for glass. Under this, the insulating glass should be free from defects from manufacturing, materials, and workmanship for two decades. This glass should also not develop material obstructions of vision from manufacturing issues, or premature failure of the glass or seals. Should the glass be found faulty, the manufacturer will repair or replace the glazing unit. And the glazing unit will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty length. • 2 years of limited warranty for installation. This means your windows should not show any faults owing to improper installation. If there are issues, the manufacturer will take care of them at no cost. But this does not extend to any repair or replacement made by an unauthorized window installer.
• 10 years of limited warranty for components. All Fibrex materials, as well as non-glass and non-Fibrex components, of your window unit are warranted to be free from flaking, rusting, blistering, peeling, cracking, pitting, corroding, or rotting under normal use for a decade. NO MORE QUANDARY ABOUT WARRANTY
AN RBA WARRANTY GLOSSARY
There are a number of things that a Renewal by Andersen limited warranty does not cover, however. These include damage resulting from improper use and maintenance, unauthorized modifications to the product after initial installation, and structural failure of the structure in which the window is installed. Owner-to-Owner warranty. A part of the limited warranty, this condition makes the warranty transferable to the next owner. This is not prorated, so it offers the same benefits to the next owner of your home (if you decide to sell it) in terms of benefits, length of coverage, and available support. Warranties count for a lot, so it’s important that you learn and understand what yours covers. Save yourself a load of money and lots of headaches by doing so.
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HOW WARRANTIES WORK
RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN OF ORANGE COUNTY 22982 Alcalde Drive Laguna Hills CA 92653 United States
(888) 266-7127 www.dialonewindows.com
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