Coverage lists are written by marketing teams. Exclusion lists are written by underwriters, and they are the part of the contract that determines whether your claim gets approved.
Pre-existing conditions
Almost every contract excludes failures that existed before coverage began. Some providers soften this for conditions you could not reasonably have known about, which is a meaningful distinction worth confirming in writing.
This is also why waiting periods exist — typically a month between purchase and the first eligible claim.
Improper installation, modification and neglect
If a previous owner installed a unit incorrectly, or if maintenance was clearly skipped, a technician's report can lead to denial. Keeping service records is the simplest defense.
Code upgrades, permits and disposal
When a replacement triggers a building code requirement, many contracts exclude the cost of bringing the installation up to code, along with permits and haul-away. Some providers offer this as an add-on.
Caps, cosmetics and the rest
Payout caps per item and per contract term quietly limit exposure on expensive systems. Cosmetic damage, items under manufacturer warranty, and commercial-grade equipment are also standard exclusions.
None of this makes a warranty a bad product — it makes an unread contract a bad purchase.
Read the exclusions and the caps before the coverage list; that is where the real terms of the agreement live.
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