Home Warranty vs. Pay-As-You-Go Break-Even
Select the systems and appliances you're actually worried about failing this year. We'll compare their typical uncovered repair cost against your warranty's total annual cost.
How This Calculator Works
This tool runs a simple self-insure comparison: your warranty's total annual cost (premium plus expected service fees) on one side, versus the general repair or replacement cost of the specific systems and appliances you select on the other. Difference = selected-item repair cost − warranty total annual cost. A positive difference means the modeled repair cost exceeds what the warranty would cost you this year; a negative one means the warranty costs more than the modeled repair risk.
The repair-cost figures shown next to each checkbox are general industry-average ranges for that category of system or appliance, used only to illustrate the comparison — they are not a specific provider's coverage amount or a guarantee of what a real repair would cost in your home.
Worked Example
Say your warranty quote is $50/month with a $100 service fee and 2 expected calls — a total annual cost of $800. If you select an aging HVAC system (≈$700 modeled repair cost) and an aging water heater (≈$1,200 modeled repair/replace cost), the selected-item total is $1,900. The difference is $1,900 − $800 = $1,100 in the warranty's favor, suggesting the warranty is the better bet for this specific scenario — assuming both items actually fail and the resulting claims are approved at or near those repair amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the average repair cost figures come from?
They're general industry-average repair/replacement ranges for common home systems and appliances, used to illustrate the comparison — not a quote from any specific provider. Your actual cost will vary by equipment, region, and contractor.
Does "warranty likely worth it" mean I will save money?
No — it means the modeled repair cost for your selected items exceeds the warranty's total annual cost in this scenario. It's not a guarantee, since real claims depend on coverage caps, exclusions, and approval. See our full worth-it breakdown.
Should I select every system and appliance I own?
Only select items you realistically expect could need a repair this year based on age and condition — selecting everything regardless of condition overstates the case for a warranty.