Best Refrigerator Warranties | Expert Reviewed (2024)
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Whether you are a talented home cook or your most frequent trip to the fridge is to fetch a drink from the water dispenser, your refrigerator is a central appliance in your kitchen. Our survey of 1,000 homeowners indicated that more than 50% of respondents would immediately repair or replace their refrigerator if it weren’t functioning properly.
With a refrigerator warranty, you can access repair technicians without racking up unnecessary costs or researching qualified providers near you. After your manufacturer’s warranty runs out, you can also look at the best home warranty companies, who can cover your refrigerator and other appliances and home systems.
Top 3 Refrigerator Warranty Options
A home warranty is a home protection plan that allows homeowners to protect their kitchen appliances, laundry machines, built-in systems, and more. Whether you’ve recently purchased a new refrigerator or you’re looking to protect a well-maintained appliance that’s aged out of its manufacturer’s warranty, a home warranty can help mitigate unexpected malfunctions by connecting you with a qualified repair technician near you.
Here are the best home warranty companies that cover refrigerators:
What Is a Refrigerator Warranty?
A refrigerator warranty is a type of guarantee that protects a purchaser from defects and malfunctions that don’t meet the manufacturer’s standards. If the covered appliance breaks down during the warranty period, the manufacturer will connect you with a licensed repair technician to diagnose and repair the issue at no cost to you.
Generally, the refrigerator warranty will be valid for at least one year from the original purchase date with the option to renew, but terms can vary. For example, some refrigerator warranties cover all parts and labor costs, while others may only cover specific parts. In addition, some could last as long as 10 years. It’s a good idea to shop around, compare several brands, and read the warranty terms to confirm you’re aligned on what to expect before purchasing a refrigerator.
Terminology
Before deciding the best refrigerator warranty for your needs, it’s essential to brush up on industry jargon, so you know what to look for in a policy. Refrigerator warranties will vary depending on the manufacturer, appliance retailer, or home warranty coverage you select.
Knowing the terms below will help you navigate making an informed decision for your home appliance.
- Compressor Warranty: Refrigerators have a dedicated warranty for just the compressor, which is a crucial component for cooling. The compressor warranty may have a longer duration compared to the overall warranty of the refrigerator.
- Sealed system warranty: A sealed system warranty covers only the compressor, condenser, evaporator, drier, heat exchanger, condensate loop, and other connective tubing.
- Manufacturer’s warranty: A manufacturer’s warranty is sometimes referred to as a factory warranty. It’s a guarantee from the manufacturer that all parts and workmanship meet its standards. If the appliance malfunctions during the warranty period, the manufacturer will be responsible for repair costs.
- Limited warranty: A limited warranty covers specific parts, scenarios, and defects. It may also include a stipulation that the consumer and the manufacturer will split repair or replacement costs during this period.
- Labor Warranty: Labor warranties cover labor costs for repairs. This means that if a covered issue arises, the manufacturer or authorized service provider will not charge for the labor required to fix the refrigerator.
- Full warranty: A full warranty provides more protection than a limited warranty. If the company cannot repair your refrigerator, it will issue a full refund or replace the item at no additional cost.
- Extended warranty: An extended warranty extends the original warranty period offered by the manufacturer. Extended warranties are not included in the original purchase price and must be purchased before the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
- Home warranty: Home warranty coverage allows you to bundle protection for a suite of your major appliances, including your refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and laundry machines.
Compare by Manufacturer
As mentioned above, every refrigerator manufacturer or appliance brand has its own terms and conditions. To conveniently compare the refrigerator warranties offered by the most popular appliance brands, you can review the table below.
Brand Name | Coverage |
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Whirlpool |
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LG |
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GE Appliances |
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Samsung |
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KitchenAid |
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Sub-Zero |
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Bosch |
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Miele |
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Electrolux |
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Frigidaire |
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Maytag |
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Compare The Best Options
Company | Logo | Star Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$39.99–$79.99 | $100–$125 | B | VISIT SITE | |||
$49–$60 | $65–$125 | NR | VISIT SITE | |||
$44–$48 | $65–$75 | B | VISIT SITE |
American Home Shield
- State Availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
- Service Fee: $100–$125
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit AHS site
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the oldest home warranty providers in the industry. As such, it has more than 17,000 contractors available across the country to access, diagnose, and repair essential appliances, such as your refrigerator, clothes washer, and garbage disposal.
AHS’s service contract states that replacement refrigerators will have similar features, capacity, and efficiency, but it does not guarantee matching dimensions, brand, or color. Compared to other providers, AHS has generous coverage caps on appliances. With its ShieldGold plan, your appliances are covered up to $2,000 per item. With the ShieldPlatinum plan, this coverage cap is $4,000 per item.
Read Full Review: American Home Shield Review
Liberty Home Guard
- State Availability: 49 (all but Wisconsin)
- Service Fee: $65–$125
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit LHG site
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is an excellent option for homeowners with high-end kitchen appliances due to its suite of pro-series appliance add-ons. Each item is covered up to $2,000, but commercial appliances aren’t included in the base plans. The provider offers up to 38 additional coverage options, including coverage for pro-series refrigerators. LHG also has a note in its sample contract that your refrigerator must be located in the kitchen to be eligible for coverage.
Read Full Review: Liberty Home Guard Review
Select Home Warranty
- State Availability: 47 (all but Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming)
- Service Fee: $75
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Select site
Select Home Warranty stands out for its quick claim response time. According to the service agreement, you can file a claim with the provider and expect a response within 12 business hours. Many customers report service in as little as four business hours.
Appliances are eligible for up to $500 of coverage per item. Select’s home warranty coverage includes control boards, compressors, thermostats, damper control, wire harness, evaporator fan motors, and condenser fan motors, but it excludes coverage for your refrigerator’s sealed system.
Read Full Review: Select Home Warranty Review
Our Recommendation
While many refrigerators come with a manufacturer’s warranty that’s valid for the first year from purchase, it does not cover the life span of your appliance. With a home warranty, you can streamline the appliance repair process and save you time by not having to track down an appliance repair technician.
If high coverage caps are important to you, American Home Shield offers up to $4,000 per covered appliance—a generous limit compared to other providers on this list. If you’d rather prioritize a company with quick claim response time, Select Home Warranty response time of 12 business hours is much shorter than the typical 24- to 48-hour response time offered by other providers. Liberty Home Guard also allows homeowners to seek out specialized coverage for items typically left off home warranty plans.
In any event, we recommend that you request a quote from at least three providers so you can compare the coverage, exclusions, and guarantees of each home protection plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fridges have the best warranty?
Samsung, LG, Sub-Zero, and Frigidaire have some of the longest refrigerator warranties in the appliance industry. Samsung, LG, and Frigidaire offer up to 10 years of warranty coverage for parts; and Sub-Zero offers a two-year full warranty, a full five-year warranty on sealed system repairs, and a 12-year limited warranty on sealed system parts.
What does a home warranty cover?
A home warranty covers the repair or replacement of major appliances and built-in systems when the malfunction results from normal wear and tear. You can choose a plan that covers appliances, built-in systems, or a combination of the two.When you notice an issue, all you have to do is file a claim and pay the previously agreed-upon service call fee. From there, your home warranty provider will connect you with a local, licensed, and insured service provider. If the malfunction is determined to be a covered issue, your home warranty provider will cover the cost up to the coverage cap outlined in the policy.
How much does it cost to repair a refrigerator?
According to HomeAdvisor, the average repair cost for a refrigerator falls between $200 and $300, but there are outliers on either side. High-end appliance brands can cost as much as $1,000 to repair, and replacement costs will be comparable to the purchase price if you don’t have a home protection plan. The repair costs will also vary depending on the malfunctioning component. For example, a broken ice maker will cost more to repair than tubing.
How long do refrigerator warranties last?
Most refrigerators will come with a limited or full warranty that’s valid for one year from the original purchase date, but you can purchase an extended warranty or home warranty plan to extend your protection.
How We Chose These Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on our analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts. Our in-depth methodology outlines our review process to provide transparent information about the companies we review.
We determined that the following factors are the most important when comparing home warranty companies: available plans, plan coverage, price range, industry reputation, customer support, and additional features. Our research supported that plan coverage, customer service, and industry reputation should carry the most weight. While important, the other factors should not have as much influence when choosing a home warranty provider.