HMS Home Warranty

When it comes to ranking the importance of household appliances, the refrigerator is probably at the top of everyone’s list. On average, refrigerators last about 14 years and account for approximately 8 percent of your monthly utility bill. Proper cleaning and maintenance will ensure yours continues to run smoothly and efficiently, as well as extend its lifespan. The following refrigerator maintenance tips will help you avoid losing all your groceries to spoilage as well as the inconvenience of a service call and the expense of repairs or a replacement.

1. Clean the condenser coils. The most important refrigerator maintenance task is to clean the condenser coils at least every three to six months (more often if you have pets). When coils are dirty or dusty, the fridge has to work harder to keep cold, which means higher power bills and shorter life expectancy. Condenser coils are located either on the back of the unit or underneath it, behind a grill on the bottom front of the fridge. Use a cloth or vacuum to clean the coils. By simply cleaning the coils, you can improve your refrigerator’s efficiency up to 30 percent. If you only have time to do one thing on this list, make this your No. 1 priority.

2. Check and clean the door seals and gaskets. Inspect gaskets for cracks or rust and seals for rips, tears or brittleness. The seal should be tight every time you close the door. If it’s not, then you have cold air leaking out and warm air seeping in, which makes the refrigerator work harder to do its job and vastly decreases the unit’s efficiency.

You can test the seals by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If there is little resistance, you might need to adjust the latch or replace the seals. To clean seals and gaskets, use an all-purpose cleaner or use vinegar to prevent mildew growth. To make the seal glide smooth at points of contact, use a spray such as PAM on the gaskets.

3. Clean the drain hole and drip pan. The drain hole removes condensation, which helps the unit run more efficiently. Food particles and mineral deposits can build up in the drain hole and should be removed according to directions in the owner’s manual. After that, you should clean the drip pan.

4. Maintain recommended temperatures. The ideal temperature for your refrigerator is 38° to 42°F. You can check this by placing an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator for 24 hours. For the freezer the ideal temperature is 5°F. To check it, place a thermometer between frozen packages for 24 hours.

5. Change the water filter. If your refrigerator/freezer has a water dispenser or ice maker, you should replace the water filter every six months or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Homeowners should also consider having an HMS National home warranty plan to ensure costs are affordable and home maintenance is provided by a reputable service contractor.

Disclosure

The information in this article is intended to provide guidance on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.

By far, one of the most important tasks one has is protecting their family. It only seems natural that the home would be one of the safest places to be, but this is not always the case. A number of devices around the home emit carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, which can clandestinely catch family members off guard. Here are a few tips on preventing the unthinkable from happening through knowledge, maintenance, and prevention.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning range from minimal symptoms such as headache, dizziness and nausea to more severe circumstances including loss of consciousness and muscular coordination. The severest cases can result in death, which is why protecting the home with strategic placement of carbon monoxide detectors is so crucial. The Consumer Product Safety Commission provides a list of recommendations that homeowners can refer to for specific information.

The commission recommends that every floor within a dwelling should contain, at minimum, one detection device per floor. Major appliances or systems that operate using gas can create opportunities for carbon monoxide to be introduced into the home. Fuel-fired furnaces and fireplaces can also be instigators to exposure, and the best way to protect family member is to keep all of these components in peak operating condition through preventive maintenance. Anywhere within the home that a gas-operating device is in use, another carbon monoxide detector is advisable.

The garage is one area that some homeowners tend to neglect, as they may not realize that automobile exhaust can build up as rapidly as it does. A solid detector in always a good idea and this will especially be necessary within garage or storage spaces that are separate from the home. These devices are not costly, so get the best one available on the market. Specifically, low-level monitors can detect carbon monoxide levels at minute rates, which can affect seniors, infants, and people with respiratory or heart problems tremendously.

Take time to install carbon monoxide detectors today or at least check the batteries in the ones currently in place. Keeping home appliances in good shape with maintenance checks can bring forth other problems within the unit, so take a look at the benefits of the HMS Home Warranty. Their comprehensive home warranty programs help homeowners save money on unexpected household repairs or replacements.

Fall is upon us with winter’s cold peeking over our shoulders. If you wait too long to prepare your home heater for its annual winter use, you could end up out in the cold. Here are tips on how to get your heater ready for action. Follow these simple steps that include getting a visit from a certified service technician and making sure your heating unit is covered with a warranty and you can face the coldest season from the comfortable confines of your warmly heated home.

Step 1: Switch On Before Cold Sets In
Among the most common phrases HVAC companies hear during the first cold snap of the year is, “I just turned on my heat for the first time this year, and it doesn’t work.” Make sure your heating unit will work when it’s needed most by conducting a test run each season. Keeping it in periodic use helps your HVAC system stay ready. Vary temperature settings during testing for best results.

Step 2: Clean/Replace Filters
Filters should be checked and replaced once a month in the fall, and twice a month in the winter. Permanent filters should be cleaned at least once a month. This is an essential step to preserve the longevity of your unit and keep it operating smoothly.

Step 3: Make Sure Unit Is Clear of Debris
Your heating unit needs the same care as your A/C. Leaves, garbage and other material that collect when it’s idle will prevent its optimum use and could eventually lead to a systems failure. Make a point to clear it when you’re raking those fall leaves in the backyard. Also, blower fans should be kept dust-free.

Step 4: Clean Baseboards
Not only must you keep the outside unit clear, but homes heated with hot water and/or electric baseboard heating must have those baseboard convectors and radiators kept clean. Obstructions from objects, dirt, even dust will prevent it from running efficiently and may lead to bigger problems.

Step 5: Make Sure To Have a Service Plan and Home Warranty
No matter how much care you give your heating units, unless you are a certified technician you won’t be able to handle every problem that may arise. Storms and accidents happen, therefore you need a service plan that affords you access to a certified technician. And even they can’t fix everything, so a home warranty that covers a replacement unit is also critical.

Homebuyers are more cautious than ever, and who can blame them? This tough economy has forced much of the nation into a frenzy to discover ways to put aside money by cutting corners. One corner that cannot be cut is protection for the home through homeowners insurance. Unfortunately, these policies do not cover expenses for repairs when a major appliance breaks down. This is just one reason why people are looking for home listings that boast a home warranty. They know that home warranties is the best way to avoid unexpected household repair and replacement costs.

So, when a family starts checking out the real estate section’s listing, they take notice when a realtor seems to provide such a home warranty with one of their listings. These realtors know how to earn trust, without even saying a word. Under the protection of the home warranty, customers enjoy immense benefits. The air conditioning and heating system could be covered, as well as the plumbing system and any electrical wiring.

Concerning major appliances, one would be hard pressed to find one that the warranty doesn’t cover. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, garage door openers, garbage disposals, are many more enjoy complete protection under the HMS home protection agreement.

This affordable policy allows homeowners to easily file claims anytime they need to, and customer service representatives are on standby 24/7, ready to take their calls, dispatch emergency services, or answer any questions. Pre-qualified expert repair technicians are ready at any time to come and evaluate problems and begin making repairs to get the customer’s home devices up and running again. A small deductible is all that is required, regardless of the overall cost of the service.

Even if a dwelling features brand new appliances, repairs can be necessary quicker than one might think. According to a recent article in the reputable Consumer Reports publication, new appliance failures are quite common, and brand does not appear to be a factor. Fortunately, the HMS Home Warranty covers new and old appliances regardless of their brand, and they even provide policyholders with exclusive access to the Appliance Buyline at no additional cost.

This allows them to purchase brand new, name-brand appliances anytime they want at steep discounts. Money-conscious homeowners and home buyers can count on this dynamic service protection agreement to give them peace of mind concerning their home’s devices.

Seller warranties are one of the most valuable tools that realtors use to increase home sales as well as shorten the time it takes to get them closed. When sellers are looking for ways to improve their marketing strategy, many of them are tuning to the HMS Home Warranty for help.

Having been in the home warranty industry for more than 30 years makes HMS the smart solution for any marketing plan to sell homes.   The comprehensive coverage could include central air conditioning, heater, furnace coverage, electric wire assistance and plumbing system coverage.

When it comes to appliances, the refrigerator, stand-alone freezer, dishwasher, laundry implements, and could be covered with the home warranty.   People have been using the HMS policy to avoid unexpected household repair or replacement expenses for decades.

When potential buyers see a home warranty included with a listing, it gives them added assurance. Being in possession of one of a home warranty, helps serve as a risk reduction for all concerned parties.

Smart realtors will understand the benefit of the HMS Home Warranty is when it comes to attracting buyers, and they will make this small investment in efforts to provide a good deal to their customers.

When purchasing a home, consumers are often leery of investing in a home that has been previously inhabited. By the time they purchase the home, there is typically no coverage remaining on any of the home’s original systems or appliances. Purchasing a home is an investment, and buyers want to avoid unexpected household repairs and replacement expenses after moving into the residence.

Homes that offer an HMS Home Warranty along with their purchase will typically find more potential buyers interested in their home as opposed to homes that do not offer a home warranty plan. These smart buyers can go to sleep at night knowing that HMS has their home covered.

Included in their home warranty plan could be refrigerator, dishwasher, range and stove units, and hot water heater protection among other major components. These devices will be repaired or replaced under the home warranty; and a qualified service technician will be sent out to make the determination of the service required.

HMS responds to claims quickly with friendly and knowledgeable associates that are standing by 24 hours a day, year round to handle customer’s needs. As soon as any claim is approved, an appointment is made for one of HMS’s pre-screened expert technicians to evaluate a customer’s needs.

Warranty holder will need to pay the deductible for repairs. In addition to top-notch service, customers could also receive a complimentary membership to the Appliance Buyline, where discounts on new appliances can be found.

One of the greatest assets that can be included with a home sale is an HMS Home Warranty. Plans from this company typically cover major systems and appliances within the home, and ensures that warranty holders have a viable means for repair or replacement. Coverage includes air conditioning and heating, water heaters, plumbing systems, and major appliances. These warranties  add value and peace of mind for both buyers and sellers of homes.

HMS National is an industry leader when it comes to providing home warranties, and they have been in this business for 30years. In fact, this company was one of the pioneers of home warranty policies that are geared to assist a real estate agent in buying or selling a home.
Customer satisfaction is one of the most important elements in a successful real estate transaction. By investigating the benefits of having an HMS Home Warranty, realtors will discover how effective thewarranty is in establishing a happy client.

Home buyers are making a serious investment when they are purchasing a home. Homes that are not newly constructed could contain systems, appliances, and fixtures that may have seen better days. The last issue that a new home owner wants to contend with is repair bills in the thousands facing them soon after purchasing  their new home. Although the agent is not at fault, a  customer could  feel differently . Purchasing a home warranty is one way to avoid an unhappy home owner.

Anyone who is  selling a home should consider  purchasing a home warranty for their customer. Listings with home warranties stand out, and tend to sell at a faster pace than those without such offerings. Because  the benefits of these home protection plans are so tremendous, both buyers and sellers have peace of mind.

Home insurance brings with it the security that you don’t have to worry about losing your home. Losing a major home appliance or system, however, is not a part of the insurance agreement. There is a fairly good reason for this. Home insurance is designed to protect you from an unlikely, but devastating event. Home appliance failures are not as devastating as losing your home, but they are much more likely. In fact, it’s safe to say that you are virtually guaranteed to lose important home systems at some point during your home’s lifetime. While home insurance doesn’t protect you from this threat, an HMS Home Warranty does.

The threat of losing a major appliance should not be understated. Most people don’t carry a great deal of savings in order to guard against financial emergencies. Repairing or replacing a major home appliance does not come cheap, and many homeowners find themselves in a situation where they will either have to live without the appliance, or be willing to go into debt. Neither option is appealing, but going without a furnace in the dead of winter, without electricity, or without functional plumbing may be the only other option.

A broken air conditioning system can cost as much as six thousand dollars to replace. Even broken washers or dryers can cost over seven hundred dollars. An HMS Home Warranty absorbs these costs in a way that protects you from economic hardship as a result of just such an event. It acts as an insurance plan for your home systems and appliances.

When you make your payments toward an HMS Home Warranty, you are protecting yourself from costs that you can be almost sure you will need to pay at some point in the future. It is a fact of life that complex systems which undergo repeated, long-term use are bound to fail eventually. With an HMS Home Warranty, when this happens, you generally will only be required to pay a small deductible that will easily fit within your budget.

Your home is your greatest investment. This is why many people purchase home insurance in order to make sure that they don’t need to be concerned about losing their home. But while home insurance might protect you from the losses that you would face after a disaster, it does not protect you from the threat of broken down appliances. Certainly a broken down air conditioning or plumbing system is not comparable to a flood or fire, but it can become a major inconvenience if not a financial emergency for a great deal of families.

It is under these circumstances that an HMS Home Warranty is extremely helpful to have. Essentially, an HMS Home Warranty can be thought of as an insurance plan for all of the important systems in a home. This can include major systems like your electrical system, your air conditioner, your plumbing, as well as smaller appliances like washers and dryers, built in microwaves, and so on.

Unlike home insurance, you are almost certain to benefit from having an HMS Home Warranty at some point in your lifetime. Appliances are virtually guaranteed to break down at some point. If it happens at a time when there aren’t a great deal of savings in the bank, it could mean taking on a debt burden, missing payments, or simply going without the system until better financial times arise. As an example, if an air conditioning system were to break down, this could cost as much as six thousand dollars to take care of.

For those who have an HMS Home Warranty, this is not a problem. Rather than making all the payments up front when the system breaks down, you can prepare yourself for the inevitable and make modest monthly payments each month in order to avoid these costs.

Home insurance comes with the security of knowing that no matter what may happen in your life, you won’t have to worry about losing your home to a disaster. The same can’t be said for the breakdown of a major appliance, however. Not only that, but the possibility that a breakdown will eventually occur is virtually guaranteed. It is a fact of life that appliances eventually get old and break down.
When a major appliance breaks down, it certainly isn’t as devastating as losing a home. Even so, it can become a financial burden, and many families may have to reduce their quality of life for several months when something breaks down. Thankfully, there is a solution in order to deal with this problem. An HMS Home Warranty acts like an insurance plan for all of the major appliances in your home.

When an air conditioning system breaks down, it can cost over six thousand dollars to have it replaced. Other home repairs may not be as expensive, but even a washer or drier can cost as much as five hundred dollars to replace. Often times, a family simply doesn’t have that kind of cash on hand. This means that you would be forced to take on debt, or go without the appliance, in order to continue making your monthly payments on time.

With an HMS Home Warranty, you can help eliminate these financial concerns. When you pay for an HMS Home Warranty, you know that you are paying for a service that you will ultimately need anyway. Appliances will fail. This is simply the reality of any heavily used, long-lasting system. With an HMS Home Warranty, you can distribute the costs of these services without having to worry about taking on any debt.