About
Home warranties (American Home Shield, Choice) cost $300-600/year + $75-100 service fee. Cover repairs to existing systems (HVAC, plumbing, appliances). Best for older homes with aging systems. Newer homes (under 10 yrs) usually don't pay off - appliances under manufacturer warranty.
The expected-value math underneath: HomeAdvisor and Angi 2025 repair data peg average central-AC repair at $400, full HVAC replacement at $7,500-12,500, hot-water heater replacement at $1,200-3,500, dishwasher replacement at $700-1,500, refrigerator at $1,000-2,800. Component lifespan per the InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart: AC compressor 10-15 years, gas furnace 15-20 years, water heater 8-12 years, dishwasher 9-13 years. So in a 15-year-old home, the realistic probability of at least one major-system failure in a given year is 15-25%. A $550 premium plus 1.5 average $100 service fees ($700 total) breaks even if it covers a single $700+ repair. Above $1,000 expected annual repair spend, a warranty starts winning. Below $400 (newer homes), self-insurance via a sinking fund wins outright.
Formula
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the Home Warranty?
It applies the standard formula. Accuracy is limited only by your input precision. For decisions with material consequences (taxes, medical, legal, structural), use the result as a starting point and verify with a qualified professional in the relevant field.
Is the Home Warranty free to use?
Yes. 100% free, no signup, no payment, no API key. The site is funded by display ads around the tool but not inside the calculation flow.
Are my inputs saved anywhere?
No. All inputs stay in your browser tab. Closing the tab discards them. The site uses Google Analytics for traffic measurement (anonymized) but the analytics never see what you type into the form.
Can I use the Home Warranty on my phone?
Yes. The tool is responsive and tested on iOS Safari, Android Chrome, and major desktop browsers. Touch targets meet Apple's 44pt and Google's 48dp minimum.
Does the Home Warranty work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, it works without internet. The calculation runs in JavaScript on your device.
How do I report a bug or suggest improvement to the Home Warranty?
Email hi@3tej.com with the URL of this page and a description of what you saw vs expected. We typically respond within 72 hours.
Can I share results from the Home Warranty?
Take a screenshot or copy the output. The page doesn't generate shareable URLs for specific calculations - inputs stay in your browser only.
Why are the results different from another home warranty tool?
Most likely: different formula assumptions, different default values, different rounding rules, or different applicable rates. Check the methodology if both tools document it. Both can be valid for different scenarios.
Is the Home Warranty accurate?
The Home Warranty applies the standard formula for home warranty. Accuracy is limited only by your input precision. For decisions with material consequences, use the result as a starting point and verify with a qualified professional or the relevant official source.
Is the Home Warranty free?
Yes. 100% free, no signup, no payment, no API key. The site is funded by display ads that appear around the tool but not inside the calculation flow.
Are my inputs saved?
No. Inputs stay in your browser tab. Closing the tab discards them. The site uses Google Analytics for traffic measurement (anonymized) but does not see what you type into the form.
What is typically NOT covered by a home warranty?
Pre-existing conditions ("known defects" at sign-up), structural components (roof, foundation, walls), code-upgrade costs, cosmetic damage, mismatched-set replacements ("we will repair your fridge, not match your stainless suite"), and anything the contract calls "consequential damage" (water damage from a failed pipe). Most plans cap a single covered claim at $1,500-3,000 and exclude pools, septic, and well systems unless you buy add-on coverage at $100-300 a year each.
How does a home warranty compare to a sinking fund?
The standard alternative is the 1% rule: budget 1% of home value per year into a maintenance-and-repair reserve account. On a $450,000 home that is $4,500 a year, which over a decade builds a $45,000 buffer (before any returns) and covers full system replacement without negotiating with a claims adjuster. The warranty makes sense when you cannot fund the sinking fund, when buying or selling a house (peace of mind for the buyer in the first year), or in homes where 3+ major systems are simultaneously near end-of-life.
How to use the Home Warranty
The Home Warranty is a browser-based tool that runs entirely on your device. Inputs you enter never reach a server - all calculations happen client-side in JavaScript. This means:
- Privacy: nothing is logged, sent, or stored by 3Tej. Inputs disappear when you close the tab.
- Speed: results update as you type. No network round trip.
- Offline use: once the page is cached, it works without internet.
- No signup: no account, no email, no rate limits.
Step by step
- Enter your inputs in the form above. Each field is labeled with its unit (currency, percent, kg, etc.) and the expected range.
- Read the result as it updates. The number reflects the formula commonly accepted in Home Warranty-related calculations.
- Adjust to see sensitivity: change one input at a time and watch how the output moves. This is the fastest way to understand which variable matters most.
- Copy or screenshot the result for later reference. The page state persists for the session if your browser allows it.
When you would use this
- Quick estimates: when you need a number now and don't want to open a spreadsheet.
- Sensitivity analysis: testing how a result changes as inputs vary, before committing to a real-world decision.
- Comparison: running the same calculation with different inputs to compare options side by side.
- Learning: building intuition for how the underlying math behaves.
- Documentation: capturing a snapshot of inputs and outputs at a point in time.