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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
2 • EAST OREGONIAN/HERMISTON HERALD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 HOME IMPROVEMENT & CAR CARE TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY? Home warranty service contracts By TAMMY MALGESINI Community Editor T he cost to replace or repair an appliance that breaks down or heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems that malfunction can sometimes take a hit on a homeowner’s pocketbook hard. Several Eastern Oregon resi- dents shared about the benefi ts of home warranty service contracts. Sold by a variety of companies, they pay for repairs or replace- ment costs on covered appliances and systems. In addition to the an- nual contract cost, companies of- ten have a set fee that consumers pay for service calls. Up until a couple of years ago, Melisa Webb, branch manager of Home Town Mortgage Group, didn’t have much knowledge about home warranties. However, when her daughter Sierra Webb recently bought her fi rst home, the sales agreement included a one- year warranty policy, which was provided by the seller. Differing from homeowners insurance, Melisa Webb said the warranty covers such things as hot water heaters, appliances or HVAC systems. “Your homeowners policy takes care of things like theft, wa- ter damage, fi re or stuff like that,” she said. Nicole Filarski, manager at Garrison’s Home Appliance Cen- ter in Hermiston, encourages peo- ple to have some sort of safety net when purchasing major applianc- es. Whether buying an extended warranty for each item or getting a home warranty, Filarski said a product’s one-year manufactur- er’s warranty may not be enough considering the investment in the purchase. “I defi nitely think the home- owners warranties are amazing,” she said. “It really sucks if your air conditioner goes out and it’s $5,000.” Based on her experience, Webb agrees. Without the agreement, she would have faced a hefty bill to replace her air conditioner when it went on the blink. “I paid $75,” she said about the service fee. “It would have cost $6,000 and they paid for it.” Her warranty has also covered a new gas hot water heater and re- pairs for a busted water pipe. Purchasing warranty contracts for nearly two decades, Cathy Cross Hickman said it pro- vides peace of mind. Viewing it as a sort of insurance policy, the Hermiston woman said the $55.99 she pays each month for the contract is well worth it. “If things around the house fall apart, it’s nice to only have to dig out $75 to fi x it,” Hick- man said. A September 2014 article in Consumer Reports suggests peo- ple should forgo purchasing home warranties. Among the complaints cited by consumers in dealing with the companies were denials to pay on claims based on pre-ex- isting conditions or lacking prop- er maintenance records. And, in some cases the company allegedly offered buyouts, which wouldn’t cover the cost of replacement. Webb is a fi rm believer in home warranties. When the initial con- tract expired, she opted to renew, paying a little more than $500. “I had only one hiccup with my air conditioner,” she said. “They wanted to buy a part and put a Band-Aid on it.” Over the years, Hickman has had many items replaced or re- paired. Replacement appliances, she said, haven’t always been the same brand. And, a $5,200 Ther- madore stove wasn’t covered. “It hasn’t been a perfect re- lationship,” Hickman said. “But they cover just about everything inside your house.” When considering the purchase of a home warranty, people are en- couraged to do their homework. Not all plans are the same. Some require home inspections, don’t cover claims in the fi rst month, don’t provide coverage for older homes, require proof of routine maintenance, deny pre-exisiting conditions and have claim lim- its. In addition, the Better Busi- ness Bureau provides information about customer reviews and the company’s track record in resolv- ing consumer complaints. The sale price for stove- STAFF PHOTOS BY TAM top replacement car tridge MY MALGESINI s were nearly $200 recen Appliance Center in Herm tly at Garrison’s Home iston. Terry Henry, a service technician at Garrison’s Home Appliance Center in Hermiston, passes behind the end of a row of kitchen ranges that cost upwards of $1,200. A pair of basic stand-up freezers cost around $800, while a pair of stainless steel French door refrigerators were nearly $2,000 at Garrison’s Home Appliance Center in Hermiston. Home heating tips to save money and energy StatePoint Will your house be warm enough this winter? With shifts in climate making win- ter weather harder to predict, it’s important to prepare your home for extreme winter tem- peratures as soon as possible. Here are a few key ways to make your home comfortable and energy effi cient. Supplemental Heating Consider reducing en- ergy bills substantially by supplementing whole house heat in the zones of your house used most. For example, why heat the un- occupied foyer to the same degree as the living room where your family spends their time? Focusing your energy use where it is most needed will allow you to lower the thermostat for the central furnace. Known as “zone heat- ing,” this practice saves dol- lars and energy. Wood Stove A wood stove is a great choice for a supplemental heating product that focus- es on specifi c rooms of the home. Not only does a wood stove create a cozy atmo- sphere, but new models are redefi ning this classic tech- nology to be greener, safer and easier to operate. For example, the Quadra- Fire Adventure II, an EPA-certifi ed appliance, fea- tures Smart Burn Technolo- gy, which delivers control- lable, effi cient heat. It’s the only stove equipped with a programmable wall thermo- stat that maintains the tem- perature of your room, help- ing reduce heating bills up to 50 percent. It also alerts you when it’s time to add more wood, taking guesswork out of the equation. Another option that can help you reduce your heating bill is the Encore FlexBurn from Vermont Castings, which can be burned with a catalyst to increase effi cien- cy by more than 15 percent on the longest burn settings and lowering emissions to ensure you get the most out of each load of wood. Eastern Oregon Heating “The Comfortable Choice” & Air Conditioning, LLC Air Conditioning • Refrigeration Gas Furnaces Geo Thermo Heat Pumps Ice Machines • Gas Fireplaces Gas Hot Water Heaters Sheetmetal Inspections & More! Quality Work at a Competitive Price! Front row L-R: Tess Sabuco, Richard Hayden and Becky Hayden-Madrigal Back Row L-R: Mike Fine, Mike Atkins, Brayann Mendoza, Joey Gutierrez, Scott Bishop, Nick Gutierrez and Jeff Pedersen 541-567-3095 82000 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston (Old Road Runner H&C building) CCB #189229 M em b er For those who want to green their home, wood is a good fuel choice, as it’s a re- newable energy source that is carbon neutral. Regular Maintenance Your heating system, sup- plemental heating products and insulation all require regular maintenance to op- erate at their highest capacity and keep your home warm at a reasonable cost. Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Scotchguarding & Deodorizing Janitorial, Windows & Tile 541-289-1441 www.hermistoncleaningservices.com Insured & Bonded RECYCLE 1. Hermiston: 220 W. Harper Rd. 2. Stanfield: W. Wood (by Grange Hall) 3. Echo: Across from park (at City Hall) 4. Umatilla: Hwy. 730 (next to Columbia Harvest Foods) 5. Umatilla Co: Hwy 395 N. (next to Transfer Station) 6. Irrigon: 198 W. Columbia Lane 7. Boardman: S.E. Front Street SANITARY DISPOSAL Hermiston/McNary Highway, Hermiston • 567-8842 We encourage all area residents to take their glass, bottles, jars, tin, aluminum, newspapers, magazines and cardboard to these depots for recycling.
