When my heating system quit in the middle of winter, I did what every “responsible” homeowner does. I called my home warranty company. After all, I pay them every month. Surely no heat in January counts as an emergency.

It didn’t.

The earliest appointment they offered was a full week away. Seven days of space heaters, extra blankets, and watching my breath fog up in my own living room. That’s when the hard truth hit me: a home warranty isn’t an emergency service. It’s a maintenance program with a call center.

If you’ve ever believed that “covered” means “coming right now,” this story will sound painfully familiar.