About Polivanex
Polivanex is a home warranty vs self-insurance optimization tool built by Smart Technology Investments. We believe homeowners deserve transparent, data-driven guidance on whether to keep paying for a home warranty or build a self-insurance reserve instead.
The Problem
Home warranty companies charge $400-$800 per year in premiums, plus $75-$125 service call fees. The average homeowner pays more in premiums and deductibles than they ever receive in claims. But some homeowners -- especially those with aging HVAC systems or older water heaters -- genuinely benefit from coverage. The challenge is knowing which group you fall into.
Our Approach
We use Weibull reliability distributions -- the same math used in industrial engineering and actuarial science -- to model the failure probability of every major home system. By inputting your specific system ages, we calculate the conditional probability of failure in the next year and project expected repair costs. Then we compare those costs against your warranty premiums and deductibles to determine the optimal strategy.
Data Sources
- ✓DOE Building Energy Data Book -- appliance lifespan benchmarks
- ✓NAHB Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components
- ✓Warranty provider plan comparison data
- ✓Regional repair cost benchmarks (HomeAdvisor, Angi)
- ✓Consumer protection complaint records
Who We Are
Smart Technology Investments builds decision-intelligence tools that help consumers make better financial decisions using real data and rigorous math. We do not sell warranties, accept referral fees from warranty companies, or have any financial interest in your decision. Our only goal is giving you an honest, quantitative answer.