Make a warranty claim with everything ready.

Find the warranty terms: a card in the box, a page in the manual or the manufacturer's website. They say how long cover lasts, when it starts, what's excluded and who to contact.

Cover often starts on the delivery or installation date rather than the order date, and some warranties need the product to have been registered. Exclusions commonly include wear parts, accidental damage and commercial use.

To work out the likely last day of cover, use the free warranty deadline tool.

Proof of purchase is the document a claim most often depends on. It should show what you bought, where and when. A receipt, invoice or order confirmation email usually does.

If you can't find it, check the email account you used, your account with the retailer, and any registration you made with the manufacturer. If you still have nothing, ask the manufacturer what else it accepts before you give up on the claim.

The model number tells the support team which product you have. The serial number identifies your unit, and it's often how they confirm its age and whether it's affected by a known fault or recall.

Copy both from the rating plate on the appliance, not from memory or the box of a similar model, and take a photo of the plate to attach to the claim.

Not sure where the label is? See where to find the model and serial number.

A clear description helps the support team decide whether to send an engineer and which parts to bring. Write down what happens, when it started and how often, and what you've already tried.

Photos and a short video help most when a fault comes and goes. Before you open the appliance or try a repair yourself, check the warranty terms, because some exclude damage caused by repairs.

Some warranties, especially on boilers and other heating systems, require regular servicing. Have the installation and service records ready, with dates and who did the work.

For smaller appliances, notes of routine care, such as descaling or filter changes, can help show the fault isn't down to neglect.

Use the contact route in the warranty terms, and have everything above in front of you. Ask for a claim or reference number, and write down the date and who you spoke to.

Follow up important points in writing, such as an email that confirms what was agreed. If the claim is refused, ask for the reason in writing. It helps if you take the problem to the seller or a consumer advice service.

A manufacturer's warranty is a promise the manufacturer chose to make. In many countries, the law also gives you rights when goods are faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose. Those rights are usually against the seller, sit alongside the warranty, and can't be taken away by it.

The details differ a lot between countries: how long the rights last, who you claim against, and whether you can get a repair, replacement or refund. If a warranty has ended or a claim is refused, check your country's official consumer guidance before you pay for a repair.