A home warranty policy, much like an insurance policy, protects you from the unexpected. Your electrical panel short circuits? Covered. Instead of paying for an expensive, surprise repair, you pay throughout the year for a home warranty. A repair that could have been thousands might only cost you a reasonable monthly fee plus a service fee when you file a claim.
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All home warranties have exclusions, however, which are parts, components, or types of repair a company excludes from coverage. If you’re shopping for the best home warranty for electrical systems, read the warranty’s fine print to make sure a warranty covers what you think you might need (but remember that if it’s a preexisting condition, they could exclude the repair). In many cases, if the technician determines that something isn’t repairable, the company will pay for all or part of a replacement.
It’s hard to figure out the best home warranty companies for electrical systems on your own. There are many options out there, with varying prices, coverage caps, and online reviews. This is why I went secret shopping to compare options, looking at what matters most to homeowners to find your best coverage for electrical systems. I also used Today’s Homeowner’s trusted review scoring system to rank these providers based on important sub-categories, like coverage, affordability, reputation, transparency, and more.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information. Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
78 companies reviewed
152 quotes collected
6 rating factors
Table of Contents
- Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Electrical Systems
- What's Most Important in a Home Warranty for Electrical Systems?
- Compare Best Home Warranty Companies
- Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Electrical Systems
- Calculate the Cost of a Home Warranty for Electrical Systems
- Frequently Asked Questions
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Electrical Systems
Key Takeaways
- Elite Home Warranty is my top pick for a home warranty company that covers electrical systems. Their policies include wiring, panels, subpanels, breakers, outlets, and more. Plus, they give you flexibility in service providers and score high for customer service.
- Exclusions found in home warranty contracts are extremely important if you’re shopping for coverage for your electrical system. There are a lot of differences between companies — some will cover your doorbell and attic fans, while others exclude them. Read the fine print before buying.
- If you’re shopping for a home warranty company that specifically covers electrical systems, you may have reason to believe your system could need repairs. Be careful because many home warranty companies exclude preexisting conditions. If the problem appeared in a home inspection, or you could have reasonably known about it, companies won’t pay for a repair.
What’s Most Important in a Home Warranty for Electrical Systems?
Your home’s electrical system keeps the lights on and appliances running. It may even power your heat. It runs throughout your home, supporting major appliances and systems the way veins run through the body, which is why you’ll want a home warranty that covers the electrical panel, the system’s heart.
When you’re shopping for a home warranty for electrical systems, look for a policy that expands beyond the main panel to include outlets, switches, and the interior wiring that connects it all. Because they’re connected, a problem in one area can cascade into another part of the system.
Coverage limits are also important, and you might want to pick a plan with high limits. While a simple repair could only be a few hundred dollars, more complex work can easily cost you $4,000 and up, according to my research. Home warranty companies cap their coverage limits, and after you’ve reached that limit, you have to pay for the remainder of the repair or replacement.
Expert Recommendation: Many home warranty contracts have detailed information about their electrical system coverage and coverage limits. I suggest reading them carefully if you’re concerned you might need an electrical repair soon, or it might cost more than you thought it would.
Home Warranty Companies for Electrical Systems I Don’t Recommend
There are two home warranty providers known for shady marketing practices and who should be avoided.
US Home Guard has a terrible reputation, primarily due to its marketing tactics. In 2022, the Better Business Bureau sent out a press release warning consumers about their marketing tactics. The company sends deceptive mailers that use scare tactics with subject lines such as “Your home warranty is about to expire!” However, they send them to homeowners who’ve never had a home warranty with them.
While operating under a different name, Total Home Protection, in 2021, Service Plus Home Warranty had to pay a $400,000 settlement to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Similar to US Home Guard, they got in trouble for deceptive marketing tactics. The company changed its name to try to avoid its bad reputation, but that doesn’t mean anything else has changed.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Electrical Systems
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Company
|
Rating
|
Monthly Cost
|
Service Fee
|
Response Time
|
BBB Rating
|
Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Liberty Home Guard
Get Quote
|
$50-$60 | $75 | 12-48 hrs. | NR | Get Quote | |
 American Home Shield
Get Quote
|
$35–$75 | $100–$125 | 24-72 hrs | B | Get Quote | |
 Elite Home Warranty
|
$44.99-$58.99 | $70 | 48 hours | A+ | ||
 Choice Home Warranty
Get Quote
|
$46–$55 | $85 | 24-48 hrs. | B | Get Quote | |
 Select Home Warranty
Get Quote
|
$52–$58 | $75-$85 | 24-48 hrs. | B | Get Quote | |
 AFC Home Warranty
Get Quote
|
$38–$62 | $75–$125 | 48 hours | B | Get Quote | |
 First American Home Warranty
Get Quote
|
$72–$87 | $75–$125 | 48 hours | B | Get Quote | |
 2-10 Home Warranty
Our Review
|
$17–$60+ | $65–$100 | 24 hrs | A- | Our Review | |
 Cinch Home Services
Get Quote
|
$28–$68 | $100–$150 | 2–24 hrs | B | Get Quote |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Electrical Systems
Elite Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Elite Home Warranty has a best-in-customer-satisfaction rating for providing service that stands up in every area. Customer service over the phone and online is helpful and thorough. Their policies have high coverage limits that provide great protection, and they rate highly in online reviews. While contracts vary by state, in most states, Elite covers all the parts and components needed for an electrical system to perform its full functionality. These include:
- Wiring
- Main panels
- Sub-panels
- Switches
- Breakers
- Receptacles
- Junction boxes
- Ground fault interrupters
- Outlets
- Built-in bathroom exhaust fans
Moreover, when a service technician has to access the electrical system through a wall, ceiling, or floor, Elite pays up to $250 to return access openings to a rough finish. Maximum coverage for electrical systems is $2,000 per year. I like that their list clearly spells out what you can expect if you have an issue with your electrical system.
However, other coverage has much lower limits during the first 90 days of buying a contract beyond the industry standard 30-day waiting period. Since Elite’s coverage varies a lot depending on the appliance or system, I advise reading their contract closely with your home’s unique features in mind.
Elite Home Warranty has a comprehensive website that compares its plans to competitor’s plans in a chart on the homepage. There are sample contracts for every state, not just a boilerplate contract that could apply. The coverage plans page dives deeper into the coverage of each item (including add-ons) when you click on a pop-up.
When you call Elite for a quote, customer service representatives ask a lot of questions about your home and its features. They go deeper to help you select and customize the best coverage. And if you need more time to think about your purchase, they’ll give you a direct number to call back.
Any work done by a technician sent by Elite has a 90-day guarantee on parts, labor, and installation. While competitor Liberty Home Guard has a workmanship guarantee that only covers parts and labor, Elite includes installation. Coverage limits increase if you buy premium add-ons. The premium appliance add-on increases coverage limits to $6,000, and other coverage limits are $10,000. These coverage caps are up to two to three times some competitor’s coverage limits.
If you need electrical coverage, you can buy the Elite Systems or Elite Complete plans.
Even though you’ll receive a sizable amount of coverage for your premiums, Elite’s pricing could strain some homeowner’s budgets. That’s because the standard $70 service fee only applies during business hours. If your furnace goes out on a cold winter weekend, requiring immediate service, you’ll pay a $150 fee. In contrast, competitor Liberty Home Guard keeps their service fee the same day, night, or weekend.
While their website is completely transparent, and you can find everything you need to know about the plan, the fine print in their contract’s still hides some nasty surprises. The 30-day waiting period for complete coverage with most competitors is as long as 90 days with Elite for some items. Replacement coverage doesn’t apply until after 90 days, and until three months have gone by, Elite limits its liability for parts and repairs to only $300.
And, while you can increase your coverage limits, you’ll need service records to take advantage of the coverage. If you don’t have proof that your water heater, furnace, or other large items received regular service, Elite lowers its coverage cap to $500. Elite isn’t the best choice for a home warranty provider if you haven’t regularly maintained items.
Elite sells three warranty plans:
- A systems-only plan for items like your plumbing, heating, and electrical systems
- An appliances-only plan that covers most major appliances
- A comprehensive plan that combines the coverage of the other two plans
If you need electrical coverage, just like competitor Liberty Home Guard, you can only buy two of their three plans. Additional coverage options increase Elite’s coverage caps to some of the highest in the industry. Purchasing the premium appliances plan, premium systems plan, or premium benefits add-ons increases coverage up to $6,000 to $10,000. Under the premium systems plan, HVAC coverage rises to $7,000.
However, if you’re considering adding on more coverage because you’re worried about a system or appliance, there’s one catch. While most companies restrict coverage for the first 30 days after you buy a policy, Elite severely restricts its coverage limits for 90 days. To find out how long you’ll wait, go to its website’s service agreements and filter by state. In New York state, replacement coverage doesn’t begin until 90 days after you’ve bought your plan. What’s more, coverage limits can drop lower if you place a service request and Elite’s service technician says that the repair is necessary because of a lack of maintenance and repairs. If you haven’t kept good records, think twice about buying one of their plans.
When I called Elite to get a quote, the customer service representative offered $150 off plan pricing if I signed up on the phone with him. The deal is also available for online purchases.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Elite Appliance | $35 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
| Elite Systems | $50 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
| Elite Complete | $60 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
After Liberty Home Guard, Elite Home Warranty offers the second-largest list of add-ons, which are priced annually. Additional coverage options include:
- Annual HVAC maintenance: $300
- Attic exhaust fan: $70
- Central vacuum: $49
- Drainage, sewer, and water service lines: $350
- Effluent pump: $100
- Ejector pump: $100
- Freestanding freezer: $60
- Freestanding ice makers: $60
- Freestanding spa equipment: $120
- Generator: $100
- Geothermal heating and cooling systems: $300
- Grinder pump: $100
- Guest house: $300
- Jetted hot tub: $100
- Lawn sprinkler system: $100
- Lift pump: $100
- Limited patching repair: $100
- Pool and spa equipment: $200
- Pool equipment: $150
- Premium Appliances: $250
- Premium benefits: $200
- Premium systems: $300
- Premium Systems plus: $500
- Septic system: $130
- Sump pump: $100
- Swamp cooler: $150
- Water softeners: $100
- Water filtration system: $100
- Well pump: $100
- Wine cooler: $70
Elite’s pricing falls within the range of competitors, though it does have a lower service fee than Liberty Home Guard and Select Home Warranty. However, that fee increases on nights and weekends, unlike other companies that keep their pricing the same.
If you invested in professional-grade appliances, you’ll also pay more to have them serviced. And if you’re considering Elite because you want their high coverage limits, they’re only available if you pay more monthly. The coverage limit of $7,000 for HVAC costs $300 more a year (approximately $25 more a month). But on the plus side, Elite doesn’t charge a cancellation fee and gives a prorated refund when you cancel.
If you prefer to shop online, Elite won’t be able to help you. Even if you fill out their “free quote” form online, it takes you to a generic web page. You must speak to a representative on the phone for specific pricing and to buy a policy, which isn’t very customer-friendly.
While polite, customer service representatives typically offer the most expensive plan first without asking questions about your home or your needs. However, you can verify what they tell you over the phone through the sample policies and detailed plan information available online.
Not only does Elite make sample policies for each state easy to find, but if you click on a pop-up for each item on their home warranty plans page, you can find detailed information about coverage limits, parts, and components within each covered item. For example, Elite’s plans don’t include coverage for exterior electrical lines and wiring.
When you’re checking coverage and looking at sample policies, don’t forget to read the fine print. It discloses longer times for restrictions on coverage (up to 90 days to get your policy’s full benefits), which drops Elite’s customer experience score even lower. Maximum coverage on appliances, HVAC, and replacements is quite low until 90 days have passed.
Elite’s customers rave online about its service and technicians. Reviewers say that the technician who performed the repair had the needed expertise. Several customers also left reviews that said they’d been with competitors in the past and thought that Elite had much better coverage and service.
Some companies have issues with slipping service as they grow and expand, so it’s reassuring that long-time customers say that service has been consistently great, including when they filed a claim. When one reviewer was upset because they had misunderstood a coverage exclusion, Elite decided to pay for the repair.
Elite has consistently high ratings on all review sites. However, it’s only been in business for four years. Once the company has been around a little longer, their score will likely go up.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+,4.97/5 stars | 448 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 / 5 stars | 89 |
| 4.7 / 5 stars | 188 | |
| Yelp | 4.8/ 5 stars | 5 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
They’ll accept claims online or by phone 24/7/365, but that doesn’t mean you’ll receive service right away. Elite’s promised turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours after you place a service request excludes nights and weekends. However, customer reviews frequently praise professional experiences with technicians.
Elite also has a lower score for the claims process because its $70 service fee more than doubles to $150 if you need service at night or on the weekend. If you can’t afford the surcharge and a dishwasher springs a leak or your furnace goes out on a weekend, you’ll have to wait until Monday for help.
Elite provides customers with full information about its plans on its website. You can read the fine print in state-specific contracts or click on items on the “coverage plans” page to see what is and isn’t included within an appliance or system. This is helpful if you’re concerned about an older appliance breaking down soon.
The only issue with Elite is that you can’t see pricing or buy a policy online.
Exclusions
Elite has a handful of exclusions that apply to all policies:
- Natural disaster-related damages
- Malfunction or damages due to acts of God
- Commercial-grade appliances
- Units in a rental property
- Cosmetic damage
- A lack of maintenance
Elite’s electrical coverage has specific exclusions. Outside of the house, they don’t service meter boxes, exterior wiring, underground electrical lines and wiring, or intercom and communication systems. Within the home, Elite has a longer list of exclusions. Their plans won’t cover faceplates, DC components, fixtures, attic exhaust fans, wire tracing, auxiliary, alarm systems, smoke detectors, doorbells, telephone systems and wiring, energy management, or solar systems. While they perform repairs, they don’t upgrade existing outlets or rerun wiring.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative that readers review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
If you’ve got an excellent HVAC technician on speed dial and don’t want to try another company in town, don’t worry. If you file a claim through Elite, you can pick the service provider. Elite insists on confirming that the provider is licensed and insured before you can call them for the repair.
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard’s electrical coverage is decent but basic. Their contracts cover all mechanical components and parts, including built-in bathroom exhaust fans. However, it excludes certain items, like doorbells and attic exhaust fans, that some competitors will fix.
Reliable customer service, a long list of add-ons, and reasonable prices offset basic coverage. Before signing up for Liberty, check to see if you’ve kept any maintenance and installation records relating to your electrical system. Before approving a repair, Liberty could ask to see them, so think twice before embarking on a do-it-yourself project. It’s usually always to call a qualified electrician. Though, with a home warranty plan from Liberty, they’ll take care of that for you.
If you buy a policy with Liberty Home Guard, you’ll have the most options to customize your coverage. Homeowners with a sump pump, a pool, or an extra refrigerator can add them to their policy and receive service if they break down. However, if you buy the Total Home Guard Plan, Liberty covers all components and parts within your electrical system at no extra cost.
While a home warranty is like homeowners insurance in that you hope never to use it, if you do need to file a claim, Liberty promises a 24 to 48-hour response time. A service technician could arrive before the ice cream in your freezer has time to melt. I really like that Liberty has an app where you can track your claim’s progress and when your technician will show up.
Despite promising a 24 to 48-hour turnaround time, Liberty’s policies cover you if they can’t get there fast enough. You’re allowed to set up a service call with a company on your own as long as they’re licensed and insured. With Liberty, you can customize your policy and your service.
The Better Business Bureau recently changed Liberty’s rating to “Not Rated.” Despite glowing online reviews, the BBB has noticed a pattern of complaints regarding the claims process with Liberty and sales tactics. When Today’s Homeowner reached out for comment, Liberty responded to our request for more information in a professional manner. However, an increase in recent complaints could mean that service is slipping.
Additionally, you might not need all the additional coverage options. It can be a struggle to figure out which of the 42 options you need, and you could end up paying much higher monthly fees for coverage you never end up using. Since Liberty’s additional coverage fees are sometimes higher than competitor’s fees, I recommend comparing your options and pricing. For example, if you know you want to add on pool and spa coverage, American Home Shield charges $1.99 a month less than Liberty, which adds up to $23.88 a year in savings.
When you’re comparing providers, don’t forget to add service fees to your calculations. In addition to monthly premiums, you’ll pay a service fee whenever someone comes out for a repair. High fees can strain the budget, so it’s unfortunate that Liberty’s standard fee is $125. Several of Liberty’s competitors charge less than $100.
Coverage caps at just $2,000 per covered item, which is also lower than many competitors. Homeowners who aren’t interested in additional coverage might find that another provider better fits their needs.
With Liberty’s three plans, you have access to a massive list of add-ons. Coverage limits for all items are $2,000, which is on the low side, and you have to wait 30 days for coverage to begin. If you want electrical coverage, you can choose either the Systems Guard plan or Total Home Guard plan.
Like its name, Appliance Guard only covers appliances. Appliance Guard covers your refrigerator, range, oven, built-in microwave, cooktop, clothes washer and dryer, and dishwasher. In the home warranty industry, electrical falls under home systems, and appliance plans typically exclude it.
If you want electrical coverage, you’ll have to buy the more expensive Systems Guard plan. In addition to electrical, it also covers all major home systems like air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and water heaters. But, as a nice touch, it also includes items you might not think of as appliances — like your garbage disposal, garage door opener, and ceiling and exhaust fans. Liberty’s most expensive plan, Total Home Guard, combines the coverage of the other two options into one comprehensive plan if you want both your systems and appliances protected.
When you buy a plan with Liberty, you can pay monthly or annually. The annual payment option is ideal (if you can afford it) because it gives you two months free. If you can afford to pay for even more years, you’ll get more months free.
Liberty’s normal service fee is $125 for each call, which is higher than competitors. However, twice when I spoke with a representative, they offered to reduce it to $85 if I signed up that day.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $125 | One year paid in advance $499.99 (2 months free) |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $125 | One year paid in advance $549.99 (2 months free) |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $125 | One year paid in advance $599.99 (2 months free) online, $575 (2 months free) over the phone |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Buffalo, NY. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Homeowners can pick from 42 options for additional coverage to increase their policy’s coverage with Liberty Home Guard. Options include:
- Pool and spa: $19.99/month
- Additional spa: $9.99/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99/month
- Saltwater pool: $23.99/month
- Generator: $19.99/month
- Casita guest unit: $35.99/month
- Sump pump: $8.99/month
- Well pump: $12.99/month
- Septic system pumping: $12.99/month
- Ejector pump: $14.99/month
- Grinder pump: $14.99/month
- Limited roof leak: $11.99/month
- Re-Key: $9.99/month
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99/month
- Pest control: $14.99/month
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99/month
- Central vacuum: $8.99/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99/month
- Water softener: $13.99/month
- Swamp cooler: $14.99/month
- Second refrigerator: $7.99/month
- Trash compactor: $7.49/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11,99/month
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99/month
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99/month
- Electronics protection: $19.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99/month
- Pro-Series Refrigerator: $14.99/month
- Pro-Series Stand Alone Freezer: $14.99/month
- Pro-Series Range/Oven/Cooktop: $12.99/month
- Pro-Series Dishwasher: $7.99/month
- Pro-Series Microwave: $4.99/month
- Pro-Series Washing Machine: $4.99/month
- Pro-Series Clothes Dryer: $4.99/month
Liberty goes above and beyond to try to meet homeowners’ needs. If you need coverage for an unusual item that you don’t see included in their plans or sold as an add-on, you may still get lucky. Liberty suggests that you contact them with the make and model of the item you want to be covered and promises to try to provide you with specialized coverage.
If you’re having a hard time narrowing down the list of add-ons to those you might find most useful, Liberty helps. When you’re applying for a quote, the website shows the most popular options in your state. It’s helpful to see what other local homeowners thought they needed to add on when deciding what you need.
Liberty has a lower score for affordability due to its higher service and cancellation fees. Its service fee is $125 per call, which is higher than competitors like Select Home Warranty’s $75 service fee and Elite Home Warranty’s $70 fee. If you want to cancel, you’ll receive a prorated refund but must pay a $50 cancellation fee.
Pay attention to the pricing for additional coverage options, too. A sump pump costs $3.33 more a month with Select Home Warranty, but it’s $8.99 a month with Liberty. While that difference may not seem large, it adds up to an additional $67.92 a year more than Select’s option.
Even though additional coverage can cost more than competitors, regular plan pricing is within normal ranges. Moreover, when I called on a holiday weekend like Memorial Day, the customer service representative offered to put a lower service fee in my contract if I bought a policy on the phone with him. If you want Liberty’s coverage but are looking for a deal, I recommend calling on a holiday weekend.
I really like Liberty Home Guard’s clear and concise website. After giving them a few details, you’ll get a free quote with information about what other local homeowners choose. It’s easy to play around with options — such as paying monthly or annually or adding coverage — to see how they impact your final price, and you can find a sample contract online.
I’ve always had pleasant experiences speaking with Liberty’s customer service representatives, too. They ask why you’re shopping for home warranty insurance, dive deeper into your home’s unique needs, and work to find you the best option. Instead of auto-renewing policies, they’ll call 60 days before renewal and ask if you want to continue coverage. This also gives you the chance to add or drop add-ons.
Liberty loses points on the multiple points of contact after you give them your contact information. They call, text, and email for weeks, and you have to unsubscribe from all communication for them to stop.
While the Better Business Bureau recently changed Liberty’s rating to “Not Rated” due to a pattern of increasing complaints, many customer reviews still praise the service, claims resolution, and professional technicians. Some recent issues with complaints could be growing pains, as the company has rapidly expanded since it began in 2017.
Many customers who had emergencies praise the quick and expedited claims processes in their reviews — exactly what you want to see if your heat goes out during a February snowstorm. Reviewers also commonly mention that the service technician got the job done right the first time, and they didn’t need to take advantage of Liberty’s workmanship guarantee. While that may be the case, Liberty does guarantee all workmanship for 60 days. If something goes wrong within 60 days after having an item repaired, they won’t charge you another service fee.
Shoppers in search of home warranties have many options. Some reviewers who had been with a competitor home warranty company in the past were much happier with Liberty’s service, which is a good sign.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR4.46/ 5 stars | 2,508 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 / 5 stars | 2,960 |
| 4.7 / 5 stars | 11,862 | |
| Yelp | 1.3 / 5 stars | 80 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note (as of July 31, 2024): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts.”
Liberty’s customers frequently mention their claims process in online reviews. Many reviewers praise both the communication with customer service to file the service request and the technicians who came out to do the work. It’s easy to file claims 242/7/365 either over the phone, online through the customer portal, or on the app.
It’s not common for home warranty companies to have an app, and I love that on the app, you can get real-time updates on your claim and track the technician’s progress to your house.
Liberty also provides a great claims experience by not increasing its service fee at night or on the weekends. Some of their competitors charge higher amounts or require you to contact a technician and arrange service for yourself after business hours. But Liberty’s fee stays the same no matter the time of day or day of the week. This is possible, in part, due to a recently announced a partnership with Progressive Insurance, which increased their technician network.
Most home warranty plans have exclusions like handles, knobs, or other parts of an item. If you’re curious about what you’ll find in Liberty’s contract, you can find a sample contract online. They’ll cover problems you couldn’t have reasonably known about when you bought the house, that weren’t visible, or that are older.
For example, if you’re worried about your dishwasher, their contract will tell you that the company doesn’t cover racks, rollers, or hinges, but they will fix all mechanical components and parts.
The website does a good job explaining each plan’s coverage, and its FAQs answer common questions you might have, so Liberty gets high marks for transparency.
Exclusions
All home warranty companies have exclusions in their contracts. These could be items, the reason something breaks, or a part of a larger system or appliance. Liberty Home Guard’s plans exclusions include:
- Flues, vents, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Electronics, computerized, “smart,” or Internet/enabled components and parts
- Filters associated with any covered items
- Remote receiving and transmitting devices
- Radon and other leak detection monitoring systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Lighting
- Solar systems and applications
- Cosmetic defects
- Disposal of appliances, systems, or components
- Cranes or other specialty vehicles required to install, remove, or access your appliances or home systems
- Glass parts
- Noise
Liberty Home Guard has further exclusions related to electrical systems. Unlike some competitors, they don’t provide service to intercoms, doorbells, or other associated systems. American Home Shield and 2-10 Home Warranty both fix doorbells. Liberty also excludes coverage for CO alarms, smoke detectors or related systems, attic exhaust fans, D.C. wiring or components, auxiliary or sub panels, rerunning of new wiring for broken/severed wires, wire tracing, circuit overload, and upgrading existing outlets.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Liberty Home Guard gives policyholders the flexibility to pick their own service provider. If you have a favorite HVAC technician, you can still call them and use your home warranty policy. Homeowners can pick a service provider, and Liberty will reimburse them. Just make sure to call and check their qualifications with Liberty Home Guard before you make an appointment, as they must be licensed and insured.
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
If you’re looking for a basic plan that covers your electrical system, then add Select Home Warranty to your list. The company has a 90-day workmanship guarantee that is one of the best in the business, which saves you money and keeps repair costs low. If one of their technicians performs a repair and the same item breaks again within 90 days, you won’t pay another service fee.
Select Home Warranty works well for budget-conscious shoppers who still want decent protection. Select’s service contract covers many electrical system components, including wiring, service panels, sub-panels, circuit breakers, switches, outlets, junction boxes, and ground fault interrupters. Every basic element of a home’s electrical system falls under their home warranty coverage.
With Select Home Warranty, you get a winning combination of low service fees of just $75, reasonably priced plans, and emergency service that’s available after business hours.
Its basic plan is only $44 a month after special discounts, and I’ve never seen it quoted for full price. Service calls only cost $75 each time you need a repair, whereas some competitors charge $100 and up. They commit to a 24 to 48-hour turnaround on service claims, and their 90-day workmanship guarantee is better than both American Home Shield’s 30-day limit and Liberty Home Guard’s 60-day guarantee.
Depending on where you live, Select might have an emergency team in your area. These teams stand ready to come out within four hours of an emergency — such as your air conditioning going out on the hottest day of summer. When you call to request a quote, be sure to ask them about emergency coverage.
Even cheap service fees add up if you’re calling for help multiple times a month, which is why I don’t like seeing this trend in many of Select’s reviews. Several customers indicate that the first service technician Select sent for their repair couldn’t complete the job, resulting in extra trips and fees. Some reviewers complain that Select couldn’t stick to its 24 to 48-hour promised response time or that the company denied valid claims repeatedly.
I also find it annoying that you can’t get a quote or pricing information online and have to speak to a person. Without being able to verify what a customer service representative tells you online, you might be surprised by actual fees and service. And, while they make their terms and conditions available to read, you can’t verify other details about pricing and service fees.
Select Home Warranty also only sells a limited list of additional coverage. You only have nine options to expand your coverage, though its monthly charge for a septic system is one of the cheapest. And, if you’re dissatisfied and want to cancel after the first 30 days, you’ll have to pay a $75 cancellation fee, which is more than Liberty’s $50 cancellation fee.
If you decide to buy a policy with Select, you can choose between three options and the same add-ons list with each of them. But if you’re looking for electrical coverage, you only have two plans to choose from.
The Bronze Care plan protects your refrigerator, clothes washer and dryer, stove, cooktop, or oven, garbage disposal, dishwasher, and built-in microwave, and doesn’t cover any home systems. However, it’s an easy way to get service for your home appliances without having to call around town and find a technician.
But if you know for sure that you want electrical coverage, look at purchasing the Select’s Gold Care plan. It includes coverage for heating, air conditioning, ductwork, plumbing, and electrical systems. Its coverage for electrical systems is fairly comprehensive, as it provides coverage for wiring, service panels, sub-panels, circuit breakers, switches, outlets, junction boxes, and ground fault interrupters.
The Platinum Care plan protects both systems and appliances, so you’ll have protection for your electrical system, and adds on a garage door opener, ceiling fan, and plumbing stoppages. It’s the most comprehensive and expensive plan that Select sells.
However, pay attention to coverage limits with Select, particularly for your electrical system. Coverage limits for appliances, plumbing systems, and electrical are only $500, which is low in comparison to competitors. And HVAC system repair or replacement has a limit of just $3,000. With American Home Shield and Elite Home Warranty, you get much higher coverage caps.
Select has a deal for two months free and $150 off to customers who pay for the full year in advance, which I’ve seen offered since the beginning of the year. The two free months extend your total contract term to 14 months.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Bronze Care | $44.92/month | $75 | $150 off discount on the phone, also two months free if you pay the annual fee up-front. |
| Gold Care | $44.92/month | $75 | $150 off discount on the phone, also two months free if you pay the annual fee up-front. |
| Platinum Care | $47.75/month | $75 | $150 off discount on the phone, also two months free if you pay the annual fee up-front. |
*Note: The monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing. Select Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of this year.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Select Home Warranty only sells nine add-ons to increase your plan’s coverage. However, some of them, such as septic system coverage, are sold at a cheaper rate than Liberty Home Guard and Elite Home Warranty.
- Central Vacuum: $3.33/mo
- Lawn Sprinkler System: $5.83/mo
- Pool: $8.33/mo
- Roof Leak: $0/mo
- Septic System: $5.83/mo
- Spa: $5.83/mo
- Stand-Alone Freezer: $3.33/mo
- Sump Pump: $3.33/mo
- Well Pump: $3.33/mo
Select Home Warranty’s discounted pricing is some of the cheapest in the business — and they’ve been running a promotion since the beginning of the year. However, you have to lock yourself into an annual contract and pay up-front to get the best deals. Service fees are also inexpensive. A service call costs just $75 (compared to $100 to $150 with some competitors).
If you live in a state where they have an emergency team, emergency service calls don’t cost extra. Elie Home Warranty, for example, charges extra for service calls at night and on weekends.
However, if you want to cancel, their cancellation fee is higher. Select charges a $75 cancellation fee to exit your contract early, though they give a prorated refund. Liberty Home Guard charges a $50 fee, and other companies don’t charge one at all.
Even though Select’s website collects your information, such as an address, phone number, and email when you apply for a free quote, and it doesn’t give you pricing or tell you its service fees at the end of the quote process. I find this lack of transparency annoying, particularly as you can’t click “buy” online. To get pricing and other information, you have to talk to someone on the phone.
The company is extremely persistent after you apply for a free quote, too. The first few days after you apply, they’ll call and text multiple times a day. After that, they still text, email, or call daily. And, while most representatives are friendly, you’ll speak to the occasional pushy salesperson who just wants to close the sale. This costs the company a few points in terms of customer experience.
Before you buy any home warranty policy, take the time to educate yourself about coverage limits. A common refrain in many customer complaints about Select’s service is that the company didn’t cover 100% of a repair or replacement, or the customer was upset the coverage limit wasn’t high enough to buy a new appliance.
However, all home warranty contracts have coverage limits. While Select’s coverage limits are lower than other companies, you can still find them clearly disclosed in the terms and conditions. I advise reading the fine print before you buy a policy so that you know which replacement costs you might have to cover out of pocket.
Select does have a B- rating on the Better Business Bureau and a decent score of 3.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and 3.8 out of 5 stars on Google. Positive reviewers have been with the company for years and praised the quick, professional claims process, ease of service with an air conditioner or drainage issue, and helpful service technicians.
My advice is to ask yourself if Select’s coverage limits would have paid for any recent repairs. If not, look at other providers or make sure you can afford the difference.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B- / 1.28 out of 5 stars | 2,111 reviews |
| Trustpilot | 3.6 / 5 stars | 4,881 |
| 3.8 / 5 stars | 20,384 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Select claims that they’ll contact a technician about your repair within 24 to 48 hours after you contact them with a claim. However, this doesn’t mean someone shows up at your house to fix the problem, merely that Select has contacted them. According to some online reviews, you could wait days or weeks for the repair to happen.
Several competitors have a shorter response window, but they also tie their promise to an actual appointment and service technician at your door. While Select makes it easy to submit a claim through the online customer service portal or over the phone, you could be waiting a while to have the problem resolved.
Select provides its terms and conditions online so that homeowners can read through the fine print and educate themselves on their coverage. They also have a reasonable exclusions list and, therefore, receive a higher score for transparency and ease of use.
Exclusions
SHW’s contracts exclude problems that the homeowner should have reasonably known about or preexisting conditions. Other exclusions are:
- Secondary damage (e.g., your home warranty may cover roof damage but won’t cover water damage caused by the leak)
- Incorrect installation or malfunctions due to construction damage or improper wiring
- Issues with systems or appliances related to hazardous or toxic materials (i.e., mold, asbestos, gas leaks, etc.)
- Common areas in condominiums or family homes
- Solar heating systems
- Damage caused by natural disasters and rust
- Defects or damages caused by the foundation and structure of the home
Within electrical systems, Select doesn’t cover damage caused by water, flood, fire, or rust. They also don’t cover repairs needed because of inadequate wiring capacity or damage caused by a power surge or a power failure. Attic exhaust fans, fixtures, and wire tracing are also exempt from coverage.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
A nice perk with Select is that, as long as they are licensed and insured, you can choose your own service provider. However, you must get pre-approval from the company.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
American Home Shield protects homeowners with some of the highest coverage limits in the business. If you invested in expensive systems and appliances, a $2,000 coverage cap couldn’t be enough to replace or fully repair an item. But, depending on your plan, you’ll have up to $4,000 or $5,000 of coverage with American Home Shield. You can also pick a higher service fee in order to pay a lower monthly premium to better fit the monthly charges in your budget.
AHS’s contract has an entire section dedicated to electrical systems. They cover all parts and components of outlets, light switches, and ceiling fans. Their coverage also includes all parts and components for all built-in exhaust, bathroom, attic, and whole house fans. While they’ll fix a doorbell, they don’t provide service for video monitoring and security system doorbells. Lastly, they’ll send out a service technician for hard-wired electrical lines, wiring, breaker boxes, and electrical panels that provide electrical power to your house.
Even a standard washer/dryer can run you over $1,500 these days, and if you want all the bells and whistles, the price tag can easily top $2,000. Yet many home warranty companies cap their coverage at $2,000 an item: enough for a repair but not a full replacement. If you need a replacement, you have to cover the difference out of your own pocket unless you bought a policy with American Home Shield.
While competitors Liberty Home Guard or 2-10 Home Warranty only have coverage limits of up to $2,000 per item, AHS covers up to $4,000 for appliances and $5,000 for HVAC. These limits vary by plan, but if you buy their most expensive offering, you won’t have to worry about a major replacement. As a bonus, Select doesn’t request maintenance records and covers repairs needed due to normal wear and tear.
AHS’ top-tier plan, the ShieldPlatinum plan, gives you the highest coverage limits and roof leak coverage of up to $1,000 per contract term. Plus, it includes a free HVAC tune-up to keep your furnace in top shape and hopefully prevent emergency repairs later. When you’re picking your policy, you can also choose between a $100 or $125 service fee, which raises or lowers your monthly premiums.
AHS has a shorter workmanship guarantee than competitors. After a service technician comes to your home, the company only guarantees their work for 30 days. Liberty Home Guard gives you peace of mind for 60 days, and Elite Home Warranty’s workmanship guarantee is for 90 days. If you own an older home with faulty wiring, you could have to pay two service fees for the same repair.
While AHS proudly mentions its large network of 17,4500 contractors and 4,500 service technicians, a large network doesn’t lead to quality repairs. Complaints online often mention that technicians lacked the skills to complete a repair or that AHS had to send out several companies before the repair was done properly. These complaints, combined with a short workmanship guarantee, mean that you could pay $100 to $125 multiple times to get something fixed.
AHS outsources its customer service, and the results have led to lower rankings when compared to competitors. I’ve had unpleasant experiences with pushy salespeople who couldn’t answer all my questions, and online reviewers often mention communication difficulties.
AHS sells three plans, all of which include electrical coverage.
If you buy the ShieldSilver plan for either $39.99 or $29.99 a month, you get coverage for home systems. It includes heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical coverage. If you have extended warranties and service plans on your appliances and don’t need them covered under a home warranty, it’s a good way to save money.
The ShieldGold plan includes everything in the ShieldSilver plan and adds on kitchen and laundry appliances. There’s no option with AHS to purchase an appliance-only plan. The most expensive plan, ShieldPlatinum, only increases the coverage of ShieldPlatinum by adding on roof coverage, a free HVAC tune-up, fixing code violations, pulling permits, or otherwise modifying your home. ShieldPlatinum covers $250 of those additional costs.
Every plan has an HVAC coverage limit of up to $5,000 per system. However, coverage limits for appliances vary depending on the plan. While the per-appliance limit on the ShieldGold plan is only $2,000, if you pay more for the ShieldPlatinum plan, it increases to $4,000. If your kitchen has high-end appliances, the higher coverage could be a plus.
If you prefer paying less monthly, AHS gives you the option to pick a higher service fee to lower your monthly fees. Choosing the $125 fee on the ShieldGold plan results in a lower monthly premium of $49.99.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| ShieldSilver | $39.99 – $29.99 | $100 – $125* | No current discount |
| ShieldGold | $59.99 – $49.99 | $100 – $125* | 40% off on the website |
| ShieldPlatinum | $89.99 – $79.99 | $100 – $125* | No current discount |
*If you choose the lower service fee of $100, you pay the higher monthly premium. For example, the $89.99 with the Platinum Plan pairs with the $100 service fee.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Charleston, West Virginia. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
American Home Shield has a small list of additional coverage options. American Home Shield only offers six add-ons, which are:
- Roof leak repair: $10/month
- Electronics protection plan: $14/month
- Pool & built-in-spa equipment: $24/month
- Guest unit: $26.99/month
- Septic pump: $5/month
- Well pump: $8/month
In exchange for paying slightly higher monthly premiums with American Home Shield than some competitors, you get the company’s higher coverage caps. Depending on their current discounts, competitors might charge up to $15 less for similar plans. But they’ll also have a coverage limit of $2,000.
Coverage limits reset every term. If your HVAC needs a $2,500 repair in the second month you have your policy, and a $3,000 repair six months later, AHS would only cover $2,500 of that second repair. However, coverage limits for annual contracts reset upon renewal, so this might be a non-issue.
AHS’ lower service fee, $100, is still higher than the $70 fee with Elite Home Warranty and Select Home Warranty’s $75 fee, but they don’t charge extra for service on nights and weekends. With Elite, you’ll pay $150 for a service call after business hours. Since I’ve never known an appliance to break at a convenient time, AHS could end up being the more affordable choice.
It’s easy to find what you need and apply for a free quote on American Home Shield’s website. After inputting a few details, they return a quote and plan information. Once you reach the quote screen, you can add and subtract coverage options and flip between screens to calculate how they impact your total monthly premiums. There are terms and conditions that explain exclusions and the finer points of their contract, as well as FAQs to answer basic questions.
However, if you call to talk to someone, the experience can vary, which is why we lowered their score. Customer service representatives have clearly received training to only answer questions from a script. Without asking exploratory questions about your house or your needs, they push you to buy the most expensive contract. Talking to them on the phone can be an uncomfortable experience.
If you don’t buy a policy when you first contact them, AHSl bugs you for months. They’ll send daily texts, call often, and email. However, if you do decide to buy one of their policies, I recommend getting an online quote before purchasing over the phone. While the website offered a 40% off ShieldGold discount, the customer service representative didn’t offer it until I told them I’d seen it online.
American Home Shield’s online reviews swing wildly between a low 2.1 out of 5 stars to a high 4.5 out of 5 stars, depending on the review site. On the Better Business Bureau, where the company has a B rating, customers complain about service representatives who hang up or don’t call back, contractors who failed to show up at the right time for a repair, and difficulties canceling coverage.
American Home Shield has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google. Still, customer reviews on Trustpilot rate them just 2.1 out of 5 stars and have similar complaints as on the BBB about poor service and unqualified technicians. On Google, happy reviewers praised AHS for replacing large appliances such as refrigerators and clothes dryers, as well as components of a system such as an air conditioning unit. Others say that the claims process and repair happened quickly.
Like many home warranty companies, a reviewer’s experience appears to depend heavily on the service technicians in their area. If you have concerns about AHS, ask around locally for friends and neighbors who’ve used their service.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B2.1 / 5 stars | 10,809 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 / 5 stars | 5,415 |
| 4.5 / 5 stars | 33,525 | |
| Yelp | 1.1 / 5 stars | 1,300 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
American Home Shield ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to their claims process, mainly because of their mixed reviews. AHS has above-average coverage limits ($5,000 for HVAC and $4,000 for app
American Home Shield will contact a provider to set up a service appointment within 24 to 48 hours of filing a claim. However, while the appointment could be made, it could also be weeks away. They make no promises about when you’ll actually receive service, unlike Liberty Home Guard, who tries to have someone at your house within the same time frame.
The lack of a concrete commitment to service lowers AHS’s claims process score to an 8/10, especially since many customers who left online reviews were upset with the turnaround time on service calls. Some reviewers claim they had to call multiple times to get a claim processed and that it took more than one service provider and several weeks before the repair was complete. Online reviews like these, coupled with their looser service promise, concern me.
American Home Shield accepts claims online or over the phone. After a repair, their workmanship guarantee covers you for the next 30 days. This means that if you need the same item serviced, you won’t pay another service fee.
liances on the ShieldPlatinum plan), so you likely won’t have to pay out of pocket for repairs as long as your claims are accepted. AHS also covers damages that many competitors exclude, like unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, giving you fewer exclusions to worry about when making a claim. Still, there are always loopholes to look out for. One customer on Yelp said:
American Home Shield puts their contract online, so you can easily find exclusions and worrisome clauses before you buy a policy. Because they cover unknown preexisting conditions and have a fairly standard exclusions list, they have a high 9.4/10 score for transparency.
Exclusions
American Home Shield has a standard list of exclusions.
- Construction or carpentry costs
- Restoration of walls
- Flues, chimneys, venting, and exhaust lines
- Repairs or replacements due to cosmetic defects
- Repairs due to mold
- Appliances not covered under the ShieldSilver plan
- Natural disasters
Specifically for electrical systems, the company won’t help out if you have an issue with a doorbell that’s part of an intercom, video monitoring, or security system. They also don’t cover meter boxes or electrical panels that provide electricity to an external structure like a shed or pool house. You’ll have to call a service provider directly if you have problems with your direct current (D.C.) wiring or components and/or low voltage system, either portable or installed generators, and audio, video, computer, intercom, alarm, or security wiring/cables, too.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Unfortunately, AHS doesn’t give homeowners options when choosing a service provider. If you have a favorite plumber in town, you might as well delete their number from your phone. With AHS, you can’t pick a licensed and insured company to perform a repair and then get reimbursed. The company only allows homeowners to go outside their network if there aren’t any qualified technicians close to their homes.
2-10 Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
2-10 Home Warranty’s workmanship guarantee gives homeowners peace of mind. They call their workmanship guarantee an “even if” guarantee. Even if you request service and the requested service isn’t eligible for coverage under your plan, they’ll refund your service fee. As long as you keep your policy with them, you won’t pay twice for the same repair if an item breaks down more than once.
The Complete Home and Pinnacle Home plans both cover electrical systems, though this coverage is available as an add-on with other plans. Coverage for electrical wiring, switches, panels, outlets, and your doorbell is included in both of these plans. 2-10 covers the cost to diagnose, repair, and replace an electrical issue up to $2,000. According to their contract, 2-10 promises that systems that relate to the health and safety of the home’s residents will receive service within 24 hours, and they include electrical systems on this list.
The “even if” service guarantee offered by 2-10 Home Warranty is one of the best in the business. Unlike Liberty Home Guard or American Home Shield, who only give you 60 or 30 days of coverage after a repair, 2-10 offers a workmanship guarantee on all repairs for the life of your agreement term.
What’s more, if you file a claim and a technician comes out to your house but then determines the item isn’t covered, 2-10 refunds the service fee. If you have older appliances and home systems, this should give you a lot of peace of mind. While you’d pay for a different type of repair, you wouldn’t pay a service fee again if the same part or component broke.
Standard coverage limits of just $2,000 per limit aren’t impressive, but if you add on the Luxury Package for $6 a month, coverage caps increase to $5,000. There’s a lot to like about 2-10 Home Warranty’s workmanship guarantee and coverage limits.
While 2-10 Home Warranty promises to contact a service technician within 24 hours after you file a claim, they don’t promise to either have made an appointment or provided service. In fact, it’s up to the homeowner to make an appointment directly with the technician. While some homeowners may appreciate being able to schedule a time that fits their schedule, others might find this an unnecessary step.
Customer complaints mention waiting weeks or months for service, and some customers were unhappy that the technician couldn’t get the repair done in one visit. Even with a cheap service fee of just $65, multiple service calls add up. While plans are reasonably priced, which is a plus, to get the best deals, you have to sign up for auto-renewal.
2-10 sells three plans with three choices of service fees: $65, $85, and $100. A lower service fee leads to higher monthly premiums and vice versa. Homeowners with a healthy savings account who want to lower monthly costs might go with that option.
Each plan comes with industry-standard coverage limits of $2,000, which apply to appliances, home systems, and plumbing. If you’re looking for more, you can increase coverage limits to $5,000 with a $6-a-month add-on.
The cheapest plan, Simply Kitchen, costs as low as $27 a month with the highest service fee. It covers all the appliances in your kitchen, such as your dishwasher, range, oven, cooktop, built-in microwave, and refrigerator with icemaker and water dispenser coverage. Its cheap price likely reflects its basic coverage as most competitors’ cheaper plans also include laundry appliances.
The next step up, the Complete Home plan, adds coverage for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to the kitchen appliances included in the Simply Kitchen plan. If you dig into the electrical system coverage, you’ll find that it includes your doorbell in addition to wiring, switches, outlets, and panels.
Oddly, you have to buy the most expensive Pinnacle Plan to get coverage for your clothes washer and dryer. Most competitors start including them in their plans before you reach the most expensive level. However, the Pinnacle Plan gives you Supreme coverage for your appliances. This includes handles and hinges, heating filters, haulaway or disposal fees, and fans, which competitors often exclude.
Agreeing to auto-renewal gets you a five-dollar-a-month discount, and in June, they offered a 30% discount. The brand’s flexibility in service fees gives you the freedom to play around with your monthly pricing. For example, a $85 service fee knocks $5 a month off your monthly cost with some plans. With the discounts and service fees, it can be more confusing to determine your best option, so we rated them a 7.6/10 in this category.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Simply Kitchen | $35, $30, $27 | $65, $85, $100 | $27 a month with auto-renewal and a $100 service fee |
| Complete Home | $55, $50, $47 | $65, $85, $100 | $47 a month with auto-renewal and a $100 service fee |
| Pinnacle Home | $69, $64, $61 | $65, $85, $100 | $61 a month with auto-renewal and a $100 service fee |
*If you choose the higher service fee of $100, you pay the lower monthly premium.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Additional coverage available from 2-10 has options that other competitors don’t, such as coverage for an extended pipe leak or wet bar refrigerators. Add-on options with 2-10 include:
- Luxury package: $6
- HVAC surplus: $10
- Garage door opener: $3
- Roof leak: $8
- Pre-season HVAC tune-up: $8
- Extended pipe leak: $5
- Septic system: $5
- Additional refrigerator: $4
- Additional freestanding freezer: $4
- Freshwater pool: $18
- Well pump: $6
- Water softener: $8
- Saltwater pool: $30
- Additional wet bar refrigerator: $4
- Additional pool: $15
- Additional built-in wine cooler: $4
- 2nd additional refrigerator: $8
- 2nd additional built-in wine cooler: $7
- 2nd additional freestanding freezer: $7
- 2nd additional wet bar refrigerator: $7
With 2-10 Home Warranty, you have control over your plan pricing. If you pick one of the higher service fees, you’ll pay a lower monthly premium. This is a good option for homeowners trying to stick to a monthly budget.
They’re the only home warranty provider to offer three options for service fees: $65, $85, and $100, and even their highest service fee is lower than some competitors. The pricing for add-ons is also cheaper than competitors. Liberty Home Guard charges $12,99 a month for septic system coverage, but it’s just $5 a month if you add it to a 2-10 plan. If you have an extra freezer in your basement, it’s just $4 to include it with 2-10, but $7.99 a month extra with Liberty Home Guard.
After buying a policy, if you change your mind, you have 30 days to cancel. As long as you haven’t filed a claim, you’ll receive a full refund. If you have any questions about 2-10’s coverage, download a sample contract online.
After inputting your zip code and contact information, it’s easy to get a free quote online. Once you’re past these steps, you can add and subtract coverage options to see how they impact your plan’s total cost. Unfortunately, however, 2-10 will immediately start calling and texting before you’ve even had time to explore their options.
As is standard in the industry, after buying a plan, coverage begins in 30 days. Their promised service period is 48 hours, not 24 to 48 hours, like many competitors. After they’ve found someone locally, the technician contacts you to arrange the time. Some customers mention long waiting periods in their online reviews.
However, once the item has been fixed, the “even if” service guarantee ensures you’ll never pay twice for the same repair.
In its 40 years of operations, 2-10 Home Warranty has built a strong network and deep experience in the industry. They have an excellent A rating on the Better Business Bureau. Positive reviewers were happy that the company reimbursed them quickly when they had to find and pay a service technician to come out on the weekend. Other reviews praise the fast, professional service of the technicians in 2-10’s network.
However, some customers complained that it took over a month to receive service or to resolve a claim and that technicians had to come out to their homes several times to complete the repair. Unhappiness with customer service and difficulties reaching the company after buying a policy also came up in several reviews.
It’s obvious that customer experience depends on the local service network, which is common in the industry. In some areas, it’s difficult for 2-10 to get technicians out to homeowner’s houses. In others, service is fast and reliable. I recommend asking a few nearby friends with a 2-10 policy what their experience has been with the local network before you buy a policy.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B, 1.28 / 5 stars | 409 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 / 5 stars | 10 |
| 4.2 / 5 stars | 7,106 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Where 2-10 departs from industry standards is in its claims process. Customers can file claims online or by calling 24/7/365 days a year, but they don’t pay the service fee to the home warranty company. Instead, you pay the technician directly when they come out to your house. 2-10 is the only home warranty company on this list to operate this way.
Within 48 hours of placing a claim, 2-10 promises to assign a service technician. However, instead of setting up the appointment for you, 2-10 leaves the ball in your court. The technician reaches out, and you set up the appointment with them whenever it fits in their schedule. While some homeowners may like this unusual process, others may not like the extra steps.
Service is only available within normal business hours and not on nights and weekends. If you want someone to come for a non-emergency outside business hours, you have to pay any overtime or additional fees. 2-10 only responds faster and for their standard service fee if it’s an emergency.
Their contract states that an emergency can occur when there is no electricity, gas, or water when the toilet isn’t working, or during a condition that endangers someone’s health and safety. I also verified this in their online contract. If it’s an emergency, 2-10 tries to get someone out within 24 hours, and some online reviewers say the company stuck to this timeframe.
2-10 Home Warranty makes a full sample contract available to homeowners online so they can make sure nothing hides in the fine print. Their website works to educate consumers with comprehensive FAQs. They also have reasonable and normal exclusions, so they scored high at a 9.4/10 in this category.
Exclusions
All of 2-10’s plans have the following exclusions:
- Failure to perform routine maintenance
- Appliances not located in the primary kitchen, excluding the washer and dryer
- Collapsed ductwork
- Commercial-grade or professional equipment
- Corrections of building, fire, and zoning violations
- Damage due to fire or freezing
- Duplicate appliances, unless add-ons are purchased
- Hazardous materials, such as asbestos
- Matching features of current systems that are not directly related to the primary function of that system or appliance
- Repair of cosmetic defects
A failure to perform routine maintenance could exclude an appliance or system from coverage, despite 2-10’s generous clause that doesn’t exclude preexisting conditions. Because of this, I’d advise keeping good maintenance records.
Their contract excludes coverage for any wiring or other electrical items located outside the serviceable area, any claim related to water seepage along service cable, telephone wiring or equipment, data wiring or equipment, meter boxes, electronics, computerized energy management systems, appliance management systems, whole house fans, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, belts, shutters, and filters for attic/ceiling/exhaust fans, central vacuum system, Wi-Fi or internet connectivity or functionality, doorbells in intercoms or with cameras, garage door track/rail assembly, rollers, or physical damage. It also excludes all components of each of these items and/or systems.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
If you buy a policy with 2-10, you must use their network. Contracts only allow homeowners to pick their own technician if they have no local technicians in their network. If they don’t already have someone approved, you have to find a licensed and insured technician, and you’re responsible for any difference in cost between your technician and what 2-10 would pay someone in-network. With restrictions like these, you could be left in the dark wondering what your total cost for a repair will be, which isn’t the uncertainty you want with a home warranty provider.
Calculate the Cost of a Home Warranty for Electrical Systems
Use our home warranty cost calculator to help determine your annual cost for a new home warranty plan. Just type in your monthly premium, the number of service visits you expect in a year, and the service call fee, then the tool will output your complete yearly cost.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whether or not you need a home warranty for electrical systems depends on many factors, from how old your home is to if you’ve had issues with electrical systems in the past. While many home warranty companies exclude preexisting problems you could have known about, you may have no idea what’s lurking in the walls. A home warranty covers the unknowable, which could be a short circuit in an outlet.
The average cost for a home warranty for electrical conditions will vary depending on whether you buy a comprehensive plan or one for just home systems. As part of a comprehensive plan, the average cost is $79, according to Today’s Homeowner’s calculations based on the pricing above. A home warranty’s price can increase if you pick more add-ons or decrease if you choose a higher service fee.
If you’re shopping for a home warranty, you’re likely looking to save money on repairs and your policy. To save money on your plan, carefully pick the add-ons you really need. Add-ons can send your monthly fees over $100 a month for a basic plan. Also, shop for a home warranty over a holiday weekend, like Memorial Day or Labor Day. Many companies offer discounts on holidays, for auto-renewal, or if you pay for multiple years in advance.
A home warranty that covers electrical systems means that you can sleep easier at night knowing one of the most important systems in your home has protection. If the electricity goes out, the food in your refrigerator goes bad. When evaluating if a home warranty is worth it, compare the total cost of the warranty to what you’ve paid for recent repairs. You’ll likely find that the warranty saves you money in the long run.
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