If you’re looking for a home warranty company in Texas, specifically Houston, keep reading to learn about top home warranty providers, coverage and pricing, and how to purchase a home warranty in the Houston area.
Best Home Warranty Companies in Houston
Most comprehensive home warranty companies offer multiple plans to fit your home protection needs. The following providers do just that, offering you quality home warranty coverage at affordable prices in the Houston area.
1. American Home Shield
With over 50 years in the home warranty industry, American Home Shield (AHS) has become a trusted home warranty provider in the United States, offering 24/7 customer service and comprehensive coverage through three distinct plans.
ShieldSilver™: This plan covers home systems, such as your electrical and plumbing systems. ShieldGold™: This plan adds coverage for appliances to the ShieldSilver plan’s coverage, totaling 23 items covered. ShieldPlatinum™: This plan covers the same items as the ShieldGold plan and increases coverage caps across the board. The ShieldPlatinum also includes a free HVAC tune-up and roof leak coverage.
Compare plan pricing for American Home Shield below: For an additional cost, American Home Shield customers can also include coverage for these five items:
Electronic extended warranty Pool and spas Well pump Septic pump Guest unit
In addition to paying a monthly premium, you’ll pay a service call fee, a one-time cost paid to the contractor when they examine the appliance or system in question. American Home Shield allows customers to select their own service fee: $75, $100, $125. Typically, a higher service fee means a lower monthly payment, while a lower service fee increases the monthly cost.
2. Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty (CHW) offers affordable coverage through their two plans, the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. Both plans provide comprehensive appliance and system coverage, regardless of the age of your home and its appliances, so long as you’ve properly maintained them.
Basic Plan—This plan provides coverage for 14 home systems and appliances, though it doesn’t cover your air conditioning, refrigerator, or clothes washer and dryer. This coverage option will cost you around $36 a month. Total Plan—The Total Plan covers 18 of your home’s major systems and appliances, including the heating system, refrigerator, and dishwasher. This coverage option will cost around $43.85 a month.
For an additional monthly fee, CHW provides add-on coverage for the following items:
Pool and spa Central vacuum Second refrigerator Well pump Limited roof leaks Stand alone freezer Sump pump Septic system Septic tank pumping
Note: Choice requires customers to pay technicians a service fee between $60–$85.
3. The Home Service Club
As a newcomer in the home warranty industry, The Home Service Club (HSC) has made a name for itself by providing extensive protection on major appliances and systems. The company offers two simple home warranty plans, a Standard Plan and Comprehensive Plan, which are outlined below.
Standard Plan—The Standard Plan includes coverage on 18 essential appliances and systems within your home, like the refrigerator and electrical system. The plan costs $45.95 a month. Comprehensive Plan—Comprehensive coverage includes everything in the Standard Plan, plus coverage on an additional 12 appliances and systems, such as doorbells and sump pumps. Coverage with this plan costs $60.95 per month.
Along with the cost of your selected plan, you’ll have to pay a service fee of $85 every time a contractor comes out to your home to fix a broken system or appliance. For an additional monthly cost, The Home Service Club offers optional coverage for the following items:
Roof coverage Jetted bathtub Well pump Sewage ejector pump Pool or spa Water softener Freestanding freezer Spa and spa heater Sprinkler system Freestanding additional refrigerator Refrigerator built-in units with dual compressors Utility line coverage
Benefits of a Home Warranty in Houston, Texas
In Houston, the weather ranges from mild winters to severe heat and humidity in the summertime. Due to the extreme heat during the summer months, it’s important to maintain a fully functioning air conditioner to protect you and your home from the harsh weather conditions. Purchasing a home warranty takes on the burden of repairing or replacing a failed home system or appliance, such as your air conditioner, if it breaks down unexpectedly in the middle of summer. Not to mention, having a home warranty saves you the time from having to look for a trusted contractor yourself and gives you access to an entire network of repair professionals.
What Does a Home Warranty Cover in Houston?
Home warranties in Houston can vary in coverage and price depending on your selected plan, however, a typical plan usually covers the following items:
Plumbing HVAC system Air conditioner Electrical system Refrigerator Water heater Dishwasher Built-in microwave Clothes washer Clothes dryer Oven/Stove/Range Trash compactor Garage door opener
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost in Houston?
The price of your home warranty will vary based on the plan you select and number of items it covers. If you choose a plan with a lower service fee, or choose to cover optional items, you may pay a higher monthly premium. On average, a home warranty usually costs $300–$600 per year. If you choose a basic plan with minimal coverage, you’ll likely pay closer to $300. If you opt for a more comprehensive plan with optional coverage, you’ll pay more.
Our Conclusion
All the home warranty providers mentioned above offer home protection plans that cover major systems and appliances in your Houston home. To ensure you select the home warranty company that best fits your needs, we suggest reading a sample contract before signing up for coverage and receiving quotes from all three providers and comparing coverage specifics and plan pricing. What’s the difference between a home warranty and homeowner’s insurance? Homeowner’s insurance, usually referred to as home insurance, is a requirement by most mortgage lenders and is bundled inside your monthly mortgage payment. While homeowner’s insurance covers structural damage to your home from a fire or natural disaster, a home warranty covers your home’s major systems and appliances if they need repair or replacement. Is a home warranty necessary? A home warranty isn’t mandatory, but we recommend getting one to protect your home’s important appliances and systems. Along with covering the cost of repairing or replacing a broken appliance or system, a home warranty gives you peace of mind by removing the hassle of scheduling repairs and paying for expensive repair or replacement costs. How long do home warranties last? A home warranty typically lasts for a year, though you can usually opt into a multi-year contract for a more affordable price. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
