Founded in 1999 by an experienced appliance repair professional, Home Warranty Inc., also known as Home Warranty of the Midwest, offers comprehensive home protection plans across 46 U.S. states. Headquartered in Iowa, the company aims to bridge the coverage gaps left by standard homeowners insurance, providing financial assistance for unexpected repairs and replacements of essential home systems and appliances.
In this review, we’ll assess Home Warranty Inc.’s plans, pricing, coverage, and reputation compared to top national providers.
Our Take on Home Warranty Inc.
Home Warranty Inc. offers strong coverage options and flexibility, making it a solid choice for homeowners in the Midwest. With three plan choices, customers can select coverage that best fits their needs, whether they’re looking for home appliance protection, home systems coverage, or a more comprehensive plan.
One of Home Warranty Inc.’s biggest advantages is its immediate coverage—if you purchase an annual plan, you can start filing claims right after your first payment, eliminating the typical 30-day waiting period. The company also covers undetectable preexisting conditions, or issues that were not apparent during the inspection, providing added confidence for homeowners concerned about hidden problems.
We also found some terms and conditions to be complex or inconsistent, especially with differing plan names. The company also doesn’t disclose some pricing information or coverage limits, making it essential for customers to carefully review their home warranty contract or speak with a representative to avoid unexpected exclusions or hidden fees.
Pros and Cons of Home Warranty Inc.
Pros
- Doesn’t limit coverage based on the square footage of your home
- Coverage starts upon payment, while many competitors have a waiting period
- Allows you to pick your own contractor
Cons
- Doesn’t disclose full contract details online
- Vary plans details and rates based on location
Home Warranty Inc. Plans and Coverage
Home Warranty Inc. offers three home warranty coverage levels: the Home Protection Plan, Executive Protection Plan, and Supplemental Home Protection Plan. Some plans offer the flexibility to choose your own technician and use the approved repair cost towards a new appliance—both distinctive features in the industry. Plan terms last from 14 months to up to 10 years.
Home Protection Plan
Home Warranty Inc. considers the Home Protection Plan its most popular option. The plan has no limitations on square footage, which means you don’t have to pay extra even if your house is above 5,000 square feet. This package covers 15 home systems and appliances, including plumbing, clothes washers and dryers, and ductwork. The company recommends this plan for new homeowners.
Executive Protection Plan
This next plan tier includes the Home Protection Plan coverage while expanding protection to 26 home systems and appliances. With this enhanced plan, homeowners can safeguard critical components like their gas fireplace, wine or beverage cooler, and jetted bathtub.
Additional Included Coverage
This plan also includes the following packages:
- Buyer Premium Upgrade: This package covers additional services such as item haul away and disposal, failures due to lack of maintenance or sediment and scale, and code violations and permits. It also includes coverage for toilet replacement, bathroom exhaust fans, dish racks, appliance handles and knobs, and window air conditioning (AC) units. Emergency coverage includes portable heating units and up to five nights of lodging. This upgrade excludes coverage for expansion tanks and specific appliance parts like rotisseries and rollers.
- Enhanced HVAC Plus: This package adds up to $2,500 in HVAC coverage to the Home Protection Plan (which is automatically included in the Executive Plan). The upgrade covers haul away and disposal, failures due to lack of routine maintenance, a condensate pump, and crane use. The plan also covers system modifications for R410A refrigerant compatibility, an initial refrigerant charge (up to $20 per pound), and refrigerant conversion due to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations. Additionally, the upgrade provides labor concessions for items under the manufacturer’s warranty.
- SurgeShield Program and SurgeShield Plus: The SurgeShield Program protects motor-driven appliances in your home, including air conditioners, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens and ranges, refrigerators, and more. The SurgeShield Plus plan extends coverage to include all items in the standard program plus electronics such as televisions, computers, tablets, digital cameras, gaming systems, home theaters, and additional devices. SurgeShield Plus is included with the Executive Protection Plan.
Supplemental Home Protection Plan
This plan provides focused coverage for 13 key appliances and systems. While it offers less comprehensive protection, it is a more affordable home warranty option for budget-conscious homeowners. The company recommends this plan for long-term homeowners.
Coverage Breakdown By Plan
Below is an overview of each Home Warranty Inc. plan:
| Item | Home Protection Plan | Executive Protection Plan | Supplemental Protection Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air exchanger | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in or over-the-range microwave | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Buyer Premium Upgrade | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Central vacuum | 𝗫 | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Enhanced HVAC Plus | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Exterior water and gas lines | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Garage door opener | 𝗫 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gas fireplace | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Heating and cooling units (2 each) | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Heating and cooling unit (primary) | 𝗫 | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Interior electrical wiring | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Interior plumbing | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Jetted bathtub | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Kitchen refrigerator | 𝗫 | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Kitchen refrigerator with ice maker | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Lawn sprinkler system | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Range/oven/cooktop stove | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sump pump | ✔ | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| SurgeShield Plus (appliances and electronics) | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Trash compactor | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Undetectable preexisting condition | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water heater (tankless included) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water softener | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
| Wine refrigerator or beverage cooler | 𝗫 | ✔ | 𝗫 |
Home Warranty Inc. offers coverage for systems and appliances with unknown preexisting conditions at no additional cost—provided you submit a satisfactory inspection report from a qualified home inspector. However, if the inspection reveals preexisting damage, you must get the affected items repaired before the company will extend coverage. You must submit a proof of repair to Home Warranty Inc. for the items to qualify for coverage.
There is a limit to how much Home Warranty Inc. will pay for each covered item, which resets at the end of each contract term. However, the company does not provide these coverage limits on its website. We recommend calling for a quote or requesting a sample of the home warranty contract.
Optional Add-Ons
The company offers both individual add-ons and add-on packages to extend your coverage. You can add the following individual items to your plans:
Home Protection Plan or Executive Protection Plan:
- Extra heat pump
- Extra heating or cooling unit
- Extra kitchen and laundry appliances
- Extra water heater
- Limited roof leak repair
- Limited slab leak repair
- Pool or spa
- Septic system pumping
- Septic tank and pump
- Well pump
Home Protection Plan Only:
- Buyer Premium Upgrade
- Enhanced HVAC Plus
- Exterior water and gas lines
- Gas fireplace
- Jetted bathtub
- Lawn sprinkler system
- SurgeShield
- SurgeShield Plus
- Water softener
Add-On Packages
Home Warranty Inc. also offers the following add-on packages:
Electronics and Smart Home Protection Plan
- Home Office: Desktop computers, laptops, tablets, printers, routers, and external hard drives
- Home Entertainment: Speakers, TVs and monitors, home theater systems, DVD and Blu-ray players, gaming systems, and peripherals and wearables
- Home Office and Entertainment: Combines both home office and entertainment coverage
- Total Home: Includes all of the above, plus doorbells, door locks, thermostats, security cameras, hubs, and home controllers
Exterior Lines Protection
This package offers coverage for essential lines that power and fuel your home. You can choose from four options:
- Exterior Water Line Coverage: Covers blockages, leaks, low pressure, inoperable stop boxes, shut-off valves, pressure reducing valves, and backflow prevention devices
- Exterior Gas Line Coverage: Protects against broken or leaking natural gas or propane lines between the public utility connection and appliance connectors inside your home
- Exterior Electric Line Coverage: Covers broken, frayed, or failed high-voltage electrical wiring between the foundation wall and the public utility connection
- Exterior Sewer and Septic Line Coverage: Protects septic or sewer lines from the foundation wall to the public utility or tank connection.
Does Home Warranty Inc. Have Coverage Exclusions?
Exclusions are a critical part of home warranty plans. As a general rule of thumb, when a home warranty says it covers a particular appliance or system, like a refrigerator, it may not cover all parts of that item. Before purchasing a home warranty, read through your sample contract to see what components are precluded within each covered item.
Here’s an overview of coverage exclusions for Home Warranty Inc.
- Water heater: Home Warranty Inc. will repair the main unit, exhaust blower assembly, water heater elements, gas control valve, and thermostats. It won’t cover solar water heaters and components or thermal expansion or holding tanks, noises, odors, or the color and purity of water.
- Kitchen refrigerator: Most refrigerator components are covered except ice makers, ice crushers, beverage dispensers, and associated parts. Your refrigerator’s interior thermal shells and liners are also excluded from coverage.
- Built-in or over-the-range microwave: Home Warranty Inc. covers major components and parts of your microwave, except portable convection, infrared, high-speed, or countertop units, interior linings, glass, shelves, or meat probe assemblies.
- Annual furnace inspections: To receive an annual inspection for your furnace, you must be signed up for a plan that includes coverage on this item. Furnace coverage is available under the Appliance Protection Plan. Additionally, you’re only permitted one inspection per agreement and no refund will be provided if you don’t schedule an inspection within the contract period.
Finally, Home Warranty Inc. only covers repairs resulting from wear and tear. Familiarize yourself with the following coverage restriction guidelines. Home Warranty Inc. will not cover:
- Any item located outside the confines of the home, except for air conditioning, heating units, pool, spa equipment, or well pumps
- Damage from toxic materials or asbestos
- Defects from a failure to conduct routine maintenance
- Repair or replacement of an item whose defect is caused by mildew, mold, fungus, or corrosion
- Systems and appliances under the manufacturer’s warranty
- Systems and appliances used for commercial or business use
How Much Does Home Warranty Inc. Cost?
Home Warranty Inc. pricing varies based on your location. For example, its website lists separate plans and pricing for Florida and Washington. According to the website, the Home Protection Plan starts at $595 per year, the Executive Protection Plan costs $895 per year, and the Supplemental Plan costs $30 per month. Compared to national home warranty cost averages ranging from $564–$984 per year, Home Warranty Inc.’s plans are within the typical range, offering competitive pricing for its coverage options.
Add-ons also vary in cost depending on your baseline plan. In general, add-ons are cheaper under the Executive Plan. Below is a breakdown of add-on costs.
| Add-On Coverage | Annual Costs With Home Protection Plan | Annual Costs With Executive Protection Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer Premium Upgrade | $75 | Included |
| Enhanced HVAC Plus | $100 | Included |
| Exterior water and gas lines | $120 | Included |
| Extra heat pump | $150 | $125 |
| Extra heating or cooling unit | $100 | $75 |
| Extra kitchen and laundry appliances | $50 per item | $40 per item |
| Extra water heater | $75 | $60 |
| Gas fireplace | $40 | Included |
| Jetted bathtub | $60 | Included |
| Lawn sprinkler system | $40 | Included |
| Limited roof leak repair | $100 | $100 |
| Limited slab leak repair | $100 | $100 |
| Pool or spa | $200 | $200 |
| Septic system pumping | $75 | $75 |
| Septic tank and pump | $75 | $75 |
| SurgeShield | $84 | Included |
| SurgeShield Plus | $144 | Included |
| Water softener | $50 | Included |
| Well pump | $95 | $95 |
| Wine refrigerator and beverage cooler | $40 | Included |
Costs also vary for the add-on packages depending on the level of coverage you select. Here’s an overview of costs per package:
Electronics and Smart Home Protection Plan
- Home Office: $10 per month or $120 per year
- Home Entertainment: $8 per month or $96 per year
- Home Office and Entertainment: $15 per month or $180 per year
- Total Home: $20 per month or $240 per year
Exterior Lines Protection
- Exterior Water Line Coverage: $5 per month
- Exterior Gas Line Coverage: $5 per month
- Exterior Electric Line Coverage: $5 per month
- Exterior Sewer and Septic Line Coverage: $10 per month
Does Home Warranty Inc. Charge Service Fees?
Home Warranty Inc. charges a $100 service fee per call. This amount goes straight to the contractor assigned to service your claim. Home Warranty Inc. has a 30-day repair warranty. If the equipment fails again after repairs have been performed within 30 days, you can request another home warranty service without paying an additional service fee.
Home Warranty Inc. Reviews
Home Warranty Inc. is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it holds a A+ rating. As with any top home warranty company, Home Warranty Inc. has a mix of positive and negative customer reviews.
While some customers praise Home Warranty Inc. for their responsiveness and cost-saving benefits, others caution that the company’s coverage may be limited without purchasing additional options.
Here are a few Home Warranty Inc. customer testimonials from the BBB:
“We have been using Home Warranty [Inc.] for 7 years. Saved us tons of money. They are responsive, fair, and they don’t hassle you—they cover what they say they will.” —Shannon G. via the BBB
“Choose another company if you can. They make a blanket statement listing covered items. However, unless you want to actually have your appliances fully covered read closely. They get you with the extra buyer options for more and more money just to fully cover an appliance. Choose another place!” —Colleen H. via the BBB
Our Final Take on Home Warranty Inc.
Home Warranty Inc. offers a variety of coverage plans, including the Supplemental Protection Plan, which lets customers customize its coverage, and the Home Protection Plan, where homeowners can use repair costs to replace old, frequently malfunctioning appliances. With no waiting period for coverage to begin when purchasing an annual plan and generous coverage caps, the company provides strong protection for homeowners.
However, Home Warranty Inc. has some drawbacks. The terms and conditions of its plans can be challenging to understand, plus not all details are available online. We recommend contacting a customer representative to clarify any details. It’s essential to carefully review the fine print to avoid hidden fees.
Home Warranty Inc. Alternatives Compared
Our team carefully reviewed 13 leading home warranty providers, each offering comprehensive plans that protect a wide range of home systems and appliances. We prioritized providers with transparent details about their coverage, so homeowners can easily understand what’s included and excluded in their plans. We examined factors such as coverage limits, service call fees, response times, and customer service quality to determine the top-rated providers. Below, you’ll find a list of the companies that stood out based on some of these key factors.
| Company | Logo | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Home ShieldGet Quote |  | B | $36–$100 | $100–$125 | |
Choice Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | B | $60–$68 | $100 | |
Elite Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | B | $45–$60 | $70 ($150 for after hours and weekends) | |
First American Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | B | $77–$130 | $100–$125 | |
AFC Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | B | $44–$82 | $75–$125 | |
Liberty Home GuardGet Quote |  | NR | $57–$68 | $65–$125 | |
Cinch Home ServicesGet Quote |  | B+ | $51–$68 | $100–$150 |
You can read more about some of our top providers in the below reviews:
- American Home Shield Review
- Choice Home Warranty Review
- Elite Home Warranty Review
- First American Home Warranty Review
- AFC Home Warranty
FAQs About Home Warranty Inc.
How do I file a claim with Home Warranty Inc.?
You can file a claim online via a service request form or call a toll free number at 1-877-977-4949. Representatives are available 24/7 to process your service request. Once your claim is approved, you can contact the assigned service company and schedule an appointment with them during business hours. If you choose to schedule an appointment with the contractor during off-hours or request expedited service, you will be responsible for any additional fees.
Which states does Home Warranty Inc. cover?
Home Warranty Inc. provides coverage in the following 46 U.S. states, excluding California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and New York.
Can Home Warranty Inc. customers choose their own technician?
Yes, Home Warranty Inc. allows homeowners to choose their own technician and forgo repairs and put that approved repair cost toward a replacement.
Is a home warranty worth it?
A home warranty is an annual contract that covers repairs and replacements on certain appliances and home systems that break down due to normal wear and tear. These contracts are akin to a financial security blanket that you can rely on when faced with unexpected home repairs and expenses. If you’re a first-time homebuyer and want to protect your home or just want a little more protection on important home items, a home warranty is an ideal option.
Our Rating Methodology
We implemented a detailed rating methodology to evaluate each home warranty company we reviewed. This process involved speaking with company representatives, obtaining quotes, reviewing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and surveys with homeowners. We also conducted secret shopping and tested 11 leading home warranty companies.
Each provider was scored on six key factors we considered the most important when choosing a home warranty. We evaluated each provider on these factors, assigning point values based on their significance to homeowners. Each provider could earn up to 100 points. The final scores were converted into a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage: We evaluated the comprehensiveness of coverage, including standard and unique items. Providers with more extensive coverage and higher annual limits scored higher. We deducted points for providers with long waiting periods or depreciation policies that reduce payouts for aging items.
- Cost: We reviewed average monthly premiums and service call fees. Companies with pricing at or below the industry average without extra fees earned the most points.
- Trustworthiness: We examined customer ratings on platforms like the BBB and Trustpilot and company responses to complaints. Providers with higher ratings and longer workmanship guarantees scored higher, while ongoing legal issues led to point deductions.
- Plan transparency: We reviewed contract terms, policies, and disclosures. Providers with clear and transparent details received higher scores.
- Customer support: We assessed the number of claims filing options, response times, and customer support accessibility.
- Flexibility: We gave more points to providers with more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.