Constellation Home, formerly known as BGE Home, has over 30 years of experience providing home warranty services to customers in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Unlike many providers, it offers customizable plans that include bundled options and coverage for individual appliances.
In this article, we’ll evaluate Constellation Home’s warranty plans, including coverage, costs, and policy features. By comparing it against top national home warranty providers, we’ll help you determine if it’s the right company for you.
Pros and Cons of Constellation Home
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of Constellation Home below:
Pros
- Doesn’t charge a service fee for HVAC or appliance service calls
- Offers plans for individual appliances and systems throughout your home
- Provides 24-hour emergency services
Cons
- Limits coverage to Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas, while other providers are available in most states
- Doesn’t cover the cost of appliance or system replacement
- Charges a $75 fee if a non-emergency service call is performed outside of normal working hours
What Plans and Coverage Does Constellation Home Offer?
Constellation Home offers both Individual Protection Plans and bundled Smart Service Plans. Individual Protection Plans cover a single selected appliance or system, such as a washer or refrigerator.
In contrast, Smart Service Plans cover a specific group of appliances and systems, including heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters, and major home appliances. These bundled plans offer comprehensive protection for multiple home systems, guaranteeing essential items such as your HVAC and water heater have coverage under a single plan.
In addition, Constellation Home provides the flexibility to choose the brand of your replacement appliance or system, offering more freedom than traditional home warranty plans. This flexibility allows you to select a brand that aligns with your preferences and existing home appliances, ensuring compatibility and satisfaction with the replacement.
Constellation Home Individual Protection Plans
An Individual Protection Plan allows customers to receive coverage for repairing a specific appliance or system. Constellation Home offers Individual Protection Plans on the following items:
- Central air conditioning and heat pump (outdoor unit)
- Gas heat system (forced warm air, hot water, or steam)
- Whole-house air cleaner and humidifier
- Water heater (electric or gas)
- Heat pump water heater
- Tankless water heater
- Washer
- Dryer (electric or gas)
- Range (electric or natural gas)
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
Constellation Home Smart Service Plans
Constellation offers eight Smart Service Plans that cover combined coverage of appliances and systems:
- Electrical and Plumbing: This plan covers plumbing and electrical components, such as exposed interior wiring, panels, leaks in exposed water lines, and toilet mechanisms.
- Home Comfort: The Home Comfort Plan protects your heating and air conditioning system and water heater. It also includes a free annual heating and cooling system efficiency tune-up.
- Kitchen: This plan covers three kitchen appliances: the refrigerator, oven, and range.
- Laundry: The Laundry Plan covers your washer, dryer, and water heater.
- Select Service: This plan covers your home’s water heater, air conditioner, and heating unit. It also offers a 20% discount on annual heating and cooling system efficiency tune-ups.
- Water Line and Sewer Line: This plan protects your home’s water and sewer lines.
- Well Pump: This plan protects your well pump system, including the drain valve, relief valve, and pressure switch.
- Whole House: This comprehensive plan covers your heating and air conditioning system, water heater, washer and dryer, refrigerator, range, and dishwasher.
Constellation also lists the following benefits with its Smart Service Plans:
- Certified technicians: Access to a network of local, certified technicians for reliable service.
- Discounts: Available savings include 10% off a heating and air conditioning full system replacement and 10% off any plumbing or electrical service call.
- Emergency service: Customers have access to 24-hour emergency repair services.
- Exclusive promotions: Notification of special Constellation promotions for additional savings.
- Priority service scheduling: Access to priority service scheduling for timely assistance.
- Safe, reliable service: Commitment to providing safe and dependable service.
- Unlimited service calls: No limit on the number of service calls.
- Workmanship coverage: Complete parts and labor coverage for any service call.
How Much Does Constellation Home Cost?
The cost of a Constellation Home warranty depends on the plan you choose. For an Individual Protection Plan, pricing varies based on the make, model, and type of appliance or system. You can request a free estimate for these plans directly on the Constellation website.
Pricing for the Smart Service Plans ranges from $10 to $55 per month, with the more comprehensive plans costing more. This aligns with typical home warranty costs, which generally range from $47 to $82 per month. Some plans may include extra charges, such as service fees for specific systems, like the Electrical and Plumbing Service Plan.
You can view pricing for the Smart Service Plans below:
| Package | Starting Monthly Cost | Deductible |
|---|---|---|
|
Home Comfort |
$32 |
$0 |
|
Select Service |
$26 |
$0 |
|
Electrical and Plumbing |
$20 |
$50 |
|
Water Line and Sewer Line |
$10 |
$0 |
|
Well Pump |
$7 |
$0 |
|
Whole House |
$55 |
$0 |
|
Laundry |
$15 |
$0 |
|
Kitchen |
$18 |
$0 |
Unlike many home warranty companies that require a $75–$125 service call fee for each technician visit, Constellation Home offers plans without a deductible for all packages except the Electrical and Plumbing Package, which has a $50 service fee.
What Do Customers Say About Constellation Home?
Constellation currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). They are very active and responsive on the consumer reviews site, resolving all complaints filed against them. Constellation has mixed reviews, with some customers praising quick repair times, while others have experienced longer repair times due to part availability.
We’ve included a few BBB reviews from Constellation customers below. Note that the company changed its name from BGE Home to Constellation Home in 2022.
“I own several rental properties and have had BGE Home for years. With their HVAC service contracts, service has always been within 24 hours and repairs professionally accomplished. I have had no bad experiences with them at all.” —Paul R. via BBB
“Called BGE Home Monday a week ago that we had no heat—it’s a week later and still no heat. Said they will come tomorrow to put on the new part—shouldn’t have to wait a week.” —Martha H. via BBB
How To Choose the Right Home Warranty Company
Choosing the right home warranty company involves more than just comparing prices. You need to weigh factors like service reputation, coverage clarity, and regional availability to find a plan that aligns with your home’s needs and your budget. Use the list below to guide your home warranty buying process.
- Check if the company’s coverage options and exclusions fit your needs. You can find lists of covered appliances and any excluded types or makes on the company’s site or by requesting its residential service contracts.
- Be sure to confirm you live in a state the company serves. Only a few providers sell plans in all 50 states.
- Consider the home warranty cost and terms. For example, some providers charge a flat service call fee, while others let you choose from an adjusted range.
- Research each company’s service reputation and credentials by checking customer reviews as well as ratings with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.
How Does Constellation Home Compare to the Competition?
While Constellation Home is a reputable home warranty provider, other national home warranty companies may better suit your needs. Here are two top-rated alternatives: American Home Shield and First American Home Warranty. Compare the three companies below:
Provider | Constellation Home | American Home Shield | First American Home Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Get a free quote |
Not available through This Old House |
||
|
Plan options |
Smart Service Plans and Individual Protection Plans |
Three plans and optional add-ons |
Three plans and optional add-ons |
|
Monthly cost |
$6–$52 |
$36–$100 |
$77–$130 |
|
Service call fee |
$0 or $50 |
$100–$125 |
$100–$125 |
|
Additional benefits |
Discount on a heating and air conditioning full system replacement |
Offers protection for items with preexisting conditions |
Covers items that have been improperly installed, modified, or maintained |
Because plan pricing varies based on where you live, the type of plan you choose, and how large your home is, we recommend getting quotes from each provider before buying a plan.
Constellation Home Review Key Takeaways
Constellation Home Warranty offers a variety of plans for appliance and system coverage, but they can be more expensive compared to similar offerings by other home warranty companies. This makes them a less attractive option for budget-conscious individuals seeking comprehensive coverage.
Constellation also guarantees 24/7 emergency service. However, its regular service hours remain limited. It’s available only from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. If you request a service call outside these hours, the company may charge you a $75 service call fee.
Another notable drawback is that Constellation restricts its coverage to homeowners in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas. If you live outside these four states, you won’t have access to the company’s warranty services.
Our Recommended Provider: American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS), established in 1971, is a leading provider in the home warranty industry, offering extensive coverage options to homeowners across the U.S. As a unique benefit, American Home Shield covers undetectable pre-existing conditions. This means the company will repair or replace a covered item without requiring maintenance records if it fails due to a flaw that couldn’t have been detected during a visual inspection or basic test. This protection is especially beneficial for homeowners with older homes or appliances, as many other home warranty providers exclude these conditions from coverage.
FAQs About Constellation Home
Does Constellation cover preexisting conditions?
No, according to its sample contract, Constellation doesn’t cover systems or appliances with pre-existing conditions, faulty design, or improper installation.
How do I cancel my Constellation policy?
You can cancel your contract at any time with a written notice to Constellation Home or by calling Customer Care during normal business hours. If you cancel within the first 30 days of service and no service calls have been made, you’ll receive a full refund.
Do I need a Constellation home warranty if I have homeowners insurance?
It’s recommended that you buy a home warranty even if you have homeowners insurance to cover repairs and replacements on major systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance only covers structural damage to your house from fire, natural disasters, or theft.
Related Resources
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Georgia
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Maryland
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Pennsylvania
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Texas
Our Rating Methodology
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looks at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage is, including whether it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deducted points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.
