Platinum Home Warranty is a local home warranty provider available only in Arizona. The Scottsdale-based company stands out by using its own staff repair technicians instead of outsourcing to third-party contractors. This means they can ensure a consistent quality of service.
The company is all about providing specialized, local care, which makes it a standout Arizona home warranty. But does its service offering measure up to the competition, and is it the best fit for you? We’ll break down Platinum Home Warranty’s plans, pricing, and key features to help you decide if it’s the best home warranty for your needs.
Platinum Home Warranty Plans and Coverage
Platinum Home Warranty offers coverage for:
- Single-family homes under 5,000 square feet
- Coverage for condos, townhomes, and mobile homes
- Duplex, triplex, and fourplex buildings
- Single-family homes larger than 5,000 square feet
- Newly built homes
Customers can choose from three levels of plans: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Platinum Home Warranty Plans
| Systems and Appliances | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning system coverage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermostat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork repair | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing blockages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heater (up to 80 gallons in size) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilet tank and bowl replacement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical panels and breakers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Light switches and electrical outlooks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oven / range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trash compactor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exhaust fans / ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doorbell | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pest control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Re-keying | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crane fees | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Haul away | ✓ | ||
| Additional modification coverage | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Disposal fees | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Permits | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Improper installations and mismatched units | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Additional plumbing coverage | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Enhanced garage door coverage | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ||
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ||
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ||
| Ice maker | ✓ | ||
| One pre-season HVAC system check-up at no additional charge | ✓ |
Note: Customers who purchase the Bronze or Silver plan can add coverage of their laundry appliances or refrigerator.
Homeowners can also select optional coverage for the following items:
- Clothes washer and dryer
- Refrigerator and icemaker
- Built-in pool and spa
- Additional pool or water feature
- Saltwater pool system upgrade
- Septic coverage
- Soft water system
- Drip and sprinkler system
- Additional dishwasher
- Additional garage door opener
Platinum Home Warranty also offers coverage for a guest house, whether it’s a detached unit or an attached unit.
Additional Services
In addition to offering home warranty coverage, Platinum Home Warranty has other services available. Warranty customers receive a 20% discount on non-warranty services they have performed by Platinum’s in-house technicians.
Platinum techs are available to perform:
- HVAC coil cleanings and duct cleanings
- Plumbing fixture upgrades
- Plumbing leaks and blockages services
- Thermostat upgrades
- Garbage disposal services
Homeowners can also purchase water heaters and air conditioning units through Platinum Home Warranty. The company offers low-interest financing for these purchases.
How Much Does Platinum Home Warranty Cost?
When you purchase a home warranty, there are several different expenses you need to be aware of: the premium, service fees, and coverage caps.
| Plan | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium | Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $479 | $45.91 | $75 |
| Silver | $599 | $55.91 | $75 |
| Gold | $779 | $70.91 | $75 |
Premiums
All home warranties charge a premium, which is the monthly or annual cost of purchasing the contract. On average, home warranties usually cost between $558 and $649 per year, depending on the level of coverage.
The premium for a basic warranty from Platinum Home Warranty is on the high side of industry averages. However, Platinum Home Warranty’s basic plan covers things like pest control and re-keying, which are not normally included in basic plans.
For a single-family home under 5,000 square feet, Platinum Home Warranty’s premiums are as follows:
- Bronze: $479 per year, or $45.91 per month
- Silver: $599 per year, or $55.91 per month
- Gold: $779 per year, or $70.91 per month
If you pay the lump-sum, once-a-year payment, you could save 10% compared with making monthly payments.
Service Fees
When a covered appliance or system fails and you report the issue, the home warranty company sends out a repair technician. You’ll have to pay a service fee for the repair visit. On average, companies in this industry charge service fees between $75 and $125.
All Platinum Home Warranty plans set the service fee at $75, which matches the industry average.
Coverage Limits
Warranty companies also set a limit, or cap, on how much they will pay for many repairs or replacements. The caps vary by appliance. For instance, a home warranty company will usually pay more to replace a heating system than an oven.
Platinum outlines its coverage limits in the terms and conditions of the contract, which is available online, but here’s a look at what some of those coverage caps look like:
- Repair/replacement of HVAC unit: $2,000
- Repair/replacement of water heater: $1,500
- Repair/replacement of electrical system: $1,500
The Premium Plus coverage also places limits on some of the covered services. These caps include:
- Crane fees: $250 per contract term
- Permits: $250 per contract term
- Haul-away fees: $100 per occurrence with a maximum of $500 per contract term
What Is the Platinum Home Warranty Quote Process?
The Platinum Home Warranty website clearly outlines the cost structure and options for most homes it covers. That makes it easy to determine what your desired coverage would cost.
To purchase Platinum Home Warranty coverage online, click the “Order Warranty” button on the top of the website and fill out some basic information to see the annual or monthly cost of your desired service contract. Owners of very large homes or people buying newly built homes can call the company to receive a customized quote.
What Is the Platinum Home Warranty Claims Process?
If you have a home warranty through Platinum Home Warranty, there are two ways to submit a claim.
You can report the issue through the online service request form, or you can call the service center.
The service center is staffed by live operators at all hours. If you need emergency service, the company asks that you call for immediate service.
Platinum has repair technicians on call for urgent service seven days a week between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. If the call isn’t considered an emergency, the company says it will “make every reasonable effort to be out to your property within 24 hours” or will aim to have a contractor out the next business day if you report the issue over the weekend.
Here’s what the claims process looks like:
- When the company receives a service request, the customer support person stamps the time the request was received and schedules a service tech as soon as possible.
- The service tech will visit your home and diagnose the issue. Repair vans are stocked with common parts, so if the part you need is on the van, the service person will install it immediately.
- If a special part has to be ordered, the technician will return and install it after it arrives.
- If the repair is beyond what the warranty covers, you can choose to bring in your own repair person or pay Platinum to do the work. If Platinum does the repair, you’ll be charged for it. If you bring in another repair person, you’ll have to pay the $75 fee for the service call from Platinum.
Platinum Home Warranty Reviews
Platinum Home Warranty is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds an impressive A rating from the organization. Customers rate Platinum Home Warranty almost a full 5 stars, with many glowing reviews. Platinum Home Warranty leaves personalized responses to both positive and negative reviews.
Positive reviews praise the company for its professional and easy service, punctual and friendly repair technicians who provide thorough explanations, and an overall excellent experience that has led to multiple customer referrals and renewed contracts.
“The service they provided was very professional and easy. The tech, Serena, was very professional and polite. She troubleshooted and explained the problem. She made the repairs and checked it to ensure it fixed the problem. I would highly recommend Platinum Home Warranty to protect your home investment. We will be renewing our warranty once the current plan expires.” — Joseph S., via BBB
“I began using Platinum 3 years ago and found them excellent. During the past two years, they’ve begun using their own repair folks and the service has improved even more. The repair folks have always been on time and have been friendly and helpful in explaining what they’re doing and what to expect. I’ve already recommended them to two folks and will continue to do so.” — Norm L., via BBB
How Does a Home Warranty Work?
A home warranty works by acting as a repair agreement between you and a provider, covering essential household items. When a covered item breaks, you file a claim. The company verifies it’s covered and then sends a technician. Depending on how much the repair or replacement costs, you pay only a service fee, not the total repair or replacement costs. Expect to pay part of the repair or replacement if your broken item exceeds the provider’s payout limit for that item. You can find these terms inside a provider’s residential service contract.
Most home warranty plans cover major systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, as well as appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and washers. Some providers offer optional coverage for additional items like pools, septic systems, or roof leaks.
Our Final Platinum Home Warranty Review
As a small, local home warranty company, Platinum Home Warranty seems to have a good grasp on what Arizona residents need. For instance, the company understands the importance of air conditioning in a desert environment. Platinum Home Warranty also seems to live up to its customer service claims. The company offers a wide range of coverage, and the optional add-ons available make it possible for anyone to customize a home warranty.
However, the company only operates in Arizona, which means it’s not an option for any resident outside of Arizona. Also, the cost of a Platinum service contract is on the high side of industry averages. While it covers extras like pest control and rekeying, some homeowners may not want extra cost built into their premium to pay for extras they don’t actually care about.
If you live outside of Platinum’s service area, we recommend considering American Home Shield (AHS). AHS offers comprehensive home protection and several service fee options to customize your monthly premium.
FAQs About Home Warranties
What is a home warranty?
A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of appliances and home systems. With a home warranty, you have peace of mind that you won’t have to cover the entire bill if a covered system or appliance quits working. For a deeper insight into these contracts and their benefits, explore our article on the fundamentals of home warranties.
What does Platinum Home Warranty cover?
Platinum covers most major home systems and appliances, such as air conditioning, heating, refrigerators, and dishwashers. It also offers some maintenance services such as pest control and HVAC maintenance.
A Platinum warranty does not cover improper installation, improper maintenance, damage from pets or pests, acts of God, manufacturer recalls, obsolete parts, or cosmetic repairs.
Does Platinum offer coverage for homes over 5,000 square feet?
Yes, homes over 5,000 square feet require custom quotes. We suggest calling Platinum directly for more information on covering larger homes
How quickly do home warranties process claims?
Typically, home warranties process claims within 24–48 hours of receiving them. However, the date and time of day you file a claim affects how quickly a provider can process it. For instance, if you file a claim during a holiday or after hours, expect a delay.
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.