Best Home Warranties for Appliances

Our 4 picks for appliance home warranty companies

• Best for appliances overall: Regency Total Warranty
• Best for workmanship guarantee: Cinch Home Services
• Best for high coverage limits: Old Republic Home Warranty
• Best for customer service: American Home Shield

Compare the best home warranties for appliances

Home warranty providers for appliances: a guide

Repair and replacement costs add up when your fridge stops cooling or your dishwasher breaks mid-cycle. A home warranty for appliances can help cover costs for a small monthly fee, so you won’t have to pay a high unexpected repair bill out of pocket.

Below, we’ll walk you through choosing the right coverage, understanding what warranties include and deciding if appliance protection fits your needs.

Home warranty coverage for appliances

Appliance-only home warranties cover specific appliances in your home. A full or combo home warranty plan covers both appliances and major home systems.

Home warranty coverage for appliances covers repairs or replacements from normal wear and tear. This typically includes internal parts, such as motors, switches and heating elements that fail over time, though every contract outlines which parts it will cover and not cover.

Types of appliances that are covered

Most home warranty plans protect major home appliances, including:

• Refrigerators

• Washing machines

• Dryers

• Dishwashers

• Ovens, ranges and cooktops

• Built-in microwaves

• Garbage disposals

• Trash compactors

• Stand-alone freezers

Types of appliances that are not covered

Home warranty plans don’t cover small home appliances, such as:

• Toasters and toaster ovens

• Blenders

• Coffee makers

• Air fryers

Some home warranties also don’t cover ice makers or wine fridges.

Do home warranties cover high-end appliances?

Many home warranties cover high-end appliances, though you may need to upgrade to premium coverage to increase coverage caps. Some home warranties explicitly exclude certain types of luxury appliances, such as built-in fridges.

Home warranty appliance exclusions and limitations

Home warranties for appliances have exclusions and limitations, which are listed in your contract.

Exclusions

Home warranties typically exclude:

• Damage from misuse, abuse, lack of maintenance, accidents, natural disasters or improper installation

• Preexisting conditions, which are issues that existed before coverage started

• Cosmetic issues, such as scratches, dents or rust

• Appliances still under a manufacturer’s warranty

An implied warranty covers your appliance even if there's no written warranty. Coverage varies by state, but some implied warranties last as long as four years.

Limitations

Home warranties also have certain limitations for the appliance coverage they provide. They typically only cover up to a certain dollar amount per appliance, which may not cover the full repair or replacement cost for high-end or luxury appliances.

To help you determine if a home warranty company has reasonable limitations, here are average repair costs for some appliances.

• Refrigerators: $300 to $500

• Dishwashers: $160 to $300

• Washing machines: $150 to $500

• Dryers: $50 to $800

How to choose a home warranty for appliances

Choose a home warranty for appliances by assessing your home’s appliances, including their ages, condition and expected lifetime. Then, think about your coverage needs, compare providers, read reviews and check contracts to find reliable protection.

1. List your appliances and assess their condition

Appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers and dishwasher can experience frequent breakdowns. Compare the cost of a home warranty to the cost of repairs for your specific model of appliances to see how much a warranty could save you.

Walk through your home and make a list of your appliances so you can assess their condition. Make sure to note major appliances like your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, washer, dryer and any others you want coverage for.

Note how old each appliance is. Age is a good predictor of when breakdowns might happen, along with how long an appliance might last.

2. Consider what coverage you want

Once you have a clear picture of which appliances need coverage, you’ll need to consider what type of coverage you want.

• Appliances-only plan: Choose this option if your home systems, such as your plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, are in good shape

• Combination plan: Choose this option if you want full coverage for both appliances and home systems

3. Collect and compare quotes

Reach out to three to five home warranty companies to collect and compare quotes so you know what coverage will cost you. Also, look for service fees or deductibles since you’ll need to pay this each time a technician comes out to fix something.

Plans with higher service fees typically have lower monthly premiums, which can work in your favor if you don't expect many repairs. If you think you'll need several service calls per year, a lower service fee might save you money, even with a higher monthly cost.

4. Check customer reviews and company reputation

Check out a company’s reputation online by reading customer reviews. Reading what other customers have experienced can give you insight into how a company handles claims and service. Look for common themes about whether companies approve claims fairly, send skilled contractors and respond quickly to issues.

What to look for in customer reviews

• Overall satisfaction ratings on consumer review sites

• How fast companies process claims and send out technicians

• Whether contractors show up on time and fix problems correctly

• How responsive customer service is when you have questions or concerns

5. Read sample contracts before signing

Some companies provide sample contracts on their websites, or you can request one from customer service. Read the full document, including the fine print, to know what's covered and what's not. Pay close attention to these sections:

• Exclusions, including damages or preexisting conditions that aren’t covered

• Coverage caps that limit payouts for specific appliances

• Waiting periods that delay when you can file your first claim

• The claims process and how quickly technicians get dispatched

Don't hesitate to ask questions if anything seems unclear. For example, you might find out that a plan covers your refrigerator but treats the ice maker as a separate item that's not included.

How to file a home warranty claim

To file a home warranty claim for your appliance, follow these steps:

1. Confirm that the broken appliance or part of the appliance is covered under your home warranty plan.

2. Gather required information (policy number, model number, service history, etc.)

3. Contact your provider to request service.

4. Pay your service fee.

5. Schedule the technician.

6. Determine if a repair or replacement is needed.

Pros and cons of a home warranty for appliances

Compare the pros and cons of a home warranty for appliances before signing up.

Is a home warranty worth it for your appliances?

If the answer to these questions is "yes," an appliance warranty is worth it.

• Are your appliances over five years old?

• Do you have a decent number of older appliances in your home?

• Are your appliances out of their manufacturer's warranty?

How much is a home warranty for appliances?

Home warranties for appliances typically cost around $30 to $60 per month for appliance-only plans and around $30 to $90 for combined system and appliance plans. Some companies offer discounts of $50 or more if you can pay annually instead of monthly.

However, you’ll also need to factor in service fees and any add-on coverage to determine your total home warranty costs for appliances.

Example: Appliance coverage costs

Here’s an example of what you might pay each year for appliance coverage:

• Premium: $40 per month or $480 per year
• Two service calls: $200 ($100 each)
• Add-on for second refrigerator: $10 per month or $120 per year
• Total cost: $800 per year

Service call fees

Each time you file a claim, you’ll pay a service call fee, which typically ranges from $75 to $150 per visit. This fee works like a deductible, so you’ll pay it whether a repair costs $200 or $800. For example, if your dishwasher breaks in April and your dryer fails in September, you’ll pay two separate service fees.

Add-on coverage

Many companies let you buy add-on coverage for second appliances, such as second refrigerators or stand-alone freezers, along with add-on coverage for home systems or components, such as roofs, pools and septic systems. Add-on coverage typically costs around $5 to $20 per month, though costs may vary.

Other cost factors

Other cost factors that can influence your total home warranty cost include:

• Your location: Costs for labor and parts vary by region. Urban areas are typically more expensive than rural areas.
• Coverage level: Appliance-only coverage is typically on the cheaper end, while a combined system and appliance plan is typically the most expensive option.
• Company discounts: Some providers offer discounts for military members, seniors or multiproperty owners.

» RELATED: Are appliance warranties worth it?

FAQ

Methodology

To find the best home warranty companies for appliances, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team used a data-driven approach guided by our expert editors.

We researched 49 home warranty companies and scored them using measurable criteria grouped into two main categories:

1. Key home warranty company features

Companies earned higher scores for offering:

• Appliance-only plans
• Higher number of appliances covered
• More service call fee options
• Longer service guarantees
• Extra benefits

2. Customer satisfaction metrics

We conducted sentence-by-sentence sentiment analysis of thousands of verified reviews to measure customer satisfaction with:

• Coverage
• Pricing fairness
• Refunds and payout experience
• Customer service quality
• Claims handling
• Punctuality and speed
• Service technicians

Each company received a score from 1 to 10 for every metric, with 10 awarded to the top performer in that category. Metrics are weighted differently for each award calculation.

The company with the highest score in each category’s uniquely weighted formula was given the “Our pick for” designation. In some cases where a single company received the top score across multiple categories, the company with the second-highest score was named the winner.