Best Home Warranties in Washington

Home warranties can help cover the costs of unexpected breakdowns of your major systems and appliances. Our research team has analyzed 26 different home warranty companies to find the best coverage for you. By comparing customer ratings and reviews, coverage limits, prices and available plans, our team chose two companies that offer the best plans for your money.

A home warranty plan is a good idea if you want coverage for your systems and appliances. In Washington, home warranty plans typically have a set list of covered items, but you may be able to customize your plan with add-ons. These plans help cover the cost of repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear so you don't have to pay out of pocket after breakdowns.

Most companies in Washington offer multiple plans. For example, many providers offer an appliance-only plan, a systems-only plan and a total plan that includes everything in the first two. Choosing a plan that covers less can be cheaper, but picking a comprehensive plan that covers many items can save you more in repair fees down the road.

However, it’s important to remember that home warranty contracts have coverage caps. These caps limit how much a company will pay for parts and repairs. If you have older systems or appliances that are more likely to break down, you might want to consider a plan with higher limits so you’re less likely to have to pay out of pocket.

If you live by the coast, you should also consider how the salty air affects your appliances and systems. Salty ocean air can cause metallic surfaces to rust and corrode quicker than normal, leading to costly repair bills in the future. Before you sign a contract, double-check to see if repairs due to erosion are covered.

In Washington, home warranties are regulated by the state’s Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC), but the attorney general's office can also file legal action against companies. The OIC guarantees home warranty providers follow state laws to protect consumers from fraudulent companies and unfair practices. It requires that home warranty service contracts must:

• Provide clear and easy-to-understand contracts
• Explain what is covered and what is excluded
• Provide contact information and how to make a claim
• List any limitations in simple terms

These regulations help protect consumers from any surprises in the future and ensure companies are operating fairly.

OIC also checks to ensure home warranty companies have enough money to pay for repairs and replacements for future claims. Companies must show their financial records before they can sell any warranties in the state and are audited regularly.

If you have an issue with your home warranty company or feel like your claim was wrongly denied, you can file a complaint on the OIC website or over the phone at 800-562-6900. The OIC investigates these complaints and can impose penalties or fines if the company is found to be violating regulations.

The department's website also provides a list of helpful tips before buying a home warranty.

ConsumerAffairs carefully collects in-depth, verified reviews to tell each customer’s experience with a company. We believe customer experiences are a crucial indicator when evaluating companies, so these reviews are a significant factor when selecting our top picks.

To choose the top home warranty companies in Washington, we started with the 26 popular providers listed in our main home warranty guide. First, we narrowed it down to the ones available in Washington. We then weighted several key features to get our final rankings:

• Coverage options: We broke down each company’s home warranty plans to ensure they offer multiple coverage options to fit a variety of needs.
• Plan flexibility: Customizing a plan can tailor it to your needs and help you save money. We checked to see what customization options each company offers, including the ability to select a service fee and the number and cost of add-on coverages.
• Cost: Costs for home warranty plans vary based on the size of the home and the type of coverage, but we confirmed our top picks’ prices are competitive in the home warranty industry.
• Service call fee: We looked at the service fee each company charges to send a technician to your house to ensure our top picks are in line with industry standards.