By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
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Water heaters are essential for hot showers, washing the dishes, and doing laundry, so a broken or malfunctioning hot water heater can be a major issue. Like with any plumbing fixture, you’re likely to run into some issues with your water heater over time that could leave you with a hefty bill. In order to maintain your equipment without breaking the bank for repairs, you might want to consider a home warranty for water heaters. In this guide, we will discuss the best hot water heater warranties to keep your equipment running smoothly without having to pay for costly repairs or replacements.
A home warranty is an investment to safeguard your home appliances and systems. When you experience a problem in your home due to normal wear and tear, you can call on your home warranty to cover it. You’ll just pay a small service fee, and your appliances will be serviced quickly. The best home warranty companies are affordable, provide a multitude of services, and maintain great customer service. Read on to learn more about the best home warranty companies for water heater coverage.
Why Trust House Method
House Method’s Experts collected and analyzed 2000+ critical data points to identify what makes a great home warranty company in the eye of the consumer. Our reviews team used this data to assess over 60 home warranty providers for coverage extent, annual cost, and national availability to provide unbiased reviews so homeowners can confidently navigate key decisions about their homes.
We assess a variety of factors when ranking home warranty companies in order to give you only recommendations for the best home warranty companies. We consider coverage options, pricing, customer service reviews, workmanship guarantees, and more. Here is how they ranked:
Having served for over thirteen years in the home warranty industry, Choice Home Warranty ranks as the best overall home warranty company. It offers customers straightforward sample contracts and plans, affordable coverage, glowing customer reviews, and extensive nationwide service. Choice Home Warranty is a leader in claim acceptance, surpassing the industry denial rate of 10% with a low 5% denial rate. Choice Home Warranty offers two plans and extensive add-ons that suit most customers’ needs, regardless of if they are a first-time homeowner, a landlord, or a home seller.
Choice Home Warranty offers customers two comprehensive plans: the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. Both plans offer water heater coverage so your water heater will be protected, regardless of which one you choose. Both plans can be customized with your choice of add-on services, which we’ll list below. The service fee for all plans is just $85, which is in line with the industry average.
If you think Choice Home Warranty may be the best company to suit your needs, you can fill out this online form or call the service provider directly at 929-400-6164 for a free quote.
If you’d like further information, you can read more about this company in our Choice Home Warranty review.
Our top choice for the most cost-effective plans is Select Home Warranty. Having been in the home warranty business for over a decade now, Select Home Warranty is a top-rated provider known for premiums and service fees that are far below the industry standard. With three different plans and free roof coverage included with all of them, Select Home Warranty is great for homeowners seeking a low monthly cost and comprehensive protection.
Select Home Warranty offers customers three plan options: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Both the Gold Care Plan and the Platinum Plan include water heater coverage. The service fee for these plans is lower than most competitors at just $60 per service call.
In order to get started with Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this form or call 317-204-4697 to get a free quote.
For further information, check out our comprehensive Select Home Warranty review.
American Home Shield is a home warranty veteran and has served customers for over 50 years. This company offers three different plans and the option to build your own plan, so the customization options are plentiful. If American Home Shield cannot repair a covered item, they will replace it or offer an alternative solution. With decades of experience and a strong reputation for good customer service, American Home Shield is a trusted and respected name in the industry.
All three of American Home Shield’s coverage plans — ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum — include coverage on major home systems and they can all be customized with add-ons as needed. All three plans include water heater coverage, so your water heater will be protected with any plan that you choose.
To request a free quote, you can visit American Home Shield’s website or call 855-847-4354.
For a more in-depth review, you can read our full American Home Shield review.
A newer company founded in 2009, The Home Service Club surpasses many other home warranty companies in that they offer coverage in all fifty states. The Home Service Club notably has the quickest service of all top-rated home warranty providers. The industry standard waiting period for home warranty coverage is 30 days from signing on (and sometimes up to 90 days), but coverage from The Home Service Club starts in just ten days. Further, The Home Service club guarantees a response time within 24 hours, reaffirming it as our choice for the quickest service.
The Home Service Club offers customers two plan options: the Standard Coverage plan and the Comprehensive Coverage plan. Your water heater would be protected under either plan. In addition, The Home Service Club offers 13 add-ons that can be purchased as needed.
To get a free quote from the Home Service Club, visit their website or call 1-800-841-7080.
For more information on this company and its services, read our full The Home Service Club review.
Recognized by U.S. News & World Report in both 2021 and 2022 as the #1 Home Warranty Company in America, Liberty Home Guard lands on our list as our choice for the most trustworthy provider. Although this company was just founded in 2017, it has already amassed rave reviews for customer satisfaction and quality repairs. Liberty Home Guard has received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is above average for the industry, and all of the company’s repairs are backed by Liberty Home Guard’s 60-day workmanship guarantee.
Liberty Home Guard offers three coverage plans with a variety of coverages: the Appliance Guard Plan, the System Guard Plan, and the Total Home Guard Plan. Water heaters are covered in both the System Guard Plan and the Total Home Guard Plan. If you’re looking for additional add-ons, you can pick from a large selection in order to protect your whole home.
If you want to pursue home protection by Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this contact form or call 866-923-2371.
For a more in-depth review, check out our full Liberty Home Guard review.
A home warranty provides financial assistance to customers when something has gone wrong in their homes. Home warranties are targeted protection systems that are useful for any routine maintenance, repair, or replacement of appliances or home systems. A home warranty for water heaters will provide coverage for, among other things, any water heater issues you run into, including water heater repair and replacement.
Because your water heater is utilized daily — for washing your hands, showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry — when something does happen to your water heater, you feel the impact immediately. The average cost to replace a water heater is about $1,200, but if your home has a high-end plumbing system, the cost of repairing or replacing could total several thousands of dollars. A home warranty allows you to pay a small monthly fee and service fee instead, ultimately saving you money over fixing water heater breaks yourself.
Although any homeowner with a water heater can benefit from a home warranty, there are a few people in particular that will find them most beneficial. First-time homebuyers who are purchasing a system of unknown condition, homeowners living in aging homes where issues are more prevalent and the manufacturer’s warranty is likely expired, and sellers in the real estate market looking to protect their home before closing.
Homeowners who live in cooler climates should also consider investing in a home warranty, specifically because water heaters work overtime in colder weather and are more prone to issues. Landlords can also make great candidates for water heater home warranties, as they can help maintain hot water for renters and keep them happy.
A water heater home warranty covers all components and parts of your water heater, which includes the thermostat, gas control valve, heating coils, and temperature and pressure valves. Your water heater will be covered, regardless of if it is a tankless water heater, electric water heater, gas water heater, or hot water heater. In some cases, a water heater warranty will also include issues that come about because of hard or soft water, which can clog or corrode the inside of the tank, reducing efficiency over time.
Common exclusions include breakdowns or corrosion due to poor maintenance and pre-existing conditions.
The costs of a home warranty for water heaters depend on which company you decide to go with and if the water heater is covered within standard protection plans or if it is only available as an add-on coverage option. There are no home warranties solely for water heater coverage, so you’ll get lots of other protection for your home in the process. Just make sure that any plan that you choose explicitly covers water heaters.
With that being said, the average monthly cost of a home warranty can range from around $30 to $80, plus service fees. Service fees average around $75 to $85 but can depend on your plan and provider. Typically, a water heater will be covered in plans specific to home systems, or in comprehensive plans offering broader coverage.
Once you enroll in a home warranty plan, filing a claim is straightforward. Read below for the steps from start to finish.
In order to submit a claim, you must first purchase a home warranty plan. Note that most companies have a waiting period after signing up; the industry standard is 30 days from signing on to the start of coverage, but some companies make you wait up to 90 days. You should not wait until you have an issue with your water heater to purchase a home warranty plan.
After you have purchased a plan and your coverage is active, closely monitor your home systems and water heater or any issues or irregularity. Once you identify an issue, ensure that it’s covered in your service contract.
When an issue does arise, contact your home warranty provider to submit a claim. Your service request can be submitted online or over the phone, depending on your provider and preference.
Now that you have filed a claim, your home warranty company will send out a technician from their network to inspect and fix the issue. You then pay the service fee, which averages around $85. The rest should be covered by your provider.
Most home warranties have coverage caps. Coverage caps are maximum amounts they will pay out per covered item per year. Make sure that you check your specific home warranty company’s coverage limits and annual maximums to avoid incurring any additional, unexpected costs when you have an issue.
Our choice for the best overall home warranty company for water heaters is Choice Home Warranty. This company offers customers two affordable plans, both of which include water heater coverage. Choice Home Warranty has a 90-day repair guarantee and a strong reputation for satisfied customers. Further, they have affordable service fees and high coverage caps. All of these factors combine to make Choice Home Warranty our top pick for water heater coverage.
Home warranties do not have deductibles like homeowners insurance policies; rather, the service fee should be the only out-of-pocket that you have to pay. Service fees are paid out of pocket, but they are much more affordable than home insurance deductibles.
Usually, a water heater fails because of an issue with an internal component. These components include the thermostat, gas control valve, heating coils, and temperature and pressure valves. If these components break, they can be replaced without having to replace the whole water heater.
Leaks are another common issue with water storage tanks. Leaks can occur when the inner metal water storage tank gradually corrodes or cracks. This failure usually necessitates a full replacement of the water heater, which leads to high replacement costs.
For most homeowners, the answer is yes. Water heater repair and replacement can be very costly, and home warranties that cover this equipment can help save you hundreds of thousands of dollars on repairs. Not to mention that the peace of mind that you won’t get hit with these massive charges unexpectedly is worth the investment for many people alone.
A home warranty protects your appliances and major systems and allows you to save money in the long run. It also provides peace of mind that you won’t have major unexpected expenses due to routine household wear and tear. Water heaters can be very expensive to repair or replace, so a home warranty that covers water heaters will prevent you from paying major out-of-pocket costs when something does go wrong.
We recommend all of the above companies based on their robust coverage plans, strong reputations, and consistent customer satisfaction, although Choice Home Warranty is our all-around top pick. This company provides outstanding value for a regular monthly fee, includes water heater coverage in all plans, and delivers excellent customer service.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.
To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings, using whole star increments between one and five.
Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories:
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