Best Home Warranty Companies in Delaware (2022)

Delaware is one of the smallest states in the nation, yet it still has more than 400,000 homes. The excellent climate, friendly people, and beautiful scenery are enough to make anyone move to the Delaware area. However, living in Delaware does not make you exempt from the pressures and stress of homeownership. 

Home warranties are often a sound investment in Delaware, primarily because of the hot summers, cold winters, and high year-round humidity. These weather conditions can put added strain on your heating and cooling equipment, as well as your freezers and refrigerators. Some of the best home warranty companies in the area provide coverage for all of these systems and appliances to keep you adequately protected.

Delaware’s Best Home Warranty Companies in 2022

• Choice Home Warranty: Best Overall

• Select Home Warranty: Most Cost-Effective

• American Home Shield: Best Customizable Plans

• The Home Service Club: Fastest Service

• Liberty Home Guard: Most Trustworthy

Quick Comparison of Home Warranty Providers

Choice Home Warranty

• Our Take: Best Overall

• Average Annual Cost: $504-$639.96

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in the state of Delaware. Choice Home Warranty has been offering home warranty plans for the last 13 years. Each plan comes with a very simple and straightforward contract and some excellent customer service to help Delaware homeowners work out the details of their plans. The overall pricing of the Choice Home Warranty plan is quite fair. One of the things that will help this plan stand out is the impressive policy limits that they offer.

Pros and Cons

✓ Excellent customer service

✓ Broad range of coverage, options, and add-ons

✓ All plans include appliances and home systems

✓ Plans and coverage are easy to understand

X Not many customization options available

Plans and Pricing

Although Choice Home Warranty only offers two plans, these plans are unique. Most Delaware home warranty companies will offer systems, appliances, and a combo plan. However, the combo plan is considered premium and costs quite a bit more money. With the Choice Home Warranty plans, you will get a mix of systems and appliances, and the pricing remains fair throughout the plan. The policy limits tend to be anywhere from $2000 and above for most systems and appliances, and the service fee is just $85.

Here’s a detailed look at Choice Home Warranty’s coverage: 

• Basic Plan ($42/month): Unlike most companies, the Basic Plan from Choice Home Warranty includes coverage for both appliances and home systems. You’ll get protection for ovens, cooktop exhaust fans, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, garage door openers, and ceiling fans. System coverage includes electrical, plumbing, and heating systems, plus protection for your toilets, water heater, and HVAC ductwork.

• Total Plan ($53.33/month): The Total Plan is a more comprehensive option that includes everything in the basic plan, plus additional covered items. This plan also protects your refrigerator, clothes washer, and clothes dryer. Given the fridge coverage, this is a popular option in Delaware, where hot summers can put added strain on your refrigerator.

Coverage

If the plans above don’t cover everything you want to be protected, Choice Home Warranty offers some add-on coverage options as well. These include:

• Central vacuum
• Limited roof leak
• Septic system
• Septic tank pumping
• Sump pump
• Well pump
• Pool/Spa
• Second refrigerator
• Stand-alone freezer

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.

For more information, read our Choice Home Warranty Review.

Select Home Warranty

• Our Take: Most Cost-Effective

• Average Annual Cost: $624-$684

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

The Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty plan for Delaware homeowners. Regardless of the state you live in and your financial situation, it makes sense to look for a deal when it comes to a home warranty. Select Home Warranty offers homeowners very fair pricing, impressive coverage options, and free roof leak coverage with all of their policies. Select Home Warranty has been on the market for close to ten years. They have done a tremendous job of growing their service technician base and increasing the workmanship guarantee. In addition, some of the coverage caps on the Select Home Warranty have recently increased as well. This is a home warranty company that is headed in the right direction.

Pros and Cons

✓ Outstanding customer service

✓ All plans include roof leak coverage

✓ Great value for the money

✓ Extensive company history

X Lower coverage caps than many competitors

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty has three plans to choose from. There is a systems plan, appliance plan, and combo plan. The three options are all reasonably priced, but the combo or comprehensive plan will offer the best coverage for the money. The Platinum Care plan includes the coverage in the Bronze and Gold, yet it is only a few dollars more per month. Overall you will find that there are also paid add-on coverages that you can add to this plan to increase the overall coverage offered. 

Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:

• Bronze Plan ($52/month): The Bronze Plan from Select only covers appliances, but it offers coverage for most home appliances in one package. It protects your refrigerator, cooktop, oven, microwave, garbage disposal, washers, dryers, and more. Remember, the Bronze Plan also includes roof coverage, which is normally an add-on product.

• Gold Plan ($52/month): The Gold Plan is a systems-only plan and doesn’t include any home appliances. This plan covers your heating, plumbing, and electrical system, plus your air conditioning system, which is crucial in Delaware. HVAC ductwork and water heaters are also included in the heating and plumbing system coverage, and roof leak coverage is complimentary.

• Platinum Plan ($57/month): The Platinum Plan from Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective and comprehensive coverage plan available. It protects all of the appliances and home systems covered in the Bronze and Gold plans, which means it’s an outstanding value at just $5 more per month. Plus, it covers additional items, like ceiling fans, plumbing blockages, and garage door openers. Like all other plans from Select, this one also includes roof leak coverage.

Coverage

Select Home Warranty also has some add-on coverage options that allow you to customize your plan to suit your needs, including:

• Pool
• Spa
• Septic system
• Well pump
• Sump pump
• Lawn sprinkler system
• Roof leaks
• Central vacuum
• Stand-alone freezer

Select Home Warranty will give you a free quote after filling out this form or calling 888-370-3953.

Read our Select Home Warranty review to learn more.

American Home Shield

• Our Take: Best Customizable Plans

• Average Annual Cost: $419.88-$779.88

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

American Home Shield is the most customizable plan in the home warranty industry. Having the ability to build your plan and your pricing to work specifically for your Delaware home is a tremendous benefit. American Home Shield has learned quite a bit about what homeowners need after spending the last 50 years offering home warranties in the state of Delaware. Although the coverage provided by American Home Shield is considered to be more premium home warranty coverage, it is an excellent choice for those that are serious about protecting their home. Even after 50 years in a complex business, AHS has maintained a BBB rating of B.

Pros and Cons

✓ Many years of experience

✓ High rate for payouts

✓ Many customization options available

✓ Unique options for coverage

X More expensive than other companies

Plans and Pricing

There are three American Home Shield plans to choose from. The first is a systems plan that is very basic and affordable. The other two options are considered comprehensive or premium options. The plans have a mix of systems and appliances covered. In addition, you can always choose from the long list of add-on coverages that American Home Shield provides, and you can get this plan customized and tailored to your needs. 

Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage: 

• ShieldSilver ($39.99/month): The ShieldSilver Plan is the systems-only option from AHS. This plan includes protection for your electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, which includes water heaters and HVAC ductwork. You also get protection for your air conditioning system, smoke alarms, and garage door openers.

• ShieldGold ($49.99/month): The ShieldGold Plan offers a bit more coverage rather than being a stand-alone plan. This option includes everything in the ShieldSilver Plan, plus refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, water dispensers, garbage disposals, clothes dryers, and washing machines.

• ShieldPlatinum ($64.99/month): The ShieldPlatinum Plan is the best value and the most comprehensive option from AHS. This plan includes everything in the Silver and Gold plans, plus an annual AC tune-up and coverage for refrigerant refills for your air conditioners. You’ll also enjoy lower service fees and higher coverage limits for greater peace of mind.

Coverage

American Home Shield provides several unique coverage options as add-ons, so you can customize any of the above plans with the below items:

• Electronic extended warranty
• Pool and spas
• Well pump
• Septic pump
• Guest unit
• PC and TV

To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this form or call 888-365-2839.

To read more, visit our American Home Shield review.

The Home Service Club

• Our Take: Fastest Service

• Average Annual Cost: $600-$756

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

The Home Service Club has been serving homeowners since 2008, and in its many years of experience, it has maintained outstanding customer reviews. The Home Service Club is best known for its fast service times, with most service calls being answered within 24 hours. As such, this company is a popular choice for those who want to be able to rely on a home warranty for emergencies. Coverage kicks in just ten days after you pay for your plan, as compared to the 1 to 3 months you’d have to wait with other companies.

Pros and Cons

✓ Only 10 days between singing up and coverage

✓ Rapid response to service calls

✓ Wide range of coverage and add-on options

✓ Over a decade of experience serving customers

X A bit expensive

Plans and Pricing

The Home Service Club has two plans to choose from, the Standard Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. Unlike most home warranty companies, both of HSC’s plans include coverage for appliances and home systems. The plans include coverage caps that range from $500 up to $2,500, which is a bit lower than some competitors. The service fee can range from $65 to $125, depending on the plan and options you choose.

Here’s a detailed look at The Home Service Club’s coverage:

• Standard Coverage Plan ($50/month): The Standard Coverage Plan includes both appliances and home systems. It protects your refrigerator, cooktop, stove, microwave, dishwasher, trash compactor, garbage disposal, washer, and dryer. It also includes coverage for home systems, including heating, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning systems. Water heaters and plumbing leaks are included in the plumbing coverage, the latter of which is unusual as part of a basic plan.

• Comprehensive Coverage Plan ($63/month): The Comprehensive Coverage Plan covers more and provides a better value than the Standard Coverage Plan. It includes everything in the Standard Plan, plus garbage disposals, sump pumps, plumbing stoppages, pest control, and more.

Coverage

The Home Service Club also provides plenty of add-on coverage options to let you customize your coverage plans. These include:

• Sewer ejector pump
• Pool and spa (equipment is separate)
• Pool and spa equipment (spa heater is separate)
• Spa heater
• Utility line coverage package (including outside water, gas, electric, and sprinkler lines, plus sewer line coverage, and more)
• Sprinkler systems
• Roof damage
• Well pump
• Water softeners
• Built-in refrigerators
• Stand-alone freezers
• Jetted bathtub
• And more

If you’re ready to get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this contact form or call HSC at 800-842-9334.

You can also check out our complete The Home Service Club review for more information on the company and the items covered.

Liberty Home Guard

• Our Take: Most Trustworthy

• Average Annual Cost: $779.88-$899.88

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in the state of Delaware. Being able to trust your home warranty company is a must. There are certain rules and restrictions that must be followed to ensure that your repairs and replacements are covered under a home warranty; Liberty Home Guard will communicate these and help you get your issues taken care of. In just two years on the market, Liberty Home Guard has managed to earn a BBB rating of an A. This is almost unheard of in the home warranty industry. Over the next several years, you can expect big things from this company.

Pros and Cons

✓ Outstanding customer service

✓ Easy process for filing claims

✓ 60-day workmanship warranty included in all service calls

✓ A rating with the BBB

X More expensive than many competitors

Plans and Pricing

The Liberty Home Guard company has three plans for homeowners to choose from. There is a systems plan, appliance plan, and a comprehensive or combo plan. One of the things that makes the Liberty Home Guard policy stand out is that the add-on coverages are more extensive than any other home warranty company on the market. Whether you want a gutter cleaning or your pool added to your policy, you can do so with LHG.

Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:

• Appliance Guard ($64.99/month): As the name implies, the Appliance Guard plan protects your appliances, including microwaves, ovens, dishwashers, cooktop exhaust fans, refrigerators, garbage disposals, garage door openers, ceiling fans, and ice makers. The coverage is quite extensive as far as appliance plans go, so the price is easily justified.

• Systems Guard ($69.99/month): The Systems Guard plan is the systems-only plan from LHG. This plan covers your plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, plus air conditioners, water heaters, bathroom exhaust fans, toilets, and HVAC ductwork. This plan is also quite expensive, but the coverage for home systems is extensive.

• Total Home Guard ($74.99/month): The Total Home Guard plan is the most comprehensive and valuable plan from Liberty Home Guard. For just $5 to $10 more per month, this plan covers everything in both of the other plans. This is the most popular option from LHG in Delaware, given how comprehensive it is.

Coverage

Liberty Home Guard provides some of the most extensive add-on coverage options in the industry. You can customize any of the plans above with the below add-on options:

• Pool and spa
• Additional spa
• Saltwater pool
• Gutter cleaning
• Floor/carpet cleaning
• Sump pump
• Fixtures
• Water softener
• Trash compactor
• Lawn sprinkler system
• Electronics protection
• Swamp cooler
• Ejector pump
• Septic system pumping
• Limited roof leak
• Pest control
• Locksmith
• Free-standing ice maker
• Central vacuum
• Stand-alone freezer
• Re-key
• Second refrigerator
• Wine refrigerator
• Well pump
• TV and PC
• Generator
• Water dispenser

To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.

To learn more information, visit our Liberty Home Guard review.

Home Warranties in Delaware Cities

How Much Does a Home Warranty in Delaware Cost?

A home warranty in Delaware will range between $35 and $75 per month. The higher the monthly payment, the more added coverage the plan will have. Ensure that you consider the service fees when you look at the overall cost of the plans. Service fees can range from $60-$150. Many companies also have add-on coverage options available to customize your coverage plan, but keep in mind that these options always come with an added cost. The below table provides average home warranty prices in Delaware based on different property types.

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Delaware

Final Thoughts

At this point, you should have a pretty good idea as to which home warranty company is going to be the best fit for your Delaware home. The Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall choice. The time in the industry, impressive coverage, and excellent customer service, really help Choice Home Warranty stand out as the absolute best. When deciding on your Delaware home warranty, don’t be afraid to get a few quotes from various companies. This is a great way to compare the overall costs and ensure that you are getting a plan that you can live with.

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Delaware

At this point, you should be feeling a bit better about the top five choices in the Delaware market. However, now comes the tricky part of picking out the policy that is best for your needs. There are many things to look for when narrowing down companies, but three of the most important are the BBB rating, overall pricing, and service plan structure. 

• BBB Rating: Although the BBB rating is not the only factor to consider, it does give you some idea of how the company is performing and what customers have to say about it. The home warranty industry is tough, and not all negative reviews give you the entire side of the story; instead, look to see how companies respond and deal with these issues and ratings. 
• Overall Pricing: When considering the overall pricing of the plan, look at the monthly costs, service fees as well as policy caps or coverage limits. This is the best way to tell which plans are going to be the most cost-effective. 
• Service Plan Structure: Take a look at the fine print involved with the home warranty service contract. There are often specifics related to what is covered and what is not covered. Ensure you fully understand what your policy can do for you.

The above factors are important things to think about no matter where you live, but there are additional things to consider in order to find the best home warranty for your purposes in Delaware.

First, Delaware experiences higher year-round humidity than most other states. High humidity puts added strain on your air conditioner because humid air naturally feels warmer. You and your family will very likely demand more from your AC to compensate for the humidity, and this can put added strain on your AC system, which can lead to breakdowns and maintenance issues. Choosing a coverage plan that includes AC coverage in Delaware is often a good idea.

The high humidity can also put strain on your refrigerator, as the condenser works to remove humidity and keep the interior temperature cool. Home warranty plans that cover refrigerators are often a good idea in Delaware, where humidity is above an average of 70% year-round.

Finally, you might also want to consider a home warranty that includes coverage for your heating system. Delaware residents can experience freezing temperatures for five months out of the year, which means heating systems will be called on regularly to keep homes comfortable and safe. Home warranties that cover heating system damages and outages can be a great thing to have for peace of mind during the cold winters.

What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty is a protection plan for your appliances and/or home systems. It’s useful to think of a home warranty like a homeowners insurance policy that covers individual aspects of your home rather than your entire property.

When you experience an issue with covered appliances or home systems, you can file a claim with your home warranty provider. The provider will then fix the issue or replace the damaged item, and you’ll just be charged a service fee in most cases. Home warranties provide ultimate peace of mind that you’ll never be hit with unexpected charges for severe damage to or issues with home systems or appliances.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

It’s helpful to compare home warranties and homeowners insurance, but in reality, there are more differences between the two than there are similarities.

The first major difference is in what the plans cover. A home warranty includes protection for individual home appliances and home systems, while a homeowners insurance policy covers your entire home, which can include damage to individual components. This might seem like a minor distinction, but it makes a big difference in terms of how and when you get coverage. This brings us to the second major difference.

Home insurance policies typically require a major catastrophic event before coverage kicks in. For example, you wouldn’t file a claim for a fridge that stops working, but you would for damage caused by a tree falling, a hurricane, a tropical storm, or some other natural disaster. On the other hand, coverage for a home warranty kicks in for much smaller issues, like an AC system going down, your water heater failing, or a refrigerator breaking down from excessive use.

Finally, homeowners insurance often comes with a high deductible, which is an out-of-pocket cost you’ll pay before coverage kicks in. In most cases, the deductible will be thousands of dollars. A home warranty doesn’t include a deductible and instead requires that you just pay a service fee for each service call. The average service fee is $85, so it’s much lower than a home insurance policy deductible. However, home insurance policies also have much higher payout limits than home warranties.

How Does a Home Warranty in Delaware Work?

To secure home warranty coverage in Delaware, you simply need to choose a provider, decide on a coverage plan that suits your needs, choose add-on coverages if applicable, and pay for the plan. After a brief waiting period — usually between 10 and 90 days — your coverage will begin.

If, after your coverage begins, you notice a problem with a covered item in your home, you can follow the below steps to get the issue resolved:

• Find a problem with a covered appliance or home system in your home
• Report the issue to your home warranty provider. This is typically done via phone call or online. Some companies have a mobile app for streamlined reporting
• Wait for your provider-appointed service technician to arrive and fix the issue or replace your damaged appliance or home system
• Pay the service fee, which averages around $85

What does a Home Warranty Cover?

Every home warranty is different and provides varying levels of coverage for your home. Most basic plans either cover appliances or home systems, and the comprehensive plans from different companies cover both.

As far as appliance coverage, the majority of plans include refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, cooktop exhaust fans, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers and dryers. Typical coverage for systems-only plans includes heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems, which often include water heaters and HVAC ductwork. Issues arising from normal wear and tear are usually covered for these appliances and systems.

Most home warranty companies also let you customize your coverage with add-on options. Some common add-on coverages include pools and spas, sprinkler systems, sump pumps, well pumps, and other outdoor utility lines.

What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?

The specific items excluded by your home warranty will be detailed in your service contract. It’s important to read through and understand this document, as every plan is different and excludes different items and situations. However, there are some things that are excluded by most home warranties.

Most warranty options exclude intentional damage to your home, cosmetic repairs, pre-existing conditions, and damages or breakdowns caused by improper maintenance.

Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Delaware

The majority of homeowners in Delaware are pleased with their home warranty coverage, but there will always be some customers who are unhappy with their service providers.

One common complaint about home warranties in Delaware is that the coverage is denied for what seem to be covered issues. It’s important to remember that every home warranty has exclusions, and one of the most common is damage caused by improper maintenance. If your air conditioning system goes down and your service representative determines that the issue was caused by a lack of proper maintenance, you’ll still be on the hook for the service fee, and your coverage will be denied.

Another common issue we see in Delaware is that certain repairs for covered items come with higher out-of-pocket costs than anticipated. Another important thing to remember is that home warranties come with annual coverage caps and coverage limitations per covered item. If your coverage cap for a fridge is $2,000 and you need a replacement, the chances are good that your total will be higher than the coverage cap. In that case, you’ll be responsible for the difference, in addition to the service fee.

Are home warranties worth it?

A home warranty is well worth the money that you will pay in most cases. Most homeowners find that after just one or two issues around the home, they will be able to justify the costs that they have spent on their home warranty policy. This is a very functional home policy to have in place that will likely get more use than you even realize.

For example, consider the average amount you’d pay for a single service call to a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech. The average price would be around $300, and that doesn’t take into consideration major issues, like a clogged sewer line or total HVAC system failure. These expenses could easily run into the thousands of dollars. With a home warranty, though, you’d pay just $85 per call in most cases. That means after one or two service calls per year for any of your home systems, your warranty pays for itself.

Similarly, any fridge repair or maintenance call for other major kitchen appliances averages around $400. When you consider the service call fee you’d pay with a home warranty of just $85, the home protection plan quickly becomes worthwhile.

Many homeowners find home warranties to be worth the investment just for the peace of mind. A home warranty ensures that you’re not hit with unexpected charges for expensive home repairs, which means you can budget and save more efficiently.

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

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: 

• Coverage (0.4): This category evaluates the scope of protection offered by a home warranty provider. We clearly distinguished between limited or broad coverage to help homeowners identify their own home protection needs. We also factor in claim turnaround times, average waiting period lengths, plan types, annual coverage limits, policy exclusions, etc.
• Cost (0.3): This category considers what home warranty companies charge homeowners monthly, annual, and out-of-pocket. We urge homeowners also to consider the cost-to-value ratio of a home warranty plan.
• Transparency and Trustworthiness (0.15): This category evaluates home warranty providers based on pending or past legal action, hidden fees, lack of information readily available on the website, exclusions, and more. We consider how upfront a company is to its potential policyholders, which says a lot about its products and services.
• Customer Support and Satisfaction (.09): This category evaluates the efficacy of a home warranty company’s effort to provide supportive guidance to inquiring customers and how policyholders are satisfied with the assistance they receive. 
• Customization (.06): This category evaluates the ability of homeowners to adjust and choose their policy details, such as pricing variation, optional add-ons, and the number of plans available.