Best Home Warranty Companies in Kentucky

Regardless of where you live in the state of Kentucky, a home warranty plan can protect your home and budget from unexpected costly repairs to systems and appliances.

Finding the right home warranty for you could be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to begin. Fortunately, our team at House Method reviewed multiple home warranty companies and found a few that are the best for Kentucky residents. If you’re looking for a home warranty, read on to compare the best home warranty companies in the state and learn how to buy a home warranty.

Kentucky’s best home warranty companies

Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792 and is officially known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It’s bordered by Virginia and West Virginia to the east, Ohio and Indiana to the North, Illinois and Missouri to the west, and Tennessee to the south. The state has deep roots in tradition and culture and is more famously known for bluegrass music and the Kentucky Derby.

Metals, food and beverage, aerospace, and manufacturing are among the most affluent industries in the state, but Kentucky also produces beef, corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat. The Kentucky state bird is the cardinal and the state tree is the tulip tree.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Kentucky’s population was nearly 4.5 million as of July 2018. The largest city in Kentucky is Louisville, with a population of more than 600,000. The smallest city is South Park View, with just seven residents. The oldest city in the state is Harrodsburg, which is the oldest permanent American settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

The median household income is roughly $46,000, and the median monthly mortgage cost is $1,131. It’s important to keep in mind that these costs are a small window into Kentucky residents’ expenses, as monthly costs surveyed by the bureau don’t include Kentucky maintenance bills or upkeep.

Top home maintenance problems in Kentucky

Kentucky experiences all four seasons, so homeowners have a checklist of to-dos for spring, summer, fall, and winter. The abundance of home-related tasks means that some chores get overlooked, forgotten about, or improperly carried out, creating a greater risk for appliance breakdown and issues with major systems.

Not to mention, in Kentucky summers, temperatures can reach the 90’s, and in the winter, it’s not uncommon to see average lows across the state in the 20’s. Such drastic temperature changes throughout the year place stress on HVAC systems and can cause frozen water in washing machine hoses and pumps. Here are the most common appliance and system issues Kentucky homeowners face:

• Refrigerators have compressors that can fail and the ice units also tend to break down. This appliance-within-an-appliance is often molded and flimsy, making it necessary to replace the entire unit when problems arise.
• Range cooking tops, both gas- and electric-powered, can have problems related to the ignition systems, oven bake element, temperature sensor, and burner. While you may be able to fix minor problems on your own, a professional is best for serious or dangerous problems.
• Dishwashers that complete a clean cycle and still aren’t draining properly could mean the inlet valve, drain pump, circulation pump, or a number of other parts are problematic. Technical service is advised for almost all dishwasher issues.
• Microwaves are a modern-living lifesaver, and we feel the impact when they break. Kentucky homeowners may have problems with broken control panel buttons, stalled turntables, improper ventilation, and failure to heat food adequately.
• Clothes washers, especially front-loading models, are prone to mold, and both front- and top-loading washers have drums that can fail to spin, may not drain properly, and have a variety of buttons and dials that can fail.
• Dryers that run a cycle and still produce soggy or moist clothing may have heating element issues, like the wire coil or burner, or a loose drum seal. It’s rare to have a dryer problem that can’t be fixed and requires unit replacement, but a professional is still recommended for dryer-related issues.

Who is eligible for a home warranty in Kentucky?

A home warranty in Kentucky is available for the broadest definition of “homes,” including mobile homes, townhomes, condominiums, and single-family homes. You can purchase a home warranty at any time on a house of any age, no matter how long you’ve lived in it. Also, a real estate agent may buy a home warranty as a gift to the new homeowners, or a home warranty may come with the home purchase.

What is covered under a Kentucky home warranty?

When selecting a home warranty provider, it’s important to know what your home warranty includes and what it doesn’t. This isn’t a safe arena to make assumptions. Most home warranties will cover major home systems and appliances, like air conditioners and plumbing, but what’s considered “major” will vary from provider to provider as evidenced by the coverage exclusions in each plan.

Additionally, while major home systems and appliances will be covered under a basic home warranty plan, other items, like garbage disposals or a water heater, may require an additional fee to be fully covered.

For example, Select Home Warranty offers three plans with optional add-ons. The plans are tiered and include the Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care plans. Bronze Care provides appliance coverage, Gold Care provides systems coverage, and Platinum Care provides coverage for both appliances and systems. This company also has a unique list of optional-add ons such as roof coverage, septic system coverage, and sprinkler system protection, and free home warranty roof protection is included with every plan.

The majority of home warranty complaints are due to customers’ misunderstandings about their coverage limitations, so be sure to read your home warranty contract before opting in to coverage.

More: Compare Select Home Warranty plans

For a thorough understanding of what our recommended Kentucky home warranty companies provide, consider reading our individual provider reviews or our Best Home Warranty Guide.

How much does a home warranty cost?

The cost of a home warranty plan will depend on where you live in Kentucky, the level of coverage you choose, and whether you select any optional add-ons. The type of home you live in, whether a single-family home, a condo, a mobile home, or another type of home, may also impact your monthly premium.

In general, home warranty premiums cost $25–$67 each month, with the minimum monthly cost at $20 and the maximum monthly cost at $115. If you opt for a home warranty contract with a longer term, you may be able to lock in a lower price. Home warranty contracts that must be renewed annually are subject to yearly price increases.

Here’s an overview of Kentucky home warranty costs from the providers we’ve recommended:

How does a home warranty work in Kentucky?

When you experience an unexpected appliance or system issue in your Kentucky home, it’s usually at the worst time possible. When an issue occurs, here’s an example of how your home warranty plan would come into play:

1. You notice an issue.

Let’s say you notice the ice maker in the refrigerator is no longer dispensing ice. After checking the ice maker’s manual, you’re stumped. Since you know the refrigerator and the ice maker are covered in your home warranty contract, you contact your home warranty provider to let them know. Most providers have 24/7 phone lines and allow customers to submit a claim online 365 days a year.

2. Your home warranty company contacts a technician.

Once the home warranty provider is aware of the issue, they’ll contact local pros who will then contact you directly to set up an appointment time. Appointments to inspect home systems and appliances can usually be made within 24–72 hours after you first notice the issue.

3. A service technician arrives at your house.

The local pro will visit your Kentucky home at the time you’ve selected to both diagnose the problem and, hopefully, repair it that same day. The professional may need to contact the home warranty company during the course of their visit to ensure that the repair or replacement is covered under your protection plan.

If it is, the tech will be able to let you know if the fix is fully covered by your warranty or if costs exceed your coverage cap. If costs for the fix are above your coverage cap, it’s okay—the repair can still be made; you’ll just need to pay the difference. 

4. You pay a service fee.

Once the repair is complete, you’ll owe your home warranty your previously agreed upon service fee, which is usually $75–$125. If the repair or replacement exceeded your coverage cap, you’ll owe the provide this amount as well.

Why is a home warranty necessary?

The biggest benefit of a home warranty is that it lends Kentucky homeowners peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing that your home’s major appliances and systems are covered. When an item breaks, needs a repair, or has an issue, you won’t have to stress about who to call or how much the repair bill will be.

Even in the best case scenarios, such as if you own a new home and all of your appliances’ and systems’ manufacturer’s warranties are in-tact, you’re still susceptible to breakdowns. Not to mention, these manufacturer warranties are often very limited in coverage. They’re usually non-transferable, meaning that if you’re the second or third homeowner, you won’t be eligible for coverage under them.

How to buy a home warranty in Kentucky

Choosing the best home warranty for you and your home involves understanding what a home warranty is, what plans are available, and the differences between providers. Here are the factors to consider when choosing the best home warranty for your Kentucky home:

• Additional coverage—Protection for common seasonal issues and repairs should be included in your plan.
• Service fees—These can range from $75 to upward of $125. This is more than the average Kentucky home warranty monthly premium, so make sure your plan includes a service fee you feel comfortable with covering for each visit.
• Plan types—Home warranty plans vary drastically in their coverage, so choosing a provider with multiple options or, better yet, a “create your own” plan option, is recommended. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that the most important appliances and systems you want covered are included in the plan.
• Reputation of quality customer service—Check companies’ BBB ratings and accreditation status, understand how and when you’ll be able to file claims, and read reviews from trusted websites like TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau.

Kentucky home warranty reviews

Reading reviews about the home warranty companies you’re considering is one of the best ways to pull back the curtain and forecast what your experience will be as their customer. They’re an excellent source of knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly, so that you know what you’re getting into before you sign a contract. 

We recommend browsing reliable websites such as the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and Consumer Affairs to get a sense of how satisfied customers are with customer service departments, coverage, technicians, and other aspects of the home warranty experience.

For example, one of our recommended providers, Select Home Warranty, comes highly recommended across multiple review sites. They’ve earned an A rating from the Better Business Bureau as well as BBB accreditation. They also offer online, email, and phone claim submission options.

Chris from Lexington, K.Y., wrote the following on ConsumerAffairs.com:

“The Select Home Warranty rep offered me a very good deal. He was prompt and easy to reach by phone. The average yearly price was amazing and it should be a great selling point if I should ever decide to sell. I have been completely satisfied with the experience and have already recommended it to others in my family. If I should ever have a claim and it goes as smoothly as this transaction I will be very pleased with my purchase.”

Our conclusion

A home warranty plan is simple: it’s a service contract for the repair and replacement of covered home system components and appliances that may break down over time. However, choosing a company for your home warranty can feel complex. Whether you’re considering a home warranty for your single-family Lexington home or your townhouse in Frankfort, researching the best plans available for your preferences will ensure you don’t run into surprises when something does break down.

To get started, we recommend looking into the top-rated providers we’ve listed: Select Home Warranty, 2-10 Home Warranty, First American Home Warranty, Choice Home Warranty, and Total Home Protection. Start by reviewing the information we’ve provided above, reading through their plans, and requesting a customized quote.