Best Home Warranty Companies in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, a home warranty—also known as a home protection plan—can provide coverage for major systems and appliances like your refrigerator, plumbing, and air conditioning and save you money if one of these items breaks down in the future. It can be challenging to find a home warranty in such an oversaturated industry, which is why our team at House Method did the research for you, calling multiple home warranty companies, reading the fine print in their contracts, and rating them on a 100-point scale.

Keep reading to learn about the top home warranty companies in New Hampshire, warranty coverage and pricing, and how to find the top home warranty. 

New Hampshire’s best home warranty companies

New Hampshire was first settled in 1623 under the authority of an English land grant as a humble fishing colony. It was the hope that settlers could live fair and comfortable lives as the masters of their own destinies. Perhaps this spirit explained why New Hampshire was the first of the original colonies to declare its independence from England in 1775. Following the American Revolution, the state became the 9th to join the United States.

New Hampshire is one of the northernmost New England states. It shares a border to the north with Maine and a small northern border with Canada. Vermont shares its western border and Massachusetts borders the state to the south. New Hampshire’s oldest city is Exeter, which was settled in the spring of 1638. Hampton is nearly as old, with settlers establishing it in the fall of the same year. The state’s largest city is Manchester, which boasts a population of about 112,525.

Those who live in New Hampshire typically experience summers that are hot and humid and winters that are cold and snowy. For the sake of annual comfort, you’ll want to make sure your cooling and heating systems are in top condition. Should the need for repairs arise, it could be stressful trying to manage full costs and figure out which local technicians to turn to. That’s why New Hampshire homeowners should strongly consider home warranty coverage.

Top home maintenance problems in New Hampshire

New Hampshire residents have common maintenance problems that are unique to the area. These concerns include:

1. Power outages due to winter weather

New Hampshire residents can anticipate losing power due to the harsh winter weather. As much as a homeowner might try to prepare for this by having backup generators or a stove that doesn’t rely on electricity, losing power is still a massive inconvenience. Home warranties can provide essential cost coverage while providing you with trusted technicians to get your power back up and running.

2. Roof maintenance and repair

It’s very easy to neglect your roof, as it’s not a part of the home that many think about often. If there’s damage from everyday wear and tear, a quality home warranty could provide the coverage you need. Select Home Warranty covers the cost of roof repair no matter which of its plans you choose.

MORE: Buy a Select Home Warranty plan

3. HVAC cleaning and maintenance

Years of dust and dirt build-up can prevent your HVAC or cooling and heating system from functioning at its best. Professional cleaning can cost hundreds of dollars and replacement costs for the air conditioner, heat pump, duct installation, and more can run into the thousands for just these single items.

Paying a monthly home warranty fee and associated service fee can be comparatively far less expensive. Some home warranty companies will cover only part of the HVAC repair or replacement, while other companies will cover all costs, preventing you from having to pay out-of-pocket.

MORE: Protect your home with an HVAC warranty

4. Breakdown of water heater

If you’ve turned on your shower in the dead of winter and found yourself being sprayed by ice cold water, you probably appreciated the importance of a working water heater at that very moment. Along with your heating system, maintaining your water heater is essential for comfort during the frigid winters in New Hampshire. Fortunately, this system is commonly covered under a home warranty.

5. Frozen pipes

Another common consequence of the cold New Hampshire winter is having to address frozen pipes. There are ways to prevent this issue, but if you have pipe troubles, your home warranty company can send over a well-reviewed and trusted plumber at a cheaper cost than what you might expect to pay on your own.

Who is eligible for a home warranty in New Hampshire?

Those most qualified for and expected to seek a home warranty in the state of New Hampshire include:

• Homeowners—You might be satisfied with your home insurance, but as a homeowner, it’s generally a good idea to have as much coverage as possible. A home warranty will take care of the appliances and systems that suffer from everyday wear and tear, preventing the average homeowner from spending thousands of dollars on repairs.
• Former renters—If you’re new to owning a house, you’ll likely be new to paying for appliances and systems that break down. You could also struggle with knowing which local New Hampshire professionals to contact. A home warranty provides the coverage and support that you’re familiar with as a former renter and lets you work with a trusted, qualified contractor to fix the issue at hand.
• Real estate agents—New Hampshire real estate agents should strongly consider investing in a home warranty when trying to sell a home. For potential home buyers, a home could become more attractive if they know that repairs or replacements will be covered.

If you’re a New Hampshire resident who owns a single-family home, multi-family home, duplex, or rental property, you should seek a home warranty. There are often plans available according to the type of property you own. It might be possible for a mobile home to get coverage, but it’s not quite as common as with certain other types of homes.

Looking for a mobile home warranty? Compare mobile home warranty plans.

What is covered under a New Hampshire home warranty?

The covered items under a standard home warranty will change according to which company you choose and the coverage plan you select. These are the most common items covered by the top New Hampshire home warranty companies.

American Home Shield

AHS covers a wide range of items for the home and offers three plans. It’s possible to buy a plan that covers only home systems such as your air conditioning, heating, electrical system, doorbells, smoke detectors, plumbing, water heaters, garbage disposals, and more. Appliances covered under a separate plan include refrigerators, ovens, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, trash compactors, and other items. If you want to cover both home systems and appliances, there’s a combo plan available.

Because AHS’ systems and appliances plans include so many items, you may want to opt for the customizable plan—with this plan, you can choose the appliances and home systems you want covered.

MORE: Compare American Home Shield coverage plans

The Home Service Club

New Hampshire residents can apply for coverage with the Home Service Club through two distinct plans. The Standard Coverage plan covers refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, freestanding ice makers, built-in microwaves, trash compactors, and built-in food centers. The Comprehensive Coverage plan offers the same coverage for appliances.

Where these plans differ is that the Standard Coverage plan only provides coverage for certain home systems: air conditioners, heating systems, electrical systems, water heaters, plumbing systems, garbage disposals, garage door openers, ceiling fans, and central vacuums.

While plumbing systems are covered under the Standard plan, a plumbing blockage is not. This type of distinction is why it’s necessary to think carefully about which type of home warranty plan you’ll need.

MORE: Compare The Home Service Club coverage plans

Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty’s Bronze Care plan is for appliances, while the Gold Care plan focuses exclusively on home systems. Bronze Care provides coverage for your clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, garbage disposal, dishwasher, oven, stove, and built-in microwave. The Gold Care plan covers the home’s cooling and heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as your water heater and ductwork. Select Home Warranty’s Platinum Care plan covers all of these items, as well as your garage door opener and ceiling fan.

No matter which plan you choose, Select Home Warranty also provides free roof coverage.

If there are other home items you’re concerned about covering in your home warranty plan, there might be add-ons available. Ask questions upfront about coverage so you understand exactly what you’re getting.

MORE: Compare Select Home Warranty coverage plans

How much does a home warranty cost in New Hampshire?

If you’re getting a home warranty in New Hampshire, you can generally expect to spend between $250 and $600 a year. Deductibles are typically between $50 and $100. It’s possible that you might pay more or less depending on the home warranty company and coverage you choose, so it’s important to shop around. Plan add-ons can also impact the cost of home warranty coverage.

How does a home warranty work?

Home warranties are service agreements where a company provides coverage of certain appliances and systems for a period of one to two years. During that window, if something stops working due to everyday wear and tear, you can file a claim through a service call. The company will send out a technician and will require you to pay a service fee at the time of service. If the repair need falls under the agreement, the home warranty will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the affected appliance or home system.

One thing to know is that sometimes a coverage cap might not be enough to cover the total cost of repairs, which impacts how much you might have to pay out-of-pocket. The most popular home warranty companies in New Hampshire have higher coverage caps that ensure you won’t be responsible for replacement and repair needs yourself.

Another factor to consider when buying a home warranty is the idea of a pre-existing condition, which is a problem that existed before you signed up for coverage. Often, home warranty companies will reject claims that involve a pre-existing condition; however, this isn’t universal. Some home warranty companies, like American Home Shield, will pay for a pre-existing condition in limited cases. Usually, the requirement is that there was no way to visually detect the problem.

Why is a home warranty in New Hampshire necessary?

Home insurance might cover your home in the event of a natural disaster or theft, but it won’t offer coverage for issues related to everyday wear and tear. In those instances, you might have to pay for the repair yourself, and if you don’t have a budget plan in place, this could be a real challenge. Home warranties provide some extra assurance and give you the opportunity to work with trusted local technicians to fix the problem.

Buying a home warranty in New Hampshire

Before purchasing your New Hampshire home warranty, there are a few important things to remember.

Check for pre-existing conditions

Because this problem might complicate your ability to file a claim, be aware whether your appliances or systems have any pre-existing conditions. While it might be difficult to find coverage for pre-existing conditions, it’s not impossible. Additionally, if there are pre-existing issues that you weren’t aware of, this might not affect your claim.

Make heating and cooling a priority

While it’s common for home warranty companies to at least partially cover your heating or cooling system, make sure that the coverage is as complete as possible. Does the warranty cover ductwork? Is there a chance to get your system routinely cleaned at no cost to you? Does part of the system fall under an “add-on” and require extra payment?

New Hampshire can get very cold, and if there’s a problem with your heating system, it can negatively impact your way of life. Don’t wait for a problem to discover if your HVAC is covered or not—learn as much as you can before signing up for coverage.

Don’t assume coverage will be the same if you move

Whether you’re moving to or from New Hampshire, it’s generally not a good idea to assume that your home warranty coverage will be the exact same. For one thing, some home warranty businesses don’t operate in the state to which you’re relocating. Additionally, costs can change according to location. Before you move, research the cost of plans in the state you’re moving to.

The overall idea is to comparison shop while asking questions about home warranty businesses. Become as informed as possible before committing to any particular home warranty plan.

New Hampshire home warranty reviews

Our team at House Method pored over home warranty reviews, and this is what customers have to say about New Hampshire’s top warranty companies.

American Home Shield

This brand has customers in all 50 states. This growth was made possible through customer satisfaction, which is fairly pervasive. Though the company’s plans are comprehensive, some people take issue with the fact that AHS has the first and last word on which contractors customers work with. Additionally, their service fees are a bit higher than many of their competitors.

Gina of Manchester, NH, was very pleased with their service, saying,

“I have used them for three different properties. They are responsive and fair. Any concerns, which have been few, have been addressed and corrected quickly.”

The Home Service Club

The Home Service Club gets high marks for customer support and the work put in by contractors.

Debbie of Manchester, NH, wrote,

“The service provided by The Home Service Club is terrific. We had our dishwasher repaired recently and found the work to be good and the technician that they sent to be respectful and professional. My only complaint is that you have to wait at home for the technician to arrive but otherwise good.”

Despite contractor and customer service satisfaction, some feel The Home Service Club’s home warranty isn’t good value for the money spent. 

Select Home Warranty

Select has some of the best reviews and highest praise from customers. Customers find Select Home Warranty’s plans to be great value for the money. The company also receives praise for their coverage terms and options, customer service, and the reliability and professionalism of the technicians they send to their customers’ homes.

Damian of Ashland, NH, said,

“I have nothing but the highest praise for Select warranty and grateful I ordered a Platinum Plan during the summer. My first claim was handled the way a customer should be treated and having plumbing and roofing options included makes this a real asset for me.”

Our conclusion

We looked at the best home warranty companies in New Hampshire and came away recommending American Home Shield, Select Home Warranty, and The Home Service Club. Even if you decide on a different home warranty business, like Choice Home Warranty or Total Home Protection, make sure you select a plan that suits your coverage needs and gives you peace of mind.