By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
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Living in South Carolina can be wonderful, with stunningly beautiful beaches to frequent, nearby cities with rich culture, and historical sites galore in Charleston and the nearby areas. However, the Palmetto State is also known for severe weather events that can put your home at elevated risk of damage. While some potential damages will be covered by your homeowners insurance, many residents turn to home warranties for total peace of mind.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Many South Carolinians seek out home warranties for added protection from the tropical storms, hurricanes, and flooding that are common in the area. Others look for coverage for HVAC systems that work hard to combat the heat and protection for refrigerators that battle the high humidity and keep food safe for consumption. No matter what you want protection for, we’ll help you find the best home warranty for your needs and expectations.
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.
Choice Home Warranty has been providing homeowners with added home protection and peace of mind since 2005. It maintains a Better Business Bureau Rating of B-, which is relatively high in the home warranty industry, and many of the customer reviews online remain positive. The company offers two simple plans, both of which have coverage options that are easy to understand. The company provides high-quality services for less money than many competitors.
Pros
Cons
Choice Home Warranty offers two plans: the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. As you might imagine, the Basic Plan has fewer items covered than the Total Plan. However, both options cover a variety of appliances and home systems, which is unusual in the industry and great news for South Carolina homeowners. The coverage caps are higher than you’ll find with many competitors, and Choice Home Warranty’s service call fee is just $85.
Here’s a detailed look at Choice Home Warranty’s coverage:
While the warranty plans offered by Choice Home Warranty are exceptional, the company also offers some add-on coverage options for greater peace of mind. These additional options include:
If you’re ready to get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this form or call 929-400-6164.
Read the full Choice Home Warranty Review.
Select Home Warranty has been serving South Carolina homeowners since 2012, during which time it has amassed a large number of positive online customer reviews and maintained a BBB rating of B, which is excellent in the industry. Select Home Warranty includes roof leak protection in every plan, which is uncommon and great news for South Carolinians who experience extreme weather. The company is also one of the most cost-effective options for peace of mind in SC.
Pros
Cons
X Coverage caps are lower than some competitors
Select Home Warranties has three plan options in SC, including Bronze, Gold, and Platinum. All plans include roof leak coverage and are affordable, with Bronze and Gold keeping monthly costs and service fees incredibly low. The coverage caps you’ll get are lower than you’d see from some competitors, ranging from $500 to $2,000, depending on the system or appliance. The service fee is just $60, which is lower than you’ll pay with most other companies.
Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:
If you’re looking for further coverage for items not included in the three plans, you can opt for the below add-ons with Select Home Warranty:
Ready to get a free quote from Select Home Warranty? Just fill out this form or call the company at 888-370-3953.
Read the full Select Home Warranty Review.
American Home Shield has been providing South Carolina residents peace of mind via home warranties since 1971, making it one of the longest-standing companies in the industry. It provides some of the best customization options for coverage, which is lacking from many competitors. The cost of coverage with AHS is a bit higher than with other companies on this list, but building your own warranty plan is often worth the investment.
Pros
Cons
American Home Shield has three plans to choose from: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. ShieldPlatinum provides the most coverage for the highest price and includes unique coverage, like unlimited AC refrigerant and a free AC tune-up. The coverage caps are quite high and unlimited in some cases for the ShieldPlatinum Plan. The service fee is customizable and can range from $75 to $150.
Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage:
American Home Shield’s plans are relatively comprehensive, but the company also offers add-on protection for:
If you think American Home Shield is the right company for your home warranty, you can get a free quote by filling out this form or calling 888-365-2839
You can read our full American Home Shield Review for more information.
The Home Service Club was founded in New York in 2008, so it has many years of experience in the industry. This is one of the best home warranty companies for customers who want their warranty to take effect quickly and without delay. The company isn’t rated by the Better Business Bureau, but it does maintain generally positive reviews from customers online. It provides a great range of coverage and multiple plans to choose from.
Pros
Cons
The Home Service Club has two different plans: the Standard Coverage Plan and the Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The Standard Plan includes the majority of what you’d see on competitor plans, while the Comprehensive Plan covers just about everything you’d want a warranty for. In fact, the Comprehensive Plan from HSC is one of the best in the industry in terms of what is covered. Coverage caps are set between $500 and $2,500, and you can choose a service fee between $65 and $125 to meet your needs and budget.
Here’s a detailed look at The Home Service Club’s coverage:
While most homeowners are satisfied by the coverage included in the two plans above, The Home Service Club also provides options for add-on coverage, including:
Want to get a free quote from The Home Service Club? Just fill out this short contact form or call HSC at 800-842-9334.
For more information on this company, you can check out our complete Home Service Club review.
Liberty Home Guard was founded in 2017 and has quickly garnished a reputation for excellent customer service. This company is one of the only in the industry to maintain an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. Along with the mostly positive reviews from customers, this is a testament to the quality service you can expect. The company is a bit on the expensive side, but the coverage caps and workmanship guarantee included are often worth the money.
Pros
Cons
Liberty Home Guard has three plans from which you can choose. One covers just appliances, one covers just major systems in the home, and the last one covers both. The add-on options can get expensive, but they provide complete coverage for your home and some unique covered items. Coverage caps range a bit but typically fall around $1,500. The service fee for LHG is just $75.
Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:
Liberty Home Guard has over 40 add-on services you can choose from for the most comprehensive coverage possible. These include coverage for:
If you’re looking for comprehensive coverage from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this contact form or give the company a call at 866-451-2281.
Additionally, you can get more information by reading our in-depth Liberty Home Guard review.
The average home warranty cost in South Carolina is around $55, with a normal range between $45 and $65. Annual costs average between $480 and $780. However, your total can vary quite a bit depending on a few factors. Some things that can affect your price include the type of coverage you want, how high your coverage caps and service fees are, the add-on products you want, and more. The average service fee is around $85, with a normal range of $60 to $150. Coverage caps can fall anywhere between $100 and $1,500.
Overall | $678.07 |
Single Family | $586.06 |
Multi Family | $1,046.44 |
Townhome | $499.35 |
Condo | $574.94 |
Duplex | $832.69 |
Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,232.50 |
Home Under 5,000 sq ft | $642.91 |
Home Warranty Company | Choice Home Warranty | Select Home Warranty | American Home Shield | The Home Service Club | Liberty Home Guard |
Our Rating | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
Best For | Best Overall | Most Cost-Effective Plans | Best Customization Options | Fastest Service | Most Trustworthy |
Average Cost | $50 per month | $60 per month | $45 per month | $56 per month | $70 per month |
Service Fee | $85 | $75 | $75-$125 | $75 | $60 |
Annual Limit | $3,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 to unlimited | $350-$2,000 | $2,000-$2,500 |
Average Response Time | Up to 48 hours | Up to 48 hours | Up to 48 hours | Within 24 hours | Within 24 hours |
State Availability | 49 States | 46 States | 49 States | 50 States | 48 States |
Online Chat / Mobile App | No | No | No | No | Online Chat |
Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
A home warranty is a great option for homeowners in any area, as they provide additional coverage not offered by homeowners insurance. Home warranties are especially useful in South Carolina, as the extreme weather and high summer temperatures can put a lot of strain on appliances and home systems.
If you’re considering a home warranty, we strongly recommend going with Choice Home Warranty. This company maintains excellent customer service, provides comprehensive plans to bring you complete peace of mind, and has affordable prices to fit most budgets. You can request a free quote from Choice Home Warranty by filling out this contact form.
Choosing the best home warranty for your purposes in South Carolina should involve careful consideration of the below factors:
South Carolina is a hotspot for home warranties in large part because of the heat. The state receives temperature highs over 70 for seven months out of the year, with summer highs reaching into the 90s. While this makes for great beach weather, it also puts added strain on your air conditioning system. Since AC tune-ups and repairs aren’t covered by your insurance companies and can be quite expensive, AC coverage alone often makes home warranties worth the investment in SC.
South Carolinians also deal with high relative humidity for most of the year, with an annual average of 68.5%. High humidity can make pools and oceans feel more refreshing, but it also means a higher risk of food spoiling. Your refrigerator is exposed to humidity every time you open the doors and then works harder to keep the interior dry. Refrigerators cost thousands of dollars to replace and often hundreds to repair, yet they aren’t covered by homeowners insurance. Home warranties typically provide coverage for these appliances and more.
Many South Carolina homeowners have pools on their properties to get much-needed relief from the hot, humid summers. Pools are expensive to maintain, and damaged equipment can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to replace or repair. Home warranties often cover pool repairs, maintenance, and normal wear to help protect what your homeowners insurance doesn’t.
You can think of a home warranty like homeowners insurance for your appliances and home systems. While insurance covers major property damage, it often falls short when it comes to smaller repairs and emergencies, like appliances breaking down, some plumbing leaks, roof leaks, pool equipment failures, and much more.
Once you have your home warranty, you can file a claim much like you would with insurance. You’ll pay a service fee — a common feature of all home warranties — and the rest will be covered by the home warranty company, up to the coverage caps. Provided the total cost is under the coverage cap — which it usually is — the only out-of-pocket cost you’ll have is the service fee. Home warranties provide ultimate peace of mind and reduced costs for maintenance and minor repairs.
Most property owners are familiar with homeowners insurance, which provides financial restitution for unexpected damage caused by catastrophes, neighbors, or other people. Insurance will cover things like roof damage caused by fallen trees, floods, and fires.
Home warranties provide coverage for other damages that homeowners insurance doesn’t cover. These can include plumbing leaks, breaking down of appliances, air conditioning systems, electrical systems, pool equipment, sprinkler systems, and much more. Many homeowners opt for a home warranty to supplement their homeowners insurance for ultimate peace of mind.
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The process of securing a home warranty is as simple as contacting a warranty company, choosing a plan, selecting add-on services, and waiting for coverage to kick in. Once it does, you can file a claim with your home warranty provider for any damage or issue that occurs and is covered by your plan. The process is as follows:
All other charges should be covered, leaving you with no additional out-of-pocket costs. Most home warranties have coverage caps, so you will incur additional charges if the repairs exceed these caps. However, the caps are typically quite high and are rarely exceeded.
Home warranty coverage depends on several factors, including the company you choose to get coverage from, the plan you select, add-on services you pay for, and more. Most home warranties cover either appliances or home systems, or both.
Appliance home warranties typically include coverage for major appliances like refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, stand-alone freezers, dishwashers, washers, and dryers. Many also include minor appliances, like garbage disposals, ice makers, range hoods, instant hot water dispensers, and more.
Home systems warranties cover home systems, like electrical systems, plumbing systems, heating and cooling systems, and more. They also often include coverage for things like water heaters, garage door openers, and HVAC ductwork.
Although the items that aren’t covered vary between providers and plans, most don’t cover intentional damage, pre-existing conditions, and damages caused by lack of system or appliance maintenance. Many warranties also don’t include cosmetic repairs, although some of the most comprehensive home warranties and add-on services include things like exterior power washing and window cleaning.
Most South Carolina homeowners find immense value in home warranties. However, there are some sticking points that some residents have that leave them with a negative opinion of their provider or home warranties as a whole.
One of the biggest complaints about South Carolina home warranties is that they don’t cover damages caused by a lack of maintenance. This complaint is often in regard to air conditioning repair. Since AC systems work overtime in SC to combat the heat and humidity, a large portion of repairs that are needed is caused by a lack of maintenance. Unfortunately, home warranties won’t cover the damages if you have failed to maintain your system properly.
Additionally, many South Carolinians purchase home warranties for pool coverage. However, it’s important to read exactly what is covered by your home warranty provider. Some service providers have exclusions related to pool liners, jets, and other components, and others only cover specific pieces of pool equipment.
In most cases, home warranties are worth the cost. Most homeowners know just how often issues crop up in and around their homes, and most are familiar with the high cost of repair in some cases. A quick cost analysis should indicate that a home warranty will very likely end up saving you money in the long run.
For example, the average home warranty will cost between $480 and $780 per year, plus an average service fee of $75 for each claim filed. Although there are no specific statistics for how many home service calls the average homeowner makes per year, somewhere between three and five isn’t unreasonable. Since these calls can include service for electrical issues, plumbing leaks, plumbing blockages, roof leaks, and appliance repair, that number could be even higher.
A single service call to a plumber averages around $329, while calling an electrician once can range from $75 to around $1,000. A fridge repair for a breakdown averages around $300, and roof repair can reach upward of $5,000. Paying up to $780 per year for a home warranty might seem like a lot, but it often pales in comparison to what you’d pay for repairs and replacement costs without a home warranty.
Of course, not every homeowner will have the same experience with home warranties. Ideally, you won’t ever need to make a claim, and your home warranty will just act as an insurance policy. If you have a new home, for example, you should have a lower risk of issues and might not benefit as much from a home warranty. However, many homes in historical areas of South Carolina — like many in Columbia and Greenville — are older, meaning home warranties are generally more valuable here than in other states.
For most homeowners in South Carolina, a home warranty will be well worth the investment. Homeowners insurance will often cover some of the damages from the extreme weather events that frequent the area, like hurricanes and tropical storms. However, insurance falls short when it comes to things like HVAC maintenance required for systems working overtime to combat the heat.
Many homes in South Carolina are older, especially in the historical areas. Home warranties can be a great option and well worth the investment for homes in these areas because damages and problems are more likely to pop up.
Most home warranties don’t cover termite damage or perimeter termite control. However, some companies — like The Home Service Club — include pest control in the more comprehensive coverage plans or in add-on services.
Most home warranty plans cover appliances, home systems, or both. The majority of the plans that cover home systems or appliances and systems will cover HVAC damages, repair, and sometimes maintenance. These warranties can include ductwork cleaning and repair, refrigerant refills, tune-ups, and more. If you’re looking for a home warranty that includes HVAC system coverage, make sure to choose a systems plan or a comprehensive plan.
Everyone can benefit from a home warranty, but homeowners who live in older homes or in extreme climates will typically benefit more than others. As such, South Carolina is a great place to invest in a home warranty, as many of the homes were built more than 30 years ago, and the weather is hot, humid, and unforgiving.
Additionally, home buyers almost always benefit from the peace of mind a home warranty provides, as they are unfamiliar with the real estate they’re purchasing. Having a warranty that covers systems and appliances when you’re unsure what will break down first is almost a necessity.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
To make the most of our research, we developed an objective rating system to score each home warranty company based on the following criteria:
Additional South Carolina Home Warranty Resources
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