Best Home Warranty Companies in South Carolina (2022)

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:

• How to choose the best home warranty for your purposes
• Why home warranties are so important in SC
• The top home warranty providers in the area
• And much more!

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.

South Carolina’s Best Home Warranty Companies in 2022

1. Choice Home Warranty: Best overall
2. Select Home Warranty: Most cost-effective plans
3. American Home Shield: Best customizable plans
4. The Home Service Club: Quickest service
5. 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# hours

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 and Cons

✓ Service contracts and plans are easy to understand

✓ Excellent customer service 

✓ Outstanding coverage

✓ Plans cover home systems and appliances
X No customization options

Plans and Pricing

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: 

• Basic Plan ($42/month): The Basic Plan covers 13 total items, including your plumbing system, heating system, electrical system, ductwork, water heater, oven, cooktop exhaust fans, dishwasher, microwave, toilets, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, and garage door openers. This plan is a great budget option that provides a massive range of coverage.

• Total Plan ($53.33/month): The Total Plan covers all 13 items included in the Basic Plan, but it also provides comprehensive warranties for air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, and washers. The Total Plan is far more popular in South Carolina, given how frequently homeowners run into issues with AC and refrigerators because of the high heat and humidity.

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:

• Roof leaks (limited coverage)
• Septic tank issues
• Well pump malfunctions
• Pool and spa coverage
• Sump pump problems
• Stand-alone freezers
• Second refrigerator
• Central vacuum systems

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

• Our Take: Most Cost-Effective

• Average Annual Cost: $624-$684

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

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 and Cons

✓ Excellent prices

✓ Roof leak coverage in all plans

✓ Lots of experience

✓ Great customer service

X Coverage caps are lower than some competitors

Plans and Pricing

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: 

• Bronze Plan ($52/month): The Bronze Plan only covers appliances, so you’ll need a different option if you want home system coverage. The appliances covered include refrigerators, ovens, clothes washers, dryers, stand-alone ranges, built-in microwaves, and garbage disposals. This is a great plan for those who only want coverage for home appliances.

• Gold Plan ($52/month): The Gold Plan is for homeowners who want home system coverage rather than appliance coverage. This plan provides a warranty for plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, plus air conditioners, ductwork, and water heaters.

• Platinum Plan ($57/month): The Platinum Plan is by far the best bang for your buck. At just $5 more per month than the other plans, you get coverage for everything included in both the Bronze and Gold Plans, plus plumbing stoppages, garage door openers, and ceiling fans.

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:

• Lawn sprinkler systems
• Pool and spa issues (limited coverage)
• Sump pump problems
• Well pumps
• Stand-alone freezers
• Central vacuum systems

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

• Our Take: Best Customizable Plans

• Average Annual Cost: $419.88-$779.88

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

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 and Cons

✓ Extensive industry experience

✓ Option to customize coverage

✓ High payout rates

✓ Unique coverage options

X A bit on the expensive side

Plans and Pricing

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:

• ShieldSilver ($39.99/month): ShieldSilver excludes all appliances but covers 14 different home systems. Coverage is offered for the electrical system, heating system, plumbing system, ductwork, air conditioning, water heater, garage door openers, smoke alarms, and more. The coverage is less extensive than other plans, but the price is much lower.

• ShieldGold ($49.99/month): ShieldGold includes coverage for both appliances and home systems. This plan includes everything in ShieldSilver, plus coverage for refrigerators, ovens, ranges, dishwashers, built-in microwaves, instant-hot water dispensers, washers, dryers, and garbage disposals. This is a great option for homeowners looking for coverage for both appliances and home systems in one plan.

• ShieldPlatinum ($64.99/month): The ShieldPlatinum plan is the most comprehensive option from AHS. It comes at a higher price than the other options, but it covers everything in the other two plans with lower service fees. It also includes a free AC tune-up, unlimited AC refrigerant, included roof leak repair, coverage for code violations and permits, and higher coverage amounts.

Coverage

American Home Shield’s plans are relatively comprehensive, but the company also offers add-on protection for:

• Electronics (comprehensive coverage)
• Pools and spas (excluding jets and liners)
• Septic pumps (ejectors and blockages, plus pumping)
• Well pumps
• Roof leaks ($1,500 coverage included in ShieldPlatinum)

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

• Our Take: Fastest Service

• Average Annual Cost: $600-$756

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

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 and Cons

✓ Only a 10-day waiting period for warranty to kick in

✓ Wide range of coverage

✓ Excellent customer service

✓ Tons of industry experience

X A bit on the expensive side

Plans and Pricing

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:

• Standard Coverage Plan ($50/month): The Standard Plan covers 18 essential items, including the electrical system, water heaters, air conditioners, plumbing leaks, air conditioning, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, central vacuum systems, ceiling fans, and trash compactors.

• Comprehensive Coverage Plan ($63/month): The Comprehensive Plan includes coverage for everything in the Standard Coverage Plan. However, as the name implies, this option is more comprehensive. In addition, it covers gas leaks, sump pumps, plumbing stoppages, pest control, whole home exhaust, attic fans, doorbells, and more. This plan has some unique coverage options that make it well worth the added $13 per month.

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:

• Utility line coverage package (includes outside water and gas lines, sewer lines, sprinkler system, and more)
• Pools and spas
• Sprinkler systems
• Stand-alone freezers
• Roof damage
• Built-in refrigerators
• Water softeners
• And more

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

• Our Take: Most Trustworthy

• Average Annual Cost: $779.88-$899.88

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

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 and Cons

✓ A rating with the BBB

✓ 60-day workmanship guarantee included

✓ Easy claim submission process

✓ Unparalleled customer service

X A bit expensive

Plans and Pricing

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: 

• Appliance Guard ($64.99/month): As the name implies, this plan only covers appliances and doesn’t warranty any home systems. Coverage includes 11 appliances and electronics, including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, dryers, ice makers, garbage disposal, range exhaust fan, ceiling fans, and garage door openers.

• Systems Guard ($69.99/month): The Systems Plan is best for homeowners looking for coverage for home systems who don’t want appliances covered. This plan includes coverage for nine home systems, including the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, plus air conditioners, bathroom exhaust fans, water heaters, ductwork, and toilets.

• Total Home Guard ($74.99/month): This plan is the best one offered by LHG, as it includes all appliances and systems included in the other two plans. With the price being just $5-10 higher per month, the extent of the coverage is well worth the additional investment. This plan is one of the most comprehensive in the industry and is ideal for South Carolina homeowners.

Coverage

Liberty Home Guard has over 40 add-on services you can choose from for the most comprehensive coverage possible. These include coverage for:

• Pools and spas (coverage for additional spas and saltwater pools available)
• Carpet cleaning
• Lighting fixtures
• Roof leak (limited coverage)
• Septic system pumping
• Electronics
• Sprinkler systems
• Water purification systems (reverse osmosis systems)
• Wine fridges
• Exterior power washing
• And much, much more

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.

Home Warranties in South Carolina Cities

How Much Does a Home Warranty in South Carolina Cost?

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.

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in South Carolina

Final Thoughts

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.

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in South Carolina

Choosing the best home warranty for your purposes in South Carolina should involve careful consideration of the below factors:

• Coverage Options: South Carolinians will undoubtedly run into appliance and home system issues, given the climate and extreme weather. As such, opting for a home warranty with a wide range of coverage options is essential.

• Plan Choices: Not every homeowner in South Carolina will need or want the same coverage. Looking for a company that offers variety in plan options — like appliance coverage vs. home systems coverage — can help narrow down your selection.

• Company Reputation: Given how popular home warranties are in South Carolina, there are many companies to choose from for coverage. You should consider the company’s BBB rating and read some online reviews to ensure you choose a reputable and reliable provider.

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.

What is a Home Warranty?

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.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

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.

How Does a Home Warranty in South Carolina Work?

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:

• You file a claim to request service online, unless your provider has a mobile app for a more streamlined process
• A representative from your provider will come to inspect the issue and confirm that it’s covered by your protection plan
• The rep will fix the issue or outsource to a professional if needed
• You’ll pay a service charge, which averages around $75

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.

What does a Home Warranty Cover?

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.

What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?

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.

Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in South Carolina

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.

Are home warranties worth it?

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.

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

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:

• Plans: Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
• Prices: How reasonable are the monthly and service fees compared to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
• Coverage: How many items are covered in each plan? We looked at the number of items each company covers. We dig into all service contracts available to get all the details.
• Customer service: How is the customer experience when calling the providers? Based on our phone calls, we judged each company’s customer service.
• Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
• Nationwide availability: How many states does the company cover? We found the number of states covered by each company.
• Unique perks: Does the company offer discounts or cover special items? We looked for perks offered by each company that set them apart from the competition.