Best Home Warranty Companies in Texas

A Texas home warranty is a great investment for those who are looking to add extra coverage for their home’s major systems and appliances.

To make your home warranty search easy, our expert team at House Method completed the research for you and found the companies with the top home warranty in Texas. If you’re looking for a home warranty in Houston, or another city in Texas, keep reading to learn about the top providers in the state and how to find a protection plan that’s right for you.

Texas’ best home warranty companies

Texas is the second largest state in the U.S., with only Alaska having more square mileage. The Lone Star state is located in the south central region of the United States, sharing borders with four other states—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

Besides having some of the country’s largest cities, Texas also contains plenty of history-rich towns. Houses are an interesting blend of older homes and newer dwellings, with 57% of Texas homes built during or before 1989 and 40% built in the 1970s or earlier.

Read more: San Antonio Home Warranty Review

If you live in an older house, it makes sense to invest in a home warranty to protect your systems and appliances from breaking down due to normal wear and tear.

Why it’s important to have home warranty protection in Texas

Texas is known for its heat—this is not the kind of climate where it’s easy to stay comfortable if your air conditioning system isn’t working optimally. A home warranty can be your backup in the event that your HVAC malfunctions and you need to remain cool and comfortable.

Here are a few other reasons why getting home appliance coverage in Texas is a good idea:

• Air conditioning breaking down—As mentioned, it’s important for air conditioning systems to work at their best in Texas. If your HVAC system is starting to age (an air conditioning system typically lasts for 15–20 years before it needs to be replaced), it can break down and not perform at its peak capacity. Home warranty plans provide coverage for HVAC issues and can cover repairs or entire system replacements.
• Heating system failure—Although winter temperatures aren’t too severe in Texas, you’ll want to ensure your heating system is up to par when temperatures plunge. Fortunately, a home appliance plan provides coverage for heating repairs.
• Water heater malfunctioning—A water heater typically has an average lifespan of eight to 12 years. Because it’s the source of hot water for your shower, from showering and bathing to washing dishes and clothes, it’s important to keep your water heater in good shape. Some home warranty plans will offer coverage for water heaters under their comprehensive plans, while others will list this as an optional add-on.
• Garbage disposal not working—If cared for correctly, your garbage disposal should last for around 15 years. However, putting starchy foods down the drain or dumping grease into the sink can cause your disposal to break. If your disposal is making noise, leaking, or doesn’t power on, it may be time for a garbage disposal replacement. Fortunately, this system is covered under most home warranties.
• Plumbing system erupting—When you have plumbing problems in the home, whether it’s a leak, clogged toilet, or low water pressure, it’s unlikely that anyone is very happy. Home warranty companies like American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty cover plumbing systems and plumbing stoppages.
• Roof leaking—Roof leaks can start off pretty small, but they can cause significant damage to your walls, ceiling, insulation, and framing. Select Home Warranty offers free roof leak coverage under their home warranty plan.

Read more: Dallas Home Warranty Review

Texas home warranty plans and coverage

Here are five of the best home warranty providers in Texas and what they cover.

American Home Shield

American Home Shield is actually the company which founded the home warranty industry nearly 50 years ago. Current plan choices are as follows:

• Appliance plan—This option covers major home appliances, like your oven and dishwasher.
• Systems plan—This plan covers major home systems, like your electrical and plumbing.
• Combo plan—With this plan, you can protect both appliances and systems in your home.
• Build Your Own plan—Customize your coverage up to 10 items to best fit your needs.

AHS also offers add-on home protection coverages for pools, spas, a guest home on your property (up to 750 feet), and so forth. Read our AHS Review to learn more.

Choice Home Warranty

Choice offers two plans—a Basic plan and a Total plan—plus optional coverage for miscellaneous items like a second refrigerator or well pump. Both plans cover items like a heating system, ductwork, plumbing stoppages, oven, built-in microwave, stove, and much more.

This company also offers a service unique to the industry: freon coverage. Typically, plans charge homeowners $10 per pound, but it’s completely covered with Choice Home Warranty. Read our CHW review to learn more.

America’s 1st Choice Home Club

If you like the broader plans offered by American Home Shield, know that America’s 1st Choice Home Club also offers four plans. They call theirs Silver, Gold, Platinum, and System. As is common in the home warranty industry, they also offer additional coverage for items like your sump pump, septic system, hot water dispenser, pool and spa, stand alone freezer, and tankless water heater. 

Read America’s 1st Choice Home Club Reviews to learn more.

How much does a Texas home warranty cost?

The average cost of a home warranty in Texas is about $325 a year. Prices can vary based on the company selected and the plan chosen; in general, annual prices range from about $300 to nearly $700. The deductible, or service fee, will typically range from about $45 on the low end to more than $100 on the high end.

How does a home warranty work?

Let’s say that you’ve moved to a new part of Texas and your air conditioner breaks down. If you didn’t have a home warranty plan, you’d probably have to call around and find a technician on your own, knowing you’ll have to pay a premium price for service.

Contrast that to the situation in which you have a home warranty plan. You’d be paying a monthly or annual fee for the plan and when your air conditioning system breaks down, you’d simply contact your home warranty service. They’d contact a technician who would get in touch with you to schedule the repairs or replacement.

Although plan specifics vary, you’d typically just be responsible for the service call fee, with repair and replacement costs being completely covered by the home warranty company. 

Note: The coverage caps for your systems and appliances will differ based on the home warranty company you choose, so understand what these limits are before signing up for a warranty plan.

How to buy a home warranty in Texas

When choosing a home warranty plan in Texas, ask yourself these questions:

• What’s covered under the plan I’m considering? If you want coverage for only your appliances, you probably don’t want to opt into a systems plan or combination plan. Additionally, you may want to look out for customizable plans and optional add-ons.
• Are there limits and exclusions on certain items? Read your service contract carefully before signing up for coverage so you can understand what exactly is covered under your plan.
• How much will this plan cost me? Think about how much you have budgeted for a home warranty and find a plan that works for you. Select Home Warranty, HomeServe USA, and First American Home Warranty have some of the cheapest plans in the industry. 
• What does the claims process look like? Determine when your home warranty company would send an approved technician out to diagnose your problem. If it takes longer than 48 hours, consider going with another company.
• What are the plan’s coverage caps? Typically, most providers set the coverage caps to at least $500. Great home warranty companies will have generous coverage caps of $750–$1,000.
• If I sign up for multi-year coverage, will I receive a discount? The best home warranty companies will usually give customers a discount for signing up for a three- or five-year plan.

Our conclusion

In our opinion, America’s 1st Choice Home Club is the best home warranty in Texas.

• It allows you to choose your own technician for service.
• It’s certified by numerous consumer groups, including the BBB, Consumers Advocate, and Consumer Affairs.
• The company provides unique benefits, such as participation in an emergency alert network, credit monitoring services, and more.
• AFC offers work guarantees, including ones that are for 30 and 60 days.

If you’re still not convinced that AFC Home Club is for you, consider other companies like OneGuard Home Warranty, BFS Home Warranty, or Select Home Warranty.