Best Home Warranty Companies in Wisconsin (2022)

Wisconsin has lots of outdoor activities, affordable housing, good schools, and some great cheese. There are some great benefits to living in Wisconsin that many people get to take advantage of; however, there are also downsides to being a Wisconsin homeowner. When you are a Wisconsin homeowner, you will still have systems and appliances that can stop working.

Most homeowners find that a home warranty provides them with peace of mind and financial savings when it comes to carrying out home repairs and maintenance. These protection plans can be especially useful in an area like Wisconsin, where frigid winters and high humidity can put added strain on heating systems, and excessive precipitation can increase the risk of roof leaks. We consider these local factors along with many others to ensure you get access to the best home warranty companies for your specific needs.

Wisconsin’s Best Home Warranty Companies in 2022

• Choice Home Warranty: Best Overall

• Select Home Warranty: Most Cost-Effective

• American Home Shield: Best Customizable Plans

• The Home Service Club: Fastest Service

• Cinch Home Services: Best Workmanship Guarantee

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

Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in the state of Wisconsin. When you look at the service contract that Choice Home Warranty offers, you will quickly see how they have earned their spot at the top of this list. The plan options, service contract, and customer service are all very well done and user-friendly. Choice Home Warranty has been on the market for 13 years. In addition, Choice Home Warranty will offer coverage for your home regardless of the age of the house and the age of the appliances and systems.

Pros and Cons

✓ Excellent customer service

✓ All plans include appliance and system coverage

✓ Great coverage options

✓ Contracts and plans are easy to understand

X Not the best customization options

Plans and Pricing

Choice Home Warranty only offers two plans to choose from. However, this should not be discouraging for a homeowner. Each of the plans covers both systems and appliances and allows greater peace of mind. The pricing of the Choice Home Warranty is also considered to be quite fair. For those that need coverage for things like a roof leak or central vacuum, Choice has options for add-on coverage. Choice Home Warranty has coverage caps that reach up to $2,500, and the service fee is $85 per service call.

Here’s a detailed look at Choice Home Warranty’s coverage: 

• Basic Plan ($42/month): The Basic Plan from Choice Home Warranty is one of the few low-tier options on the market that includes appliances and home systems. This plan covers your dishwasher, oven, cooktop exhaust fan, ceiling fans, microwave, garbage disposal, and garage door opener. It also protects your plumbing, electrical, and heating systems, which include toilets, water heaters, and HVAC ductwork.

• Total Plan ($53.33/month): The Total plan is a more comprehensive option that includes everything in the Basic Plan, plus more. It also covers refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Refrigerator coverage is often relatively expensive, so the fact that this plan is just $11 more per month than the Basic Plan makes it a great deal.

Coverage

In addition to the above plans, you can choose from the below add-on options for additional coverage:

• Central vacuum
• Limited roof leak
• Septic system coverage
• Septic tank pumping
• Sump pump
• Well pump
• Pool/Spa
• Second refrigerator
• Stand-alone freezer

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.  

For more information, read our 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 homeowners and providing home warranty coverage since 2012. In that time, it has grown to service most of the country with great coverage options, all while maintaining positive customer reviews and a decent BBB rating. Best of all, the coverage options from Select Home Warranty are highly affordable, and the Platinum Plan is one of the best values in the industry for the money. One thing worth noting is that all plans include free roof leak coverage, which is great news in areas like Wisconsin, where the precipitation levels are above the national average.

Pros and Cons

✓ All plans offer free roof leak coverage

✓ Many years of experience

✓ Most valuable plans for the money

✓ Excellent customer service

X Coverage caps are a bit lower than competitors

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty has three different home protection plans available: the Bronze Plan, the Gold Plan, and the Platinum Plan. All include free roof leak coverage and can be customized using the add-on coverage options for a small upcharge each month. The coverage caps are lower than many other competitors, as they average around $2,000 per covered item. The service fee is one of the lowest in the industry at just $60 per claim.

Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage: 

• Bronze Plan ($52/month): The Bronze Plan covers appliances only. You’ll get protection for washers, dryers, ovens ranges, and refrigerators. It also includes coverage for some small appliances and electronics, like garbage disposals and microwaves.

• Gold Plan ($52/month): If covering your home systems is more important to you than appliances, the Gold Plan is a better option. This plan protects major systems like plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning. It also includes coverage for issues with your HVAC ductwork and water heater as a part of the plumbing and heating/cooling systems.

• Platinum Plan ($57/month): The Platinum Plan is where the real value comes in. This plan includes coverage for everything in both the Bronze and Gold Plans. It’s just $5 more per month than the other plans, and most homeowners will be able to justify this cost for the added coverage. In addition to what the other plans protect, this plan also covers plumbing stoppages, ceiling fans, and garage door openers. This is one of the best deals in the entire home warranty industry.

Coverage

Select Home Warranty lets you add optional coverage to any plan as well via the below add-on products:

• Pool coverage
• Spa coverage
• Roof leaks (limited)
• Central vacuum
• Stand-alone freezer
• Septic system (includes pumping)
• Well pump
• Sump pump
• Lawn sprinkler system

You can get a free quote from Select Home Warranty by filling out this form or calling 888-370-3953.

Read our Select Home Warranty review to learn more about this company and its protection plans.

American Home Shield

• Our Take: Best Customizable Plans

• Average Annual Cost: $419.88-$779.88

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

American Home Shield is the most customizable plan in the home warranty industry. The American Home Shield plan has been on the market for more than 50 years. Customers that want premium coverage will be pleasantly surprised with what American Home Shield has to offer. The American Home Shield plans are very straightforward, and the company is known for paying out a wide range of claims. In addition, the American Home Shield has very high coverage caps for its covered items.

Pros and Cons

✓ Many customization options

✓ Unique coverage options and add-ons

✓ High likelihood of payout

✓ Many years of experience in the industry

X Slightly more expensive than other options

Plans and Pricing

American Home Shield has three plans associated with its policy; however, they are all customizable. If you want to build a plan that specifically fits the needs of your Wisconsin home, this is the company to go with. In addition, if you have additional features like electronics or a septic pump that you want to be covered, AHS will offer you that option as well. Select’s coverage caps average around $2,000, which is great, and the service fee is very affordable at just $60 per service call.

Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage: 

• ShieldSilver ($39.99/month): The ShieldSilver Plan is the systems-only option from AHS, so it’s ideal if you don’t need appliance protection. This plan covers your electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, plus water heaters, HVAC ducts, and air conditioning. You also get coverage for smoke alarms, garage door openers, and some other minor home systems.

• ShieldGold ($49.99/month): The ShieldGold Plan includes everything in the ShieldSilver Plan. For an additional $10 per month, you also get appliance coverage, which is a great deal. Protection includes microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, water dispensers, garbage disposals, washers, and dryers.

• ShieldPlatinum ($64.99/month): The ShieldPlatinum Plan is the most comprehensive coverage plan from AHS. This plan covers everything in the Silver and Gold Plans, and it comes with lower out-of-pocket costs for service calls and higher coverage limits for better protection. It also includes annual preventative maintenance for your AC system, free refrigerant refills, and more.

Coverage

American Home Shield also has a decent range of add-on products that let you customize your plans, including:

• Electronic extended warranty
• Pool and spas
• Well pump
• Septic pump
• Guest unit
• PC and TV

To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this form or call 888-878-4576. 

To read more, visit our American Home Shield review.

The Home Service Club

• Our Take: Fastest Service

• Average Annual Cost: $600-$756

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

The Home Service Club began back in 2008, and it has over a decade of positive customer experiences and reviews. The company and its plans are best known for how quickly the coverage kicks in. After payment, you’ll be covered in just ten days, whereas many other companies have waiting periods between 30 and 90 days. The company also shines in its ability to get service providers to you rapidly, often within 24 hours. As such, this company is outstanding for emergency coverage.

Pros and Cons

✓ Outstanding customer service

✓ Great coverage options

✓ Only a 10-day waiting period for protection

✓ Years of experience

X Expensive

Plans and Pricing

The Home Service Club has two preset plans you can choose, which offer standard coverage and comprehensive coverage. Somewhat unique in the home warranty industry, both plans offer protection for appliances and services. This company’s coverage caps go up to $2,500 for some items. Along with a wide range of add-on products, you can further customize your plan by choosing a service fee that works for you between $65 and $125.

Here’s a detailed look at The Home Service Club’s coverage:

• Standard Coverage Plan ($50/month): The Standard Coverage Plan includes some major home appliances and systems. It protects your refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, oven, cooktop, clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, garbage disposals, and more. Additionally, you’ll get protection for your plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, plus air conditioners, water heaters, and plumbing leaks. The extent of the coverage is great for the price.

• Comprehensive Coverage Plan ($63/month): The Comprehensive Coverage Plan offers even more coverage options, so it’s usually a better option for most homeowners. It includes everything in the Standard Coverage Plan, plus sump pumps, plumbing blockages, pest control, and more.

Coverage

The Home Service Club offers some unique coverage options via its add-on services, plus common add-ons that appeal to many homeowners. You can choose from the below to supplement either of the plans above:

• Utility line coverage package (includes sewer line coverage, outside water and electric lines, gas lines, sprinkler systems, and more)
• Sewer ejector pump
• Pools and spas
• Pool and spa equipment (doesn’t include spa heaters)
• Spa heater
• Sprinkler systems
• Roof damage (including leaks)
• Water softeners
• Well pump
• Built-in refrigerators
• Stand-alone freezers
• Jetted bathtub
• And more

You can get a free quote for customized protection from The Home Service Club by filling out this contact form. You can also call the company directly at 800-842-9334.

For more information on The Home Service Club and its offerings, you can check out our complete The Home Service Club review.

Cinch Home Services

• Our Take: Best Workmanship Guarantee

• Average Annual Cost: $335-$480

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

Cinch Home Services Plan has the best workmanship guarantee for Wisconsin homeowners. With some home warranty companies, a failed repair will mean having to pay another service fee. Luckily with Cinch Home Services, you have a 180-day window to get free reservice for no extra cost. The Cinch Home Service company has been in the industry for more than 40 years. With an A- rating and a history like this, Cinch is trusted by Wisconsin residents. In addition, Cinch Home Services tends to be very particular about the workmanship and contractors that they choose to complete work.

Pros and Cons

✓ 180-day workmanship guarantee

✓ Includes protection for pre-existing conditions

✓ Trusted name in the industry

✓ Wide range of coverage at affordable prices

X Coverage caps can be a bit lower than competitors

Plans and Pricing

There are three Cinch Home Services plans to choose from. The appliance plan, systems plan, and then a combo plan. Most Wisconsin homeowners enjoy the combination plan because it has both systems and appliance coverage. There is also plenty of add-on options to help make the Cinch Home Services plan more comprehensive.

Here’s a detailed look at Cinch Home Services’ coverage: 

• Appliance Plan ($27.99/month): The appliance plan includes coverage for all major home appliances and minor ones as well. You’ll get protection for washing machines, dryers, cooktops, ovens, built-in wall ovens, dishwashers, ice makers, microwaves, refrigerators, cooktop exhaust fans, and trash compactors. This is one of the lowest prices in the industry for appliance coverage.

• Built-In Systems Plan ($32.99/month): This is the systems-only plan from Cinch, and it offers another great value for customers who don’t need appliance protection. This plan covers air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning systems. It also includes many other minor systems like attic fans, ceiling fans, doorbells, central vacuum systems, garbage disposals, garage door openers, sump pumps, water dispensers, smoke detectors, toilets, water heaters, and jetted bathtubs.

• Complete Home Plan ($39.99/month): The Complete Home Plan is the most comprehensive option available from Cinch Home Services. It includes everything in the other two plans combined for just a few dollars more per month. It also provides a unique reimbursement for your homeowners insurance deductible, which means you’ll get coverage above and beyond what most other home warranties provide.

Coverage

Cinch also offers some add-on products that let you customize your protection plan, including:

• Pool (includes heater)
• Spa (includes heater)
• Septic tank/plumbing
• Well pump
• Pool with spa (includes heater)
• Premier Upgrade Package (added coverage for permits, code violations, and more)

Cinch Home Services will give you a free quote after filling out this form or calling 833-743-1056. 

Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services review.

Home Warranties in Wisconsin Cities

How Much Does a Home Warranty in Wisconsin Cost?

A home warranty in Wisconsin will range in price from $38 to $80 a month, or around $616 per year. The more money you pay for the home warranty, the more coverage you will have. In addition, the price of the plan can be impacted by the service fee costs and coverage caps. The average service fee is around $85, and coverage caps can range from $500 to unlimited.

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Wisconsin

Final Thoughts

At this point, we hope you feel much more confident about your ability to choose a home warranty in the state of Wisconsin. With all the positives that homeownership can bring, don’t let the stress of owning a home get to you. Choice Home Warranty offers some of the best coverage on the market for Wisconsin residents. With its history in the industry, impressive rates, and overall broad range of coverage, Choice Home Warranty is an easy top choice. Getting a few quotes from several home warranty companies is a smart option as it can ensure you get the best value. Don’t hesitate to get a home warranty policy started today.

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Wisconsin

At this point, you have some great options for home warranties in the state of Wisconsin. You will now have to compare these coverages to find out which one will be the best fit for your game. Three things to look at when comparing coverages are coverage choices, service fees, and customer reviews.

• Coverage Choices: Some home warranty plans offer just systems coverages, others just appliance coverage. The best home warranty plans for Wisconsin homeowners tend to be the combo coverages that have both systems and appliances covered as part of the plan. 
• Service Fees: Service fees are the price that you pay for a home warranty repair or replacement. To have a contractor come out to the house to inspect the issue, you will pay a service fee. The service fees tend to range in price from around $60 to $150. 
• Customer Reviews:  Customer reviews can give you a better idea of how a home warranty company will handle any issue that comes up with the plan. Customer reviews tend to provide you with a better understanding of what a home warranty experience will be like.

The above criteria really apply to finding the best home warranty company in any area, but there are some more specific things you should consider when searching for the best home warranty provider in Wisconsin.

First, Wisconsin is located far north and experiences long, frigid winters, where temperatures can remain below freezing from November to March. During these months and the surrounding months, your heating system will be under constant stress to keep your home warm. Heating equipment in areas like this is more likely to break down, meaning you would benefit from choosing a warranty that covers heating systems.

The snowfall in Wisconsin is also above average, with residents contending 48 inches of snow per year on average, which is about 1.5 times the national average. In combination with the 34 inches of rain per year, the snow puts added strain on your roof and makes leaking more of a probability. As such, home warranties that include coverage for roof leaks can end up saving you more in the long run.

What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty is a home protection plan for your appliances and home systems. It works somewhat similarly to a home insurance policy in that it provides coverage for damages in your home when you don’t expect them.

You pay for home warranties monthly or annually, and they also require that you pay a service call fee each time you file a claim. The service fee averages around $85 per call. Home warranties also have coverage caps per covered item and total service caps, which put a maximum payout amount on each covered item and total coverage for the year.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

It’s convenient to compare home warranties and homeowners insurance because they offer financial coverage for unexpected damage in your home, but there are some crucial differences.

The first major difference is in what they cover. A home warranty covers individual systems and appliances, which means you can file a claim for minor damage to a single item in your house. A homeowners insurance policy is a more general coverage that protects your entire home. You wouldn’t typically file a homeowners insurance claim for a refrigerator or a plumbing leak.

The differences in coverage also dictate when the two protection plans kick in after damage or another issue is identified. A home warranty will be used far more often and for comparatively minor problems, like a fridge failing to cool or an electrical outlet failing to work properly. A home insurance policy is generally reserved for emergencies and only kicks in when there is a catastrophe, like a tornado, flood, or another natural disaster.

Finally, home warranties and homeowners insurance policies differ in their deductibles and coverage amounts. A home warranty just makes you pay a service fee for each claim, which averages around $85, and then it provides coverage per item, often up between $1,500 and $3,000. A homeowners insurance policy requires a much larger deductible in the thousands of dollars, but the coverage limit is often in the hundreds of thousands or even unlimited.

How Does a Home Warranty in Wisconsin Work?

Securing a home warranty in Wisconsin is a straightforward process that just requires a little research upfront. You just need to find a home warranty provider that works for you, choose a plan, pay the annual fee, and wait for coverage to engage. Coverage typically starts 10 to 90 days after you pay for your plan.

Once your coverage is in place, you can follow the below steps to file a claim and get coverage for your issue:

• Find a problem with an appliance or home system that is covered by your home warranty
• File a claim and request service. Most providers let you file a claim online or by phone, and some have a convenient mobile app to make the process even easier
• Your provider will hire a service technician, who will come out to your property to perform a home inspection and fix the issue. This often takes place within 24 to 48 hours, depending on your home warranty company
• You pay the service fee — an average of $85 — and your home warranty company will cover the rest, up to the coverage cap
• If your repair or replacement exceeds the coverage cap for that covered item, you will need to pay the difference

What does a Home Warranty Cover?

A home warranty will cover repair and replacement costs associated with normal wear. Unlike home insurance policies, it provides protection for individual items in your home. Most plans cover appliances, home systems, or both.

Common appliances covered by home warranties include refrigerators, ovens, ranges, microwaves, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, and more. Home system coverage often includes plumbing, electrical, and heating systems, plus air conditioners and smaller systems, like garage door openers and garbage disposals.

It’s important to note that all home warranties have coverage limitations and exclusions. Even if a system or appliance is covered, there can still be repairs related to that item that aren’t covered. For example, an AC system could be covered, but your service contract might state that issues with refrigerant leaks are excluded. Be sure to read your home warranty service contract thoroughly before committing.

What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?

Every home warranty is different, so you’ll need to check your service contract for specific coverages and exclusions. Appliance-only plans will exclude home systems, and systems-only plans will exclude all appliances.

However, there are some exclusions that are nearly universal in the home warranty industry. For example, most plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions with your home, nor will they cover intentional damage or issues arising from a lack of proper maintenance. Another common exclusion is cosmetic repairs, like if your fridge gets dented.

Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Wisconsin

Countless homeowners in Wisconsin benefit from home warranties and have a positive experience dealing with their providers. However, there are some negative comments about some home warranty companies in the area.

One of the most common issues we see reported in negative company reviews is denied coverage without a reasonable explanation. Unfortunately, some less reputable companies will deny coverage to try to save money, as each claim leads to a greater outlay of funds. You should only ever work with reputable home warranty providers, like the ones we’ve reviewed above. In other cases, the denial might be righteous, and it could be an exclusion included in your service contract. Make sure to read yours thoroughly before signing to avoid any surprise coverage denials.

Another common complaint we get is that the service technician hired for an emergency issue — like no heat in the dead of winter — doesn’t arrive on time, which forces the homeowner to pay out of pocket for their own repair. It’s wise to choose a company with a fast turnaround time to be sure you don’t run into this problem and end up needlessly spending out-of-pocket money.

Are home warranties worth it?

All it takes is one or two repairs or replacements of a covered system or appliance to be able to justify the costs that you pay for your home warranty plan. As a homeowner, you will very likely get more use out of a home warranty plan than a homeowners insurance plan.

Of course, it’s impossible to say with certainty if your home warranty will end up saving you money in the long run, but the potential value is easy to see if you look at average repair and replacement costs. For example, a single call to a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech will average around $300. Make two to three calls per year, and your home warranty has paid for itself and saved you money on top.

Similarly, a fridge repair call averages around $400, and a replacement can reach up to around $3,500. Appliances are expensive to repair and replace, but a home warranty plan can leave you with just an $85 service fee, making them well worth the investment after just one issue with an appliance.

Most homeowners find that, in addition to helping to protect the budget and savings account, the peace of mind that a home warranty brings is well worth the price you pay. This is often true regardless of whether you file claims or not.

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. 

To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.

We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings, using whole star increments between one and five. 

Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories: 

• Coverage (0.4): This category evaluates the scope of protection offered by a home warranty provider. We clearly distinguished between limited or broad coverage to help homeowners identify their own home protection needs. We also factor in claim turnaround times, average waiting period lengths, plan types, annual coverage limits, policy exclusions, etc.
• Cost (0.3): This category considers what home warranty companies charge homeowners monthly, annual, and out-of-pocket. We urge homeowners also to consider the cost-to-value ratio of a home warranty plan.
• Transparency and Trustworthiness (0.15): This category evaluates home warranty providers based on pending or past legal action, hidden fees, lack of information readily available on the website, exclusions, and more. We consider how upfront a company is to its potential policyholders, which says a lot about its products and services.
• Customer Support and Satisfaction (.09): This category evaluates the efficacy of a home warranty company’s effort to provide supportive guidance to inquiring customers and how policyholders are satisfied with the assistance they receive. 
• Customization (.06): This category evaluates the ability of homeowners to adjust and choose their policy details, such as pricing variation, optional add-ons, and the number of plans available.