We recommend Liberty Home Guard in Louisiana for the depth of its HVAC coverage and its reputation for efficient, friendly service.
If your air conditioner has a few years on it, a home warranty might provide the financial peace of mind you need in case of an untimely breakdown.
We also reviewed other top home warranty companies available in Louisiana by comparing coverage options, payout limits and plan costs. Be sure to carefully research at least three providers before making a decision.
Popular home warranties
We recommend that Louisiana homeowners from New Orleans to Shreveport look into these five prominent home warranty companies. Each provider brings its own qualities to warrant consideration, such as depth of services, reputation or competitive pricing.
- Liberty Home Guard: Our top pick
- American Home Shield
- 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
- AFC Home Warranty
- Select Home Warranty
Compare top home warranties
If this is your first time shopping for a Louisiana home warranty provider, we recommend you dedicate as much time as you need to conduct thorough research. Start by analyzing your potential need for a home warranty and determining if your budget can absorb a monthly or annual premium.
“I think that the customer needs to do their due diligence,” said Pierce Haley, executive director of the National Home Service Contract Association. “And see what the company is promising and hunt for your best price.”
We gathered pricing information for the comparison table below by requesting quotes across all 50 states and calculating a national average for all featured companies. We used a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home in each state to obtain our quotes. Your pricing will vary based on your home’s size, location and coverage needs.
Our best Louisiana home warranty recommendations
We chose the top home warranty providers in Louisiana based on consistent service quality, favorable consumer sentiment and comprehensive coverage options. We paid close attention to the depth and quality of HVAC services and plumbing coverage.
To acquire updated pricing and plan information, we requested quotes from each provider using a 1,927-square-foot, single-family home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Other top home warranty companies
The two providers below fell just shy of the top three regarding coverage depth, reputation and add-on options. Still, both companies warrant consideration as you research your options for a Louisiana home warranty.
What do you need to know about Louisiana home warranties?
As with any state along the Gulf Coast, Louisiana is susceptible to extreme summer weather. That means occasional major hurricanes and record-high temperatures that regularly surpassed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in August 2023, according to the National Weather Service.
Extreme temperatures place added stress on air conditioning. Meanwhile, septic systems in soggy Louisiana are subjected to potential flooding, which can compromise sump pumps and other septic system components.
As you shop for home warranties, one of the first questions to ask a sales representative is whether the company’s plans cover AC repair and replacement — and how much the company will pay in reimbursements.
Home warranty cost in Louisiana
The cost of a home warranty depends on coverage level, your home’s size, the optional add-ons you choose to include and the provider you select. You also need to factor in your provider’s service call fees, which can range from $75 to $125 on average, based on our data from nine top providers.
We analyzed the average premiums for leading home warranty providers across three ZIP codes in Louisiana and found that the average monthly premium was $64. The average annual premium in Louisiana was $767. Our research shows that Rhode Island was the only state in the U.S. with higher average premiums.
Appliances and systems life expectancies and replacement costs
“Another item to consider is whether, in the long run, does the homeowner really need a warranty?” said Dottie Herman, vice chair and former CEO of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “Closely examine why you need it and decide if you’ll be paying for coverage you won’t need and won’t use.”
So, consider how long you anticipate your appliances and systems to last — and how much it might cost to replace them.
The chart below lists the average life expectancies and estimated replacement costs of the most commonly covered appliances and system components.
Life expectancy data comes from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. The appliance replacement costs reflect the listed retail prices for five major appliance manufacturers: GE, LG, Maytag, Samsung and Whirlpool. Replacement costs for system components reflect Home Depot pricing.
Appliance/System | Life Expectancy | Replacement Cost |
---|---|---|
Central air conditioning | 7–15 years | $1,100–$7,555 |
Dishwasher | 9 years | $250–$1,900 |
Dryer | 13 years | $499–$2,099 |
Electrical fixtures | 40 years | $75–$125 |
Garbage disposal | 12 years | $65–$350 |
Microwave | 9 years | $109–$1,029 |
Range (electric) | 13–15 years | $649–$4,449 |
Range (gas) | 15–17 years | $479–$3,599 |
Refrigerator | 9–13 years | $584–$10,929 |
Sump pump | 7 years | $150–$2,636 |
Washer | 5–15 years | $499–$2,299 |
Louisiana-specific coverage needs
Air conditioner coverage should factor into whether you purchase a home warranty. Even if your central air system is relatively new, record-high temperatures at the height of summer can keep your AC running all day and night. That kind of strain can age an air conditioner quickly.
Liberty Home Guard topped our list of recommended Louisiana home warranty providers mainly because of its depth of HVAC-related coverage. What really swayed us was that LHG’s Systems Guard plan covers two AC condensing units and two air handlers, or two electric window AC units.
Many providers cover only one condenser and air handler, and some don’t cover window AC units at all. Check the fine print in your agreement to make sure your provider includes coverage for the type of AC you have — and that the dollar limits will offset any out-of-pocket costs you’d have to pay without a home service contract.
Common red flags
Even the best home warranty companies can slip up now and then. If it happens too often, customers are sure to share their horror stories with the public through BBB reviews or elsewhere.
If you see a lot of complaints about a home warranty company’s communication or response time, think twice before signing a contract. It might be wise to look elsewhere if unfavorable reviews dominate the company’s BBB page, or if an online search for the company’s name reveals unfavorable news.
Other red flags include the following
- Quote process is not intuitive or is too complex
- Company’s website does not feature a sample contract
- Provider charges far less than its competitors
- Company’s unresolved lawsuits are featured in news reports
Understand home warranty sample contracts
As you start researching home warranty companies, we recommend reading sample service agreements. These documents list information such as covered items, exclusions, caps on replacement and repair costs, cancellation policies and state-specific details.
Some providers offer detailed, itemized lists of covered items in their sample service contracts, but that’s just the beginning. Look carefully for coverage limits on each item, an annual or aggregate dollar limit and exclusions for repairs or replacement of hard-to-reach items.
Most sample service agreements, such as this sample contract from American Home Shield, include at least these sections:
- Coverage plans: This section details specific items and systems that the plans cover. It should also list excluded items, such as preexisting conditions, age restrictions and requirements for regular maintenance.
- Optional coverage: These are also known as add-ons, available for an additional cost. This might include coverage for pools and spas, an annual HVAC tune-up, coverage for lawn sprinklers or limited repairs for roof leaks.
- FAQ section: This typically explains the contract’s terms, including length, how to file a claim, cancellation policies, waiting periods and service fees.
- Terms of service: This “small print” section explains legal terms about issues such as conflict resolution, uncovered costs and state-specific regulations.
Are home warranties regulated in Louisiana?
Home service warranties are governed by the Louisiana Department of Insurance (DOI). The industry is regulated in Louisiana under the legislature’s revised statutes 51:3141–51:3146.
The statutes say that in order to issue, sell or offer to sell a home services contract to a consumer, a company must register with the Louisiana Secretary of State and remain in good standing with that office, provide a receipt to the customer and provide a copy of the service contract to the customer.
Consumers who wish to file complaints through the DOI can use the complaint form on the agency’s website or by calling the agency at 1-800-259-5300.
Final take: Liberty Home Guard’s AC coverage gives it the edge in Louisiana
While Liberty Home Guard’s monthly or annual premiums might not fit every budget, it earns the nod because of its large add-on selection and comprehensive HVAC systems coverage — in particular, LHG’s Systems Guard plan covers multiple AC units or window units.
That said, every provider listed in this article has its merits. We recommend requesting at least three quotes and asking as many questions as needed to understand what each provider can promise.
Our rating methodology for home warranty companies
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and home. Our research includes gathering customer insights via consumer surveys, interviewing industry experts, secret shopping all of the companies we review and analyzing customer reviews from third-party review sites such as Trustpilot and BBB.
We compare home warranty providers across the following five categories:
- Coverage plans and extra features
- Coverage limits
- Price
- Reputation
- Customer service
Read our full home warranty company methodology for more information.
Best home warranty companies in your city
BBB and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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