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7 best home warranty companies in Hoover, Alabama

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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A home warranty provides financial protection if an appliance or major home system suddenly breaks down. For a monthly fee, the warranty company covers repair and replacement costs for items such as HVAC units and refrigerators when they break down from normal wear.

Did you know that the typical life span of an HVAC system is seven to 25 years? Other major systems, such as water heaters, only last an average of six to 12 years. Most appliances last just 20 years or fewer, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

If your Hoover house contains any aging furnaces, dishwashers or other appliances, you'll likely face an untimely breakdown. These best home warranty providers offer robust coverage at reasonable prices.

With the scorching summer heat in Alabama, air conditioner breakdowns in Hoover are that much more taxing for homeowners. A home warranty from one of the national companies below will give you an easy and economical path to the future repairs you might need.

Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
$150 Off Any Plan
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Find the best home warranty for you in Hoover

Here's our list of the best home warranty companies in Hoover:

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.5/5

Average monthly costs: $22.00 - $80.00

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty pairs its three coverage plans with flexible service call fees. It also offers coverage perks, including an appliance color-match program and an "Even If" service fee guarantee. With this guarantee, 2-10 will refund your service call fee if your covered item can’t be fixed or replaced.

What we like

  • Offers a $25,000 annual coverage cap
  • Pairs plans with a plan-length workmanship guarantee
  • Offers unique perks such as color matching appliance replacements

What we don't like

  • Charges a monthly processing fee if you choose monthly premiums
  • Excludes washer and dryer coverage from most plans
Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard

4.6/5

Average monthly costs: $49.99 - $59.99

Liberty Home Guard offers the largest number of optional add-ons compared to any provider in this article — 38 in total. It also has plans featuring a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs.

What we like

  • Holds high ratings among customer service reviews
  • Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Offers an extensive list of 40+ add-on coverages
  • Provides an easy claims process

What we don't like

  • Lacks transparency on service call fee pricing
  • Excludes coverage for known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Elite Home Warranty

Elite Home Warranty

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $48.98 - $59.99

Elite Home Warranty offers fully customizable plans with 90-day workmanship guarantees. Customers can build a unique coverage solution that meets their needs.

What we like

  • Allows you to choose your technician
  • Extends a 90-day workmanship guarantee
  • Offers more than 25 add-ons

What we don't like

  • Charges higher service fees for high-end appliances
  • Doesn't provide an online quote
  • Limits repair and replacement coverage caps for older items
American Home Shield

American Home Shield

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $29.99 - $89.99

American Home Shield was one of the first home warranty companies, having been in business since 1971. It provides three base plans and six add-ons.

What we like

  • Offers generous coverage caps
  • Allows customers to build their own plans
  • Provides the option to choose the service fee you want to pay

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
  • Offers limited add-on options
First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty

4.2/5

Average monthly costs: $47.00 - $87.00

First American Home Warranty has comprehensive coverage caps for appliances in each plan. Additionally, First American includes its First American Advantage upgrade in its Essential and Premium plans. This upgrade provides coverage for miscellaneous items, such as appliance knobs and dials.

What we like

  • Allows you to choose your service call fee
  • Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
  • Accepts 24/7 service calls
  • Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
  • Charges higher for coverage compared to other providers
Cinch Home Services

Cinch Home Services

4.3/5

Average monthly costs: $38.99 - $66.99

Cinch is known for offering unique perks such as homeowners insurance deductible reumbursement and adjustable service fees and premiums.

What we like

  • Offers home insurance deductible of $500
  • Extends a long 180-day workmanship guarantee
  • Provides generous $10,000 aggregate coverage limit

What we don't like

  • Charges high service fees of $100-$150
  • Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
  • Isn’t available in Hawaii or Alaska
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

3.9/5

Average monthly costs: $44.42 - $47.75

Select Home Warranty pairs all plans with roof-leak repair coverage. It also charges low plan premiums.

What we like

  • Provides low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
  • Includes two extra months of coverage in annual signup
  • Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option

What we don't like

  • Has a $75 cancellation fee
  • Low coverage caps

Cost of a home warranty in Hoover

You'll typically pay $41-$70 per month for a home warranty in Hoover, around the same as the national average. Opting for annual payments means paying somewhere around $563.62-$927.48 for the year. To find the average home warranty plan cost, we requested hundreds of quotes using 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes across each state the providers service.

Home warranty coverage

Home warranties provide coverage for various major systems and appliances, but they're not a substitute for homeowners insurance. Below, we'll summarize what coverage a warranty typically includes and excludes.

What are the typical items covered under a home warranty?

  • Dishwashers
  • Refrigerators
  • Washing machines
  • Clothes dryers
  • Built-in microwaves
  • Cooktops

Kitchen appliances and household items form the first group of items that a home warranty provides coverage for. This includes the following items: Major systems form the second category of covered items. The specific definition of what a "major system" is will differ between different plans. However, most include the following:

  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Central vacuum
  • Water heater
  • HVAC

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Each home warranty has exclusions, or things it will not cover. Your contract will outline each exclusion upfront, so read carefully before you sign. One common exclusion is breakdowns caused by damage outside normal wear and tear. For example, the warranty would likely not cover an air conditioner malfunctioning due to a dirty air filter, since replacing the filter is a part of routine maintenance. Home warranties also don't cover acts of nature, hazardous waste, cosmetic damage, rust or corrosion damage, improper system or appliance installation and preexisting conditions.

Questions to ask home warranty providers in Hoover

Before purchasing a home warranty coverage plan, we recommend asking providers the following questions.

What items will my policy cover?

Assess your coverage requirements before requesting a quote from a home warranty company. Once you've determined what items need coverage, verify that the provider includes them in its packages. Some companies separate appliance and systems coverage into different plans, so ensure you choose the accurate one. Also, many home warranty companies offer optional coverage, such as for roof leaks or septic tank pumping. Consider purchasing add-ons if you need protection for specific items.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Standard home warranty contracts are valid for 12 months from the coverage effective date, which is usually 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Companies have this 30-day waiting period to prevent customers from filing claims for preexisting conditions. You may extend the 12-month policy term by purchasing a multiyear plan.

What contractors do you work with?

When you're researching home warranty companies, be sure to ask about which service contractors they use. Each repair team must follow specific licensing requirements and standards to get repair approval from the warranty company. If there are no partner contractors in your area, the warranty terms might allow you to pick your own repair company. You can verify a contractor's license by searching the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors database.

How does your claims approval process work?

Knowledge of your warranty company's claim process can make all the difference between an approval and a denial. If you're facing a covered issue, you can usually file a claim over the phone or through the web. While most claims should have a 24 to 48-hour response time, there might be delays if you file outside standard business hours. Once the provider receives your claim, someone will examine the details and connect you with an in-network service provider. The contractor will book an appointment with you, diagnose the problem, and then request final approval from the home warranty provider before starting repairs.

Can I transfer my policy to the next owner of my home?

If you need to move, most home warranty contracts contain a clause allowing you to transfer the policy to the new homeowner. Some companies handle the transfer for free, though others will charge a transfer fee. Sellers can also purchase special home warranty plans that are readily transferable to prospective buyers. This is a simple way to make your home more attractive to your home in a competitive real estate market and give the buyer extra reassurance.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before finalizing a home warranty, we strongly recommend reading a sample contract. Learning more about the company's terms and conditions will help you make an informed decision. It'll also help you stand up for your rights if you need to file a claim. Keep an eye out for these key terms and clauses in your research:

  • Coverage limit: Each home warranty has a coverage limit that establishes how much a company will cover per individual claim. Warranty contracts could also have annual coverage limits.
  • Workmanship guarantee: The workmanship guarantee is the period during which the home warranty company won't charge additional service call fees for a repair if an in-network technician has recently serviced the item. The industry standard is 30 days, but some companies offer longer workmanship guarantees.
  • Exclusions: Pay special attention to the exclusions a warranty company lists in its fine print. For example, most home warranty sample contracts outline component exclusions for every item covered.
  • Service call fee: Each time you file a claim, the home warranty or repair company will assess a service call fee. These fees usually run from $75 to $125.
  • Cancellation: You'll typically find the warranty company's cancellation policy within the sample contract fine print. Depending on the company, if you cancel within the first 30 days of enrollment, you might receive a full refund of the entire premium.

Facts about Hoover

Average High in July
88°F
Hoover
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
34°F
Hoover
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
69%
Hoover
69%
National Average
Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
$150 Off Any Plan
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Our methodology for selecting home warranty providers

We review national home warranty providers against our full home warranty methodology. We score warranty providers based on coverage options and limits, price, brand reputation, customer service, extra features and availability.

Contact us at feedback@homefront.usatoday.com if you have questions or feedback on this article

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. Go back to top

Our editors may use AI as an input tool to tailor information in local markets. All content goes through a rigorous research and review process led by our team of writers and editors.

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