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5 best home warranty companies in Santa Ana, California

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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Consider a home warranty to financially protect your home's essential items. These policies cover the replacement or repair of common household systems and appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, for a monthly fee.

Many key home systems break down before hitting the 10 to 15-year mark. HVAC systems typically last just seven to 25 years. The normal lifespan for water heaters is only six to 12 years, and most major appliances today go kaput in under 20 years, according to the experts at the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

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

A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover normal appliance wear and tear. With a plan from one of these home warranty companies, you'll have additional reassurance in case of an unforeseen malfunction.

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 Santa Ana

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

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.5/5

Average monthly costs: $22.00 - $80.00

2-10 offers flexible service fees and perks like an appliance color-match program. Through its "Even If" guarantee, it also refunds service fees if repairing or replacing a covered item isn't possible.

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 plans with a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs. Compared to other providers in this piece, it also provides the largest number of coverage add-ons – 38 in total.

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
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
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

3.9/5

Average monthly costs: $44.42 - $47.75

Roof leak repair coverage is a rare perk that Select offers to its customers. It's also a good company to keep on your shortlist if affordable premiums are your top priority.

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 Santa Ana

The typical monthly cost of a home warranty in Santa Ana ranges from $41 to $70, in line with the national average. If you're paying on an annual basis, expect to spend roughly $563.62–$927.48 per year. To calculate national cost data, we requested hundreds of quotes for 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes across each state that the providers service.

Home warranty coverage

Home warranties provide coverage for a variety of major systems and home appliances. We'll give you a general overview of the two main coverage categories.

What are the typical items covered under a home warranty?

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

Major appliances make up the first group of items that a home warranty covers. 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 consist of the following:

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

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Home warranties, like most service contracts, include certain limitations. A common exclusion is breakdowns caused by damage outside normal wear and tear. For example, home warranties will probably not cover an air conditioner breakdown caused by a dirty air filter. This is because replacing the filter is part of routine maintenance.

    Home warranties also don't cover the following:
  • Acts of nature
  • Preexisting conditions
  • Rust or corrosion damage
  • Improper system or appliance installation
  • Hazardous waste
  • Cosmetic damage

Questions to ask home warranty providers in Santa Ana

We recommend asking each home warranty provider you're considering the following questions about their plans, terms and policies.

What items are covered by my policy?

Assess your coverage requirements before requesting a quote from a home warranty provider. Once youknow what items need coverage, verify that the provider includes them in its plans. Some companies separate appliance and systems coverage into different plans, so ensure you select the accurate one. Most home warranty companies also sell optional add-ons for things like additional refrigeration and spas. Evaluate what add-ons you might need and how much they'll add to the home warranty cost.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for 12 months from the coverage effective date, which is 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Home warranty companies put in a 30-day waiting period to prevent customers from filing claims for preexisting conditions. You can get coverage beyond 12 months with a multiyear plan.

What contractors do you work with?

Be sure to ask about the warranty provider's network of licensed service contractors. Companies will usually have strict licensing requirements and other standards for a contractor to get repair approval. If there are no partner contractors near where you live, the company might let you choose your own. You can verify a contractor's license by searching the California Contractors State Licensing Board database.

How does your claims approval process work?

Knowledge of your warranty company's claim process makes all the difference between an approval and a denial. If you're facing a covered issue, you can usually file a claim via a phone hotline or online. While most claims should have a one to two-day turnaround, there might be delays if you filed outside standard business hours. Once the provider receives your claim, someone will examine the details and connect you with a partner service contractor. 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 permitting you to transfer the policy to the new homeowner. Some companies handle the transfer at no charge, though others levy a transfer fee. Some home warranty companies also provide special coverage plans that are easily transferred to prospective buyers. Home sellers acquire these home warranty plans to enhance their home's appeal.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before buying a home warranty, examine the company's sample contracts and policies. Understanding a provider's terms and conditions can help you decide whether they're a good fit for you. It'll also help you advocate for yourself if you need to file a claim. Pay attention to these key stipulations and clauses:

  • Cancellation: Companies generally specify how they process cancellations in their fine print. Many providers will refund the entire plan premium if you cancel within the first 30 days of sign-up.
  • Exclusions: Pay special attention to the exclusions a warranty company lists in its fine print. For example, most home warranty sample contracts specify component exclusions for each covered item.
  • Workmanship guarantee: Most workmanship guarantees last for 30 days from a warranty repair, but some companies offer longer guarantee periods. If you have more issues with an appliance that an in-network technician just attempted to fix for you, the home warranty company will not assess an extra service call fee for a new claim.
  • Coverage limit: The coverage limit puts a monetary cap on how much the home warranty company will pay per repair. There may be further stipulations, such as an annual coverage limit.
  • Service call fee: The service call fee is how much you'll pay the home warranty company or service provider each time you file a claim. Fees typically vary between $75 and $125 per claim.

Facts about Santa Ana

Average High in July
78°F
Santa Ana
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
51°F
Santa Ana
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
83%
Santa Ana
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

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