Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
San Francisco offers homeowners some beautiful living options. However, unplanned repair and replacement costs on your home’s appliances and systems can get quite pricey. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the sheer number of options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty companies in San Francisco.
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
In San Francisco, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our thorough review of Choice Home Warranty.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
Low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
Two months of free coverage
Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option
90-day repair guarantee
Has a $75 cancellation fee
Low coverage caps
In San Francisco, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select offers 3 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting our thorough review of Select Home Warranty.
Bronze Care Plan
Gold Care Plan
Platinum Care Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
In San Francisco, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS offers 3 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our thorough review of American Home Shield.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Established company with a bbb accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
In San Francisco, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American offers 2 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified.
First American Home Warranty offers 2 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are close to the $1,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting our thorough review of First American Home Warranty.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
In San Francisco, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our thorough review of Cinch Home Services.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
In San Francisco, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC offers 2 plans for you to choose from. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for San Francisco homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our thorough review of The Home Service Club.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
---|---|
Air Conditioner | $8,110 |
Heating | $5,407 |
Electrical | $811 |
Toilets | $676 |
Washer/Dryer | $1,081 |
Plumbing | $811 |
Oven | $2,163 |
Fridge | $811 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps San Francisco homeowners cut the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers, washers, garbage disposals, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include electrical, heating, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Most home warranty plans require San Francisco homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies normally only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover AC, heating, electrical, plumbing, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also include additional items such as pools, roof leaks, well pumps, and spas. Look for companies with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which gets paid per repair request filed. The per-request costs can add up. You may decide to look for providers with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms also offer disappearing deductibles when customers go a period with no claims filed.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, claim approval rates, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Look at review sites like Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about providers. Good reviews and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential companies to ask how many repair professionals they have in San Francisco and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Home warranty providers often include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These extras add value beyond just repair coverage. Added perks maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in San Francisco can be quite cold in the winter, the weather can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system. Buying a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances stops working suddenly.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of having to vet contractors by yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can increase your home’s real estate value. If you ever decide to sell your house, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you purchased your home warranty through.
One disadvantage of purchasing a home warranty is that there are often exclusions. For example, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read through any contracts you’re considering thoroughly to understand what is included and what isn’t.
Another stipulation is that home warranties typically only cover malfunctions due to normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover home systems or appliances that have stopped working due to natural disasters, improper maintenance, animal infestations, etc.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in San Francisco. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in San Francisco.
First-time homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, landlords, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in San Francisco include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers almost all your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items listed in the plan.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Usually the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in San Francisco is $1,271,322, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.