Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
There are a lot of benefits of owning a home, but as your East Chicago home gets older, you may need to update your systems and appliances. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is saturated with a variety of providers — all with different coverage — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in East Chicago.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty for East Chicago residents. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage limits from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Liberty Home Guard Review. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty for East Chicago residents. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty Review. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
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
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty for East Chicago residents. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage limits from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Select Home Warranty Review. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for East Chicago residents. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage limits from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield Review. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
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
First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for East Chicago residents. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage limits from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our First American Home Warranty Review. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for East Chicago residents. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage limits from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services Review. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for East Chicago residents. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage limits from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the East Chicago area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club Review. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
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 | $5,974 |
Heating | $3,983 |
Electrical | $597 |
Toilets | $498 |
Washer/Dryer | $797 |
Plumbing | $597 |
Oven | $1,593 |
Fridge | $597 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps East Chicago homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial protection to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who own older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern builds with modern fixtures probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include microwaves, washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dryers, and others. Covered systems include heating, plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. It's important for East Chicago homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by the policy.
Here are some essential home warranty words to know before signing a contract:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies can have major differences in covered items. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, electrical, heating, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive options also include coverage for other items such as pools, spas, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for a company that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using companies with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for quality service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks improve the chance of getting qualified contractors to your home promptly. Reach out to possible providers to find out how many technicians they have in East Chicago to understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Certain home warranty providers include perks such as energy-efficient upgrades, discounts on maintenance, and protection for smart home devices. These can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks help improve your home and maximize your home warranty.
East Chicago’s cold winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty is designed to cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of needing to vet service technicians by yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send pre-screened technicians right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred between owners when you sell your home.
One of the main drawbacks of a home warranty is not everything you care about may be covered. It’s important to compare the different plans and opt for one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in East Chicago. 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. Additionally, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties cover problems with home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in East Chicago. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty plan can help home sellers, investors, homeowners, homebuyers, and real estate agents. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in East Chicago include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in East Chicago is $122,552, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.