Homeownership in Idaho typically comes along with some of the most beautiful scenery and landscapes that the United States offers. Homes in Idaho can vary considerably in style, size, and overall architecture. However, one thing remains across all homes in Idaho, and that is the issues that can come up with the repair and replacement of appliances and systems.
The Idaho home warranty is important because of the climate and weather in the state of Idaho. With the way the conditions change, it is really important to ensure that your home systems and home appliances have the protection they need.
Homeowners across the Gem State have a number of choices when it comes to home warranty companies, so we’re here to provide some guidance. After researching each provider’s cost, coverage, and reputation, we’ve identified the three best home warranties in Idaho.
Best Overall: American Home Shield
Quick Take
American Home Shield, a nationwide home warranty provider with over 50 years in business, earns first place on our list thanks to its highly comprehensive coverage plans.
Each of its service contracts comes with protection not just against wear-and-tear damage but also damage resulting from improper repair or maintenance. Most home warranty companies exclude damage from rust, sediment, and corrosion damage, but American Home Shield also covers these conditions.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Covers types of damage other providers don’t, such as rust and corrosion damage
- Has been in business since 1971, creating a solid reputation in the home warranty industry
- Provides generous coverage caps
Cons
- Offers a costlier premium plan than any providers on this list
- Does not offer coverage available for standalone freezers
Plans and Coverage
American Home Shield offers three plans: a systems plan and two combo plans:
- ShieldSilver: This plan covers your most important home systems like electricity, plumbing, heating and cooling.
- ShieldGold: AHS’s next plan covers the systems above plus major appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes dryers.
- ShieldPlatinum: The final plan covers all of the items above plus extras such as A/C refrigerant, code upgrades and HVAC tune-ups.
You can also purchase additional coverage for items outside and around the home with any of these plans. This includes optional coverage for pools/spas, septic pumps, well pumps and guest units of up to 750 sq. ft.
| Coverage | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
| Roof-leak repairs | ✔ | ||
| Air conditioner | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heating unit | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Doorbells and chimes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage door openers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Toilets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Faucets and valves | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Range/Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ |
Cost
Every home warranty plan requires you to pay a premium for every month or year of your contract. This price is the same no matter how often you file a claim. However, you’ll also have to pay a deductible, also called a service call fee, every time a contractor visits your home to diagnose or repair a problem.
American Home Shield allows you to customize this fee with regard to your monthly premium. If you pay a lower deductible, you’ll pay a higher premium and vice versa.
Thus, the amount you pay every month will depend on how comprehensive your American Home Shield plan is and the service fee you choose. Here are the prices we received when secret shopping for an average single-family home of about 2,000 sq. ft. in Boise, ID.
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| ShieldSilver | $39.99 | $29.99 | $24.99 |
| ShieldGold | $49.99 | $39.99 | $34.99 |
| ShieldPlatinum | $69.99 | $59.99 | $54.99 |
Get a Free Quote
To find out how much an American Home Shield plan will cost you, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this quick online form.
Home Warranty Resources
- What is a Home Warranty?
- How Much Do Home Warranties Cost?
- Is a Home Warranty Worth It for You?
- Best Home Warranties in 2023
- Do Your Appliances Need Extended Warranties?
Best Most Customizable Plan Options: America’s First Choice Home Club
Quick Take
If you haven’t yet seen a plan that takes your specific needs into account, try customizing your warranty with America’s First Choice (AFC) Home Club’s many options. You’ll have your choice of four plans, three service fees and a number of additional coverage options. You can choose between paying month-to-month or signing a contract for one or more years. Note that repairs are guaranteed for the length of the contract, which could be up to three years.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Keeps prices intact for as long as you renew your contract
- Lets you choose your own service contractors with prior authorization
- Doesn’t require contract for month-to-month payment
Cons
- Doesn’t cover microwaves and plumbing stoppages outside of premium plan
- Has a $75 cancellation fee
Plans and Coverage
You’ll receive the most basic coverage with AFC Home Club’s Systems Plan, which covers only home systems, or the Silver Plan, which only covers appliances. The Gold Plan covers both plus ductwork, and the Platinum Plan adds on coverage for plumbing stoppages, microwaves, ice makers and faucets.
Add-on options include a tankless water heater, in-ground pool, stand-alone freezer, sump pump, double oven, central vacuum, hot water dispenser, septic system, or well pump with this home warranty company. If you choose the Systems, Silver or Gold Plans, you can also add an ice maker or microwave coverage.
| Systems Plan | Silver Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan | |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Kitchen refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | |||
| Ice maker | ✓ | |||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ |
Cost
With AFC Home Club home warranty coverage, you can choose from a service call fee of $75, $100 or $125. If you anticipate needing to request service frequently, it might be a good idea to choose a lower service fee with a higher monthly or yearly premium. Here are the premium costs for a plan with a $100 service fee in Boise.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| System Plan | $50.67 | $540 |
| Silver Plan | $42.17 | $439 |
| Gold Plan | $59.08 | $641 |
| Platinum Plan | $64.67 | $709 |
Get a Free Quote
Enter your contact information in this easy form or call 877-755-1115 to get a free quote from AFC Home Club.
Best for Value Shoppers: Select Home Warranty
Quick Take
Finally, Select Home Warranty is an excellent choice if you want the peace of mind of home warranty service but are on a limited budget. You’ll receive similar protection from expensive repairs at a reasonable price since even the combo plan is under $50 a month. You can receive two full months of free coverage if you pay annually, including limited roof leak coverage with all plans.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers two months free with annual payment
- Provides free roof leak coverage
- Has add-on coverage for sprinkler systems
Cons
- Offers lower coverage caps than competitors in this review
- Requires you to cancel auto-renew in writing
Plans and Coverage
Select Home Warranty’s three plans include a Bronze Care plan that covers appliances and a Gold Care plan that covers systems. The Platinum Care plan covers both, plus garage door openers, ceiling fans and plumbing stoppages.
Optional coverage is also available for a lawn sprinkler system, central vacuum, pool, septic system, spa, stand-alone freezer, sump pump or well pump.
| Coverage | Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
| Limited roof leak | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air conditioning and cooling | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Electrical system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Stove/Oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage door opener | ✔ | ||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ | ||
| Ceiling fan | ✔ |
Cost
Select Home Warranty offers a relatively low service fee of $75 with each of its plans.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
| Platinum Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
| Gold Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
| Bronze Care | $46.08 | $499.99 |
Get a Free Quote
For a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this simple online form or call 888-370-3956.
How Much Does a Home Warranty in Idaho Cost?
The Idaho home warranty will cost approximately $725 a year on average. This, of course, will change depending on the size of your home, the optional coverage you choose, the number of service requests you have, and more. Home warranties in Idaho are also going to vary depending on the type of home you live in. With condos and townhouses, the pricing is typically lower than a large single-family home. If you are on a budget, look for a home warranty plan that offers a customizable service fee and plan pricing.
| Overall | $723.03 |
| Single-Family | $568.47 |
| Multi-Family | $1,072.20 |
| Townhome | $484.07 |
| Condo | $567.56 |
| Duplex | $832.01 |
| Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,203.33 |
| Home Under 10,000 sq ft | $662.41 |
How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Idaho
Hopefully, you now feel as though you can choose a home warranty plan for your Idaho home. Narrowing things down to the top five companies on the market is quite an accomplishment; however, you will still need to choose just one policy for your Idaho home. There are some essential features to look at when you start narrowing things down; those are the service fee costs, coverage caps or limits, and add-on options.
- Service Fee Costs: The service fee is the price you pay for a repair technician to come to your home and evaluate the issue that you are having with your system or appliance. Once they diagnose the issue, they will fix it without you having to pay any additional money for the repair.
- Coverage Caps or Limits: Each system or appliance covered under your plan will have a coverage cap or limit. This means that repairs and replacements will be covered until you reach the policy cap. For some plans, this is $500, and for others, it is closer to $3000. If you have high-end appliances and systems, choose the higher coverage limits.
- Add-On Options: The add-on options included in the home warranty plan can allow for coverage of things like pools, spas, and second refrigerators. If your home has quite a few appliances and systems that fall outside the realm of the standard plan, make sure to check for add-on coverage options.
Top Home Maintenance Problems in Idaho
Idaho homes experience a wide range of weather and climate conditions throughout the course of a year. It is important to understand that these changes will impact the appliances and systems in your home.
- Water Heater: A water heater makes it possible to take a warm shower and wash hot dishes. Water heaters tend to have a shorter lifespan than some other systems in the home. Having a home warranty in place can help you have some money to put towards your water heater repair.
- Electrical System: The electrical system keeps all other systems in your home functioning and running at all times. Electrical systems are essential, but electricians are expensive. Having a home warranty in place to protect against the cost of an electrical repair will save you money.
- Plumbing Stoppages: There are several types of plumbing coverages associated with home warranties; plumbing systems and plumbing stoppages are two of the main types. Plumbers can charge hundreds of dollars just to diagnose an issue with your system. When you have a home warranty in place, the price is just the cost of the service fee.
How Does a Home Warranty in Idaho Work?
Once you have chosen the best home warranty for your Idaho home, you will need to ensure that you understand how it works. Whether you live in Boise, Meridian, or Idaho Falls, the process for using your home warranty should be nearly the same.
- Purchase a home warranty policy and wait the 10-30 days before the home warranty will go into full effect; cancellation during this time period is typically free of charge
- As soon as your home system or appliance experiences an issue, be sure to contact your home warranty provider immediately and take a look at the policy documents to see if the issue you are calling about will be covered
- Use the online portal system, a phone call, or a live chat to let a representative know about your home warranty-related issue
- Pay the service call fee before the technician or contractor comes to your home to inspect the issue; expect this to happen within 24 to 48 hours after submitting a claim
- Once the issue is inspected, options for repair or replacement will be presented to homeowners; if the appliance or system can’t be repaired, the home warranty plan could offer replacement costs
- Repair should happen within 24-72 hours, depending on parts needed and the schedule of the contractor or service technician
- A workmanship guarantee will protect you from having to pay the service fee more than once; if the repair fails, simply let your home warranty provider know
Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Idaho
As great as a home warranty can be, there are times when customers will complain and likely even cancel their plan. Having an idea as to what people consider negatives before you start your plan may help you have a better experience. Here are a few of the issues that Idaho homeowners have had with their home warranty plan.
- Claim Denial: having your home warranty claim denied can be really frustrating. The good news is that you can typically avoid this by understanding your coverages and ensuring you take great care of your home systems and appliances.
- Failed Repair: unfortunately, there are times that a repair will fail and require you to wait for another technician to come and repair it. Most of the time, a failed repair will be protected by the workmanship guarantee and will not cost you anything extra.
- Expense: home warranty plans will add an additional cost to your monthly budget. Although these home warranty plans can pay for themselves after just a few breakdowns, there are times when your home may not experience an issue the entire year. In this case, be glad that you had the peace of mind that the best home warranty brings with it.
Our Verdict
Overall, American Home Shield earns our top recommendation based on the company’s long standing reputation as well as the comprehensiveness of its plans. You’ll protect your home from breakdowns of covered items due to more conditions than simply wear and tear. As a result, rates run slightly higher than competitors, but the extra coverage is worth the cost increase for many homes.
However, that doesn’t mean American Home Shield is right for all homeowners and all budgets. Before you choose a provider, it’s important to check out home warranty reviews and compare quotes. Fortunately, all three providers on our list offer free quotes and sample contracts online, and we recommend getting at least three quotes for your home before making your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Idaho Home Warranties
How much does a home warranty cost in Idaho?
The cost of your Idaho home warranty depends on how comprehensive the plan is and the coverage limits that come with it. Overall, home warranties tend to cost between $30 and $75 a month with a service fee between $75 and $100.
If I have homeowners’ insurance, do I need a home warranty?
You may still need a home warranty, even if you have homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance and home warranties protect your budget in different ways. Home insurance covers worst-case scenarios like catastrophic weather, fire and theft. However, it won’t pay for repairs or replacements when the systems or appliances in your home break down due to normal wear and tear.
Do I need a home warranty if I’m buying a new home?
If you live in a newly manufactured home, your systems and appliances may still be covered by manufacturer’s warranties. These apply to specific branded items and usually only cover repair and replacement if the problem is a defect in manufacturing. However, if your appliances are no longer under a manufacturer’s warranty, you can benefit from a home warranty.
How long does a home warranty last?
Typically, a home warranty contract lasts for 12 months. However, some companies give you the option to sign a longer contract, usually in exchange for a lower rate. A few may offer month-to-month protection without requiring a contract at all, but the monthly rate will likely be substantially higher than if you signed a contract.
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
To help you find the best home warranty, our reviews team researched numerous home warranty companies, analyzing their coverage plans, pricing and customer service, among other factors:
- Coverage: Home warranty companies that provide extensive coverage and protect important systems and appliances, including your air conditioning, refrigerator and heating, scored higher than companies with minimal coverage.
- Plan variety: A provider with more coverage plans allows for more flexibility among customers. In general, most home warranty companies provide an appliances-only plan, systems-only plan and combination plan.
- Pricing: We scored providers based on their monthly plan prices and service call fees compared to the industry average pricing. Companies with more affordable coverage received more points than companies with more expensive plans.
- State availability: Where you live will determine what companies are available in your area. Home warranty companies that covered more states received more points than companies with a limited state availability.
- Trustworthiness: There are some home warranty companies that are scams and don’t follow through on their service agreements. We rated companies based on their years of experience, ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer reviews.
To keep our data current, our team regularly updates the data points for each company to ensure their coverage offerings, pricing and availability are accurate.
