Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in San Bruno can be costly, particularly as your home ages and your appliances and systems have to be updated or repaired. A home warranty policy can help protect homeowners by lowering the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
The home warranty market is saturated with many providers — all with different plans — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in San Bruno.
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 offers the best overall home warranty for San Bruno residents. Choice offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty for San Bruno residents. Select offers 3 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 3 plans from Select Home Warranty are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for San Bruno residents. AHS offers 3 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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
First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage for San Bruno residents. First American offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for San Bruno residents. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for San Bruno residents. HSC offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our 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 | $8,201 |
Heating | $5,468 |
Electrical | $820 |
Toilets | $683 |
Washer/Dryer | $1,094 |
Plumbing | $820 |
Oven | $2,187 |
Fridge | $820 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists San Bruno homeowners cut the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, washers, and others. Covered systems include plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, and heating. Many home warranty companies also provide add-on coverage for locksmiths, central vacuums, roof leaks, and septic systems. San Bruno homeowners should 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 problems such as natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by your policy.
There are multiple home warranty terms to know before signing an agreement, including:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive plans may also cover additional items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. As this charge applies to every separate claim, you may want to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also do away with deductibles for homeowners who don't file claims in a certain period.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as repair speed, contractor expertise, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Check review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to learn more about companies. Favorable ratings and feedback suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty companies have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks increase the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home swiftly. Contact possible providers to find out how many repair professionals they have in San Bruno to understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Certain home warranty companies provide extras such as discounts on maintenance, protection for smart home devices, and energy-efficient upgrades. These offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra perks can enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
San Bruno’s relatively mild winters and hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected 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 vetting technicians 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. A home warranty can also offer value in other ways. For instance, some policies can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
One drawback of signing up for a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For instance, if one of your appliances already has a manufacturer's warranty, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read over the contracts you’re considering carefully to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Another thing to consider is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing issues and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about this if you need more information or if this is a problem for you.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in San Bruno. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty policies 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 plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in San Bruno. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, real estate agents, and landlords can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in San Bruno include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the plan.
Home warranty plans usually last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In San Bruno, where the median home value is $1,266,919, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.