Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
If you're thinking about getting a home warranty, our list of the top companies in Altoona can help. Owning a home in Altoona has tons of great advantages, but there are, of course, some downsides too. The humid weather can cause problems in a home and destroy some systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Altoona can help cut your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Finding the best home protection plan for your Altoona home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner did the research to help you find the best plan that will work for your home. Keep reading for our home warranty company recommendations.
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 Altoona, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. If you're looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is lower than other providers in the Altoona area.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read our detailed review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Altoona, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select offers a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Plus, it also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 plans from Select are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are 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 less than other providers in the Altoona area.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Altoona residents. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans that AHS offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS's service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,500 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. To read more, visit our American Home Shield full review.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Altoona, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. HSC offers quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Plus, it also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 home warranty plans that HSC offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC's service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to around $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our review of The Home Service Club.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
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
Isn’t available in 2 states
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty for Altoona residents. Liberty has been in the home warranty industry for about 6 years. If you're looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also typically around $3,000.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information, read our Liberty Home Guard Review.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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 Altoona, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. The 2 plans from First American are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. First American has established itself as a company with very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. It also 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. First American's service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,500 per covered system or appliance.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For more information, read our First American Home Warranty Review.
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 Altoona, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. The 3 policies that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage. Cinch offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Plus, it also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch's plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. For more information on this provider, read our review of Cinch Home Services.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home 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 | $5,983 |
| Heating | $3,988 |
| Electrical | $598 |
| Toilets | $499 |
| Washer/Dryer | $798 |
| Plumbing | $598 |
| Oven | $1,595 |
| Fridge | $598 |
A home warranty is a protection plan for home systems and appliances. When your refrigerator breaks down, and the repair will cost several hundred dollars, a home warranty will make sure that you're only responsible for a predetermined service fee. Home warranty companies typically don't require an inspection, and you can generally start using it about 30 days after purchasing the policy.
When you notice a problem with one of your appliances or systems, you can submit a claim with your home warranty provider. Then, a customer service representative will reach out to you about a repair technician coming over to look at the problem.
At this point, you'll pay the service fee, which is usually between $60 and $150, depending on what plan you select. Once the service fee is paid, a service technician will come to your home, assess the issue, and repair it. If the repair is covered by the warranty and it's within the coverage cap, most homeowners will not have to pay any other out-of-pocket costs .
A home warranty offers coverage on your home's major appliances and systems and it can help cut back on the cost of maintenance on your home. The appliances commonly covered under a home warranty plan are the oven, dryer, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, and more. System coverage typically includes electrical systems, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and more.
You can also opt to pay a bit extra for add-on coverage for items such as roof warranty, spas, swimming pools, and septic systems.
A home warranty will only cover normal wear and tear on your home systems and appliances. Things like lack of maintenance, misuse, cosmetic damages, and pre-existing conditions are excluded from the home warranty policy.
Temperatures in Altoona can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are most likely going to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in Altoona, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.
Not only does a home warranty offer some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a technician and schedule a repair. A home warranty deals with the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most.
There are also some downsides to getting a home warranty plan, such as the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another stipulation is that home warranties usually only cover damage from normal wear and tear. They most likely won't cover systems or appliances that need repairs or replacements due to improper maintenance, natural disasters, animal infestations, etc.
Once you're ready to get a home warranty plan, the first step is deciding what appliances and systems you need coverage for. From there, you can compare plans and contact different home warranty companies to get a free quote. Below is a list of factors that you'll want to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
The best home warranty company in Altoona is Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty has an expansive network of professional technicians and a respected reputation in the Altoona area.
A home warranty plan will cover either the home's appliances and systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a systems or appliance plan can be useful too if you want to save some money.
The type of home warranty you should look for depends on what's a priority to you. A cheaper plan may have higher deductibles and lower coverage caps, whereas a costlier plan may have lower deductibles and provide more coverage. If you have a home that has new appliances or systems, you may be able to get a cheaper plan. The company's reputation and available plans are the two things to look for when picking a home warranty company.
Most home warranties will cover replacement costs in addition to repair costs. How much the home warranty will cover varies from one plan to the next. Home warranties will give you some money towards a replacement but don't expect to have the entire replacement paid for.
Usually, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees. In Altoona, where the median value of a home is $166,034, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
The systems and appliances in a home are covered under a home warranty plan in Altoona. Everything from a microwave to a swimming pool can be covered under a home warranty depending on the plan.
