Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many, but maintaining it can get costly over time, especially if your home in Ephrata is on the older side. 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 significantly lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be time-consuming, as there are so many companies to choose from. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and compiled a list of the best home warranty companies in Ephrata for you.
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 Ephrata, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has over 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. AHS offers 3 plans for you to decide between. 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 Ephrata homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,500 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our American Home Shield full review.
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 Ephrata, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has over 39 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. First American offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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 Ephrata homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,500 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting our First American Home Warranty full 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 Ephrata, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has over 44 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to decide between. 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 Ephrata 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. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,000-$2,000 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 Ephrata, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. HSC offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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 Ephrata homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
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 The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $5,780 |
| Heating | $3,853 |
| Electrical | $578 |
| Toilets | $482 |
| Washer/Dryer | $771 |
| Plumbing | $578 |
| Oven | $1,541 |
| Fridge | $578 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps lower expenses for Ephrata homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that break due to 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 fix 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 gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include washers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electrical. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Ephrata homeowners to wait 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 pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misusing a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic policies typically cover heating, AC, electrical, plumbing, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Focus on companies with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize protection for your home's needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, claim approval rates, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about companies. Positive reviews and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty companies have networks of professionals to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to swiftly service your home. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Ephrata to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Certain home warranty providers offer perks such as discounts on maintenance, energy-efficient upgrades, and protection for smart home devices. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Ephrata can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Purchasing a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances stops working all of a sudden.
Plus, having a home warranty can save you some time by eliminating the need to research repair people — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to carry out the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also offer value in other ways. For instance, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
One downside of signing up for 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 included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read over any contracts you’re considering carefully to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being denied, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Ephrata can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects the entire home in case of a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new dryer or air conditioner, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Ephrata.
Homebuyers, landlords, home sellers, real estate agents, and homeowners are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought 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. In Ephrata, where the median home value is $307,985, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
