Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
As much as you may enjoy owning a home in Federal Way, there's always that worry about whether your appliances and systems are going to need repairs over the next few years. A home warranty in Federal Way can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the many options available. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty companies in Federal Way.
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 in Federal Way. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,500.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. Read our American Home Shield Review to learn more.
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 in Federal Way. First American has more than 39 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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 has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also generally about $1,500.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. Read our First American Home Warranty Review to learn more.
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 in Federal Way. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also generally about $1,000-$2,000.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read our Cinch Home Services Review to learn more.
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 in Federal Way. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,000.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. Read our The Home Service Club Review to learn more.
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 | $6,667 |
| Heating | $4,444 |
| Electrical | $667 |
| Toilets | $556 |
| Washer/Dryer | $889 |
| Plumbing | $667 |
| Oven | $1,778 |
| Fridge | $667 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Federal Way homeowners reduce the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear. When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer builds with functional fixtures probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, washers, dishwashers, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include heating, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. Federal Way should understand that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repair claims will be approved. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty words to understand before signing a contract:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty plans can have major differences in covered items. Most plans provide protection for heating, AC, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options also extend protection to other items such as pools, roof leaks, spas, and well pumps. Focus on companies with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your 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 providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, repair speed, contractor expertise, and customer satisfaction. Check review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about companies. Good reviews and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty providers maintain networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to learn how many repair contractors they have in Federal Way and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Bigger networks improve the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Certain home warranty companies provide perks such as discounts on maintenance, energy-efficient upgrades, and protection for smart home devices. These bonuses offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Federal Way can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating 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 time by removing the need to research technicians — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to complete the necessary repair or replacement. In addition, though it varies by company, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.
There are also some drawbacks to buying a home warranty policy, like the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
Another downside is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Federal Way. Our high-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 cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Federal Way. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
A home warranty plan can help real estate agents, home sellers, homeowners, investors, and homebuyers. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty policy will cover your home’s systems, appliances, 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're concerned about one more than the other.
Home warranty plans typically last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who pays 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 has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Federal Way, where the median home value is $564,681, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
