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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
As much as you may enjoy homeownership in Altoona, there's always that fear about whether your appliances and systems are going to make it through the next few years. A home warranty policy can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by cutting the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the best home warranty companies in Altoona.
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 offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total 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
In Altoona, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For more information on this provider, read our review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
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 Altoona, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For more information on this provider, read our review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
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 | $5,920 |
| Heating | $3,947 |
| Electrical | $592 |
| Toilets | $493 |
| Washer/Dryer | $789 |
| Plumbing | $592 |
| Oven | $1,579 |
| Fridge | $592 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Altoona homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear. Homeowners file 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, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for owners of older homes or homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, washers, and others. Covered systems include electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and heating. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for locksmiths, central vacuums, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Altoona homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by your policy.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
There are several important factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans cover AC, plumbing, electrical, heating, and appliances. More inclusive options also extend protection to other items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Focus on companies with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize protection for your home's needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per claim you submit. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms also offer disappearing deductibles if a homeowner doesn't submit claims for repairs for a specified period of time.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Altoona and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. More extensive networks improve the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Home warranty providers often offer bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These extras can add value beyond repair coverage. Added perks help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Altoona’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can help cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the necessary repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
Along with saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can provide you peace of mind and save you the hassle of trying to find a qualified technician to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair issues you may experience. Another benefit of having a home warranty is when you’re selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty to the new owners. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your house sell faster.
One disadvantage of a home warranty is that there are generally exclusions. For example, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read through any contracts you’re considering carefully to understand what is included and what isn’t.
Another thing to take into consideration is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing issues and may require an inspection before your coverage can start. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about this if you aren’t sure or if this is a problem for you.
A home warranty in Altoona can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover problems related to systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Altoona. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty policy can help homeowners, home sellers, investors, real estate agents, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Altoona include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, including your refrigerator, washing machine, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the policy.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Altoona is $310,793, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
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