Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Owning a home can have a lot of perks, but it can also come with some negatives like maintenance. The older your house’s systems and appliances are, the more you may want to consider getting a home warranty. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is filled with a lot of providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Eau Claire.
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 Eau Claire, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. 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 receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Eau Claire, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. 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 receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more.
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 Eau Claire, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. 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 receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our review of Cinch Home Services 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
In Eau Claire, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. 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, this is the provider for you. 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 has 2 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. 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 receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our review of The Home Service Club 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 | $5,964 |
Heating | $3,976 |
Electrical | $596 |
Toilets | $497 |
Washer/Dryer | $795 |
Plumbing | $596 |
Oven | $1,590 |
Fridge | $596 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Eau Claire homeowners lower the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to fix 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 repair 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 homeowners reassurance, as it helps avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for owners of older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and working appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many home systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, garbage disposals, and others. Protected systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Various home warranty plans offer extra coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Eau Claire homeowners should know that most home warranty plans impose a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
There are several important factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for heating, electrical, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also include extra things such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific systems and 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 lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.
A home warranty company's reputation can give you insight into things such as approval rates, contractor quality, repair timeliness, and customer service. Check review platforms such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for great service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Eau Claire and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Bigger networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Temperatures in Eau Claire can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is likely to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Eau Claire, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they need to be repaired or replaced.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of vetting service technicians on your own, 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 example, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
Home warranties also have some cons. While it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair technician who takes care of the repair for you, some homeowners may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers allow you to choose a contractor.
Additionally, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they were damaged due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Eau Claire. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan helps protect against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Eau Claire.
First-time homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, landlords, and home sellers are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy can cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you need 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 typically offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Eau Claire is $289,798, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.