Jump to: Fast Facts | Upsides and Downsides | Coverage Options | Pricing | Coverage Caps | Customer Reviews | Companies Compared | Our Recommendation | FAQ
If you’re looking for a new home warranty policy, you have many options. First American Home Warranty (FAHW) is worthy of consideration due to its easy-to-understand coverage terms, high coverage limits for appliances, comprehensive First Class Upgrade, and decades of experience in the industry.
After researching more than 35 providers, we selected the best home warranty companies and included First American Home Warranty in our top 10 recommendations. In this in-depth review, we’ll look closely at FAHW’s claims process, compare the pros and cons, clarify policy details, and review customer feedback to help you choose the right home warranty coverage.
Fast Facts About First American Home Warranty
- Founded: 1984
- State Availability: 35 (all but Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin)
- Service Fee: $85
- Number of Plans: Two
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit FAHW’s site
Upsides and Downsides of First American Home Warranty
Every home warranty company has its advantages and drawbacks. Before choosing your policy, it’s essential to carefully read the sample contract and understand the fine print on coverage limits, exclusions, and other aspects. We highlight below a few pros and cons for homeowners to consider.
Upsides
- Generous coverage caps: All home appliances are covered up to $3,500, and many home systems don’t have a pre-set coverage limit.
- First Class Upgrade: This upgrade package expands the coverage of FAHW’s plans by covering additional components, debris disposal, code upgrades, and other costs.
- Simple service fee model: FAHW’s service call fee is always $85, making it easy to understand.
Downsides
- Limited plan options: Compared to other providers, FAHW offers fewer plan options.
- AC as an add-on: Air conditioning is only available as an add-on and not included in the base plans.
First American Home Warranty Coverage Options
First American Home Warranty offers two simple options: the Basic Plan and the Premier Plan. Both plans have a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which means that the service provider will return to reservice a covered item at no additional cost if it breaks again during the 30-day window. You also have several optional coverage items available if you need them.
Basic Plan
First American Home Warranty’s Basic Plan covers home appliances, including your clothes washer, clothes dryer, cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, oven, range, refrigerator, and trash compactor.
Premier Plan
The Premier Plan covers all the items in the Basic Plan, plus a few more essential home systems. These items include your central vacuum, ductwork, electrical system, garage door opener, heating, plumbing, plumbing stoppages, and water heater.
Optional Add-ons
First American Home Warranty offers several additional coverage options:
- Additional refrigeration
- Central air conditioning (electric)
- First Class Upgrade*
- HVAC tune-up
- Pool/spa equipment
- Septic tank pumping/system
- Well pump
*The First Class Upgrade covers building permits, code upgrades, improper installations and modifications, refrigerant recapture and removal, and disposal of appliances, systems, and components after service.
First American Home Warranty Pricing
According to the quote we obtained for a single-family home in Santa Rosa, California, FAHW’s plans cost between $36 and $46.50 per month with an $85 service call fee.
A service call fee is a cost outlined in your policy that you’re required to pay after filing a claim before the service request is fulfilled. You can think of it as paying a type of deductible before coverage applies. The service call fee typically applies to one covered item at a time. You can pay this fee online or by phone when you file a claim.
First American Home Warranty Coverage Caps
A coverage cap is the total dollar amount a home warranty provider will pay for a covered repair. If a repair or replacement exceeds the coverage cap, the homeowner will be responsible for the difference. We’ve read through FAHW’s warranty service contract to find out more about the specific terms of the company’s policies. You can review a few key coverage limits in the table below.
| Item | Coverage Cap |
|---|---|
| Appliances | $3,500 |
| Ductwork | $500** |
| Heating system | $1,500*** |
| Plumbing system | $500 |
| Salt water pool/spa equipment | $1,500 |
| Toilets (covered with First Class Upgrade) | $300 per occurrence |
| Water heater | $1,500*** |
| Well pump | $1,500 |
**Coverage for diagnosis, access, repair, or replacement of ductwork located in or below a concrete slab and items encased in or covered by concrete is limited to $500.
***This includes any geothermal or water source heat pump, glycol, heated water, steam or
water heater/heating combination unit.
First American Home Warranty Reviews
We read reviews from thousands of real-life consumers as part of our research process. First American Home Warranty currently maintains an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars from more than 3,000 customer reviews on Best Company. The positive reviews indicate that the company generally provides high-quality and quick service, comprehensive coverage limits, and decades of reliable experience. However, the company doesn’t service all states, and there’s an additional cost for air conditioning.
We’ve included a few reviews below that represent customer perspectives on the experience you can expect from FAHW.
“This warranty came with a house that we purchased. The customer service people were very helpful whenever I had questions. We used the service to check our HVAC system and paid a service fee each time. We also had our electrical system checked out in the house as we had an issue with fuses blowing, and they fixed it immediately.” —Lisa Hochstetler via Best Company
“When I opened my first claim, they were going to find me a plumber within an allotted amount of time. When that time came, I got an email saying I needed to find my own contractor. I had plumbing backing up, and it was an emergency. I am giving 4 stars because they refunded my deposit because I ended up canceling the order because it was cheaper than I had feared. They were very helpful in that resolution.” —Danyl via Best Company
“I have been somewhat disappointed with the communication from the company on repair claims. The first dispatch of repair technicians was prompt, but getting a tech back to complete the work took several calls and turns out that despite having essentially full coverage, a good chunk of the work [that was] required turned out not to be covered, but it took me calling and following up on numerous occasions to learn about this. I am now still waiting for them to schedule a tech to complete the work, and I anticipate having to follow up again instead of them reaching out to me with updates, which was just not how I anticipated this process would go. All in all, I think it’s worth having the coverage for the investment, but I do wish that the process was more user-friendly, communicative, and transparent.” —Jenna Satariano via Best Company
“Our in-wall plumbing leak was resolved, but then the drywall needs to be replaced. FAHW could not source a local contractor and therefore told me to find my own for reimbursement. I can’t find a local contractor, probably because FAHW couldn’t find a contractor, and now I am getting emails from FAHW saying that if I don’t find a contractor soon, then FAHW is going to close my claim. Unnecessary pressure on me to try to do something that FAHW couldn’t do itself.” —Patrick Perl via Best Company
How First American Home Warranty Compares to the Competition
Here’s an overview of how First American Home Warranty compares to other top home warranty companies.
Our Recommendation
As one of the oldest home warranty providers we have reviewed, FAHW has a long history of providing high-quality and quick service to its customers. First American Home Warranty can be an excellent option for homeowners with older homes. The provider offers high coverage caps for kitchen appliances and even includes coverage for items that have had improper installation or modifications (if you choose the First Class Upgrade). Additionally, since AC isn’t included in the base plans, you won’t be paying for unneeded coverage if your older home doesn’t have central air conditioning.
To request a personalized quote, use First American Home Warranty’s simple online tool or call its phone number at 800-891-9778.
First American Home Warranty FAQ
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts.
During this process, we determined that the most critical aspects of a home warranty company include available service plans and add-ons, depth of coverage, plan cost, industry reputation, customer support infrastructure, and additional features. We also focused on the ability to choose your own contractor, upgrade your coverage package, transfer your plan to another owner, and cover roof leaks, high-end appliance brands, ceiling and exhaust fans, and faucets and fixtures.
Our research supported that plan coverage should carry the most weight, with customer support as the second-most important factor. Industry reputation, plan availability, and additional features were rated equally. We determined that price range, while worth considering, should not be the primary basis for choosing a home warranty provider for your home’s needs.