First American Home Warranty Review 2026: Prices and Plans
First American Home Warranty stands out for its robust Premium plan and high coverage limits but can be expensive for some homeowners.
First American offers high coverage limits on appliances and no cap on systems including HVAC. Its home warranty plans include a variety of coverage, but its Starter Plan is lacking despite its broad coverage in the Premium Plan. Online reviews are mixed, and you’ll get only a 30-day guarantee on repairs.
Unlike most competitors, First American Home Warranty's most basic warranty covers both systems (plumbing, electrical and heating) and certain appliances.
The Nerds' take on First American Home Warranty
Unlike most competitors, First American Home Warranty's most basic warranty covers both systems (plumbing, electrical and heating) and certain appliances.
NerdWallet rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
What makes it shine: First American doesn’t limit how much it’ll pay toward repairs for plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs, which is a nice perk. The company also covers up to $3,500 per appliance with its first two plans and up to $7,000 per appliance with its Premium Plan. It also covers up to $3,500 for washers and dryers with the Essential Plan and doesn’t limit coverage with the Premium Plan.
Plans also cover repairs relating to a lack of maintenance and issues caused by rust, sediment or corrosion. Not all companies cover these issues.
What could be better: The Starter Plan, which is the cheapest, doesn’t include air conditioning systems, washers and dryers, and garbage disposals. First American also doesn’t guarantee it’ll match your old appliance’s or system’s dimensions, color or brand, which means you could end up with a mismatched kitchen.
Because the price you’ll pay depends on your location, some homeowners will pay more than $150 for First American’s top plan, which is on the expensive side. And the company guarantees repairs for only 30 days, which is a shorter time than some competitors.
Cost | 🟡 Competitive pricing in some areas but expensive in others. |
Plan options | 🔴 Comprehensive only. |
Optional coverage | 🟢 Competitive pricing with a good list of options. |
How much it'll pay for repairs | 🟢 No limit for HVAC, plumbing or electrical and high limits for appliances. |
What it doesn't cover | 🟢 Covers some issues that competitors don’t cover. |
How long it guarantees repairs | 🔴 Only 30 days. |
Customer satisfaction scores | 🟡 Customer ratings are mixed across review websites. |
First American Home Warranty plans
First American has three comprehensive plans. The Starter Plan covers essential kitchen appliances, such as a refrigerator and dishwasher, as well as plumbing, electrical and heating systems. The Essential Plan covers the same as the Starter Plan and adds coverage for a few more appliances, including your clothes washer and dryer, and a water heater and air conditioning system. The Premium Plan, which is the most expensive plan, adds a few items such as plumbing fixtures and additional HVAC components.
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Refrigerator
✅
✅
✅
Dishwasher
✅
✅
✅
Oven/cooktop
✅
✅
✅
Microwave
✅
✅
✅
Garbage disposal
✅
✅
✅
Clothes washer and dryer
❌
✅
✅
Garage door opener
❌
✅
✅
Instant hot water dispenser
❌
❌
✅
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Wiring
✅
✅
✅
Switches and fuses
✅
✅
✅
Plugs
✅
✅
✅
Panels and subpanels
✅
✅
✅
Circuit breakers
✅
✅
✅
Junction boxes
✅
✅
✅
Conduit
✅
✅
✅
Telephone wiring
✅
✅
✅
Smoke detectors
✅
✅
✅
Doorbells
✅
✅
✅
First American covers water heaters but doesn’t categorize them as plumbing items. This means water heaters have their own coverage limits.
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Pressure regulators
✅
✅
✅
Circulating hot water pump
✅
✅
✅
Bathtub motor, pump and air switch assemblies
✅
✅
✅
Permanently installed sump pumps
✅
✅
✅
Certain valves
✅
✅
✅
Leaks and breaks in water, drain, gas vent and sewer lines*
✅
✅
✅
Toilet tanks, bowls and mechanisms
✅
✅
✅
Toilet replacement with white builder's grade
✅
✅
❌
Toilet replacement with similar item up to $600
❌
❌
✅
Hose bibbs
❌
❌
✅
Shower head and arm
❌
❌
✅
Faucets
❌
❌
✅
Garbage disposal^
❌
❌
✅
Instant hot water dispenser^
❌
❌
✅
$500 for cutting into concrete
❌
✅
❌
$1,000 for cutting into concrete
❌
❌
✅
*Except those caused by freezing. ^ First American categorizes these items as plumbing instead of appliances, which means they fall under the plumbing coverage limits.
First American covers a variety of air conditioning systems, including built-in electric wall units, mini-split ductless systems and window units. Coverage depends on the plan you choose and might differ with the air conditioning add-on option.
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Refrigeration system
❌
✅
✅
Thermostats
❌
✅
✅
Refrigerant lines
❌
✅
✅
Liquid and suction line dryers
❌
✅
✅
Fuses and breakers
❌
✅
✅
Disconnect boxes
❌
✅
✅
Wiring
❌
✅
✅
Evaporator coils
❌
✅
✅
Evaporator cooler
❌
✅
✅
Condensing unit
❌
✅
✅
Air handling unit
❌
✅
✅
Heat pump
❌
✅
✅
Grills
❌
❌
✅
Filters
❌
❌
✅
Registers
❌
❌
✅
Refrigerant recharging
❌
❌
✅
$500 for repairs for cutting through concrete
❌
✅
$1,000 for repairs for cutting through concrete
❌
❌
✅
First American covers different heating systems, including baseboard convectors, radiators, hydronic circulating systems, mini-split ductless systems, and furnaces (gas, electric and oil). Coverage depends on the plan you choose.
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Heat pump
✅
✅
✅
Heating elements
✅
✅
✅
Hydronic circulating pumps
✅
✅
✅
Gas valves to furnace
✅
✅
✅
Thermostats
✅
✅
✅
Grills
❌
❌
✅
Filters
❌
❌
✅
Registers
❌
❌
✅
Refrigerant recharging
❌
✅
✅
The following table shows the upgrades you can make to each plan by adding the First American Advantage package. This coverage costs extra each month.
Coverage limits for these services is $500 with the Essential Plan and $1,500 for the Premium Plan.
Item
Starter Plan
Essential Plan
Premium Plan
Crane or lifting equipment rental
❌
✅
✅
Code violation corrections
❌
✅
✅
Local building permits
❌
✅
✅
Repair of improper installation, modification or repair
❌
✅
✅
Repair of improperly sized or mismatched efficiency
❌
✅
✅
Refrigerant recapture, reclaim and disposal
❌
✅
✅
First American also has add-on coverage to include items that aren’t included in your plan. You can read more about that in the cost section below.
» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?
How much First American will cost you
Monthly fees
First American Home Warranty plans cost between $42 to $172 per month, based on quotes the NerdWallet editorial team collected.
We compared First American’s prices by requesting quotes for ZIP codes in different states to see how location changed the cost of plans. Prices differ by ZIP codes in some states, so you’ll have to give your personal information to the company to receive an accurate quote.
Starter Plan | Essential Plan | Premium Plan |
|---|---|---|
$42-$137 per month. | $57-$152 per month. | $77-$172 per month. |
$504-$1,644 per year. | $684-$1,824 per year. | $924-$2,064 per year. |
When the NerdWallet editorial team collected quotes online, we weren’t offered a way to pay for a year’s coverage with one payment and had to agree to monthly payments. But we did notice that First American Home Warranty charges customers who pay monthly a $2.00 handling fee for each monthly payment.
If you don’t want to renew your contract, you have to notify First American Home Warranty in writing 30 days before your contract expires. Otherwise, it’ll automatically renew.
Service fees
Like other home warranties, First American charges customers a service fee when a repair company responds to a service claim. You can choose either $100 or $125 for your service fees, and choosing the more expensive service fee lowers a plan’s monthly cost. You’ll pay the service fee even if First American refuses to pay for a repair, which is common with home warranties.
Optional coverage to add items
Like most home warranties, First American has optional coverage that you can add to your plan. Each extra item has its own monthly fee.
Optional coverage | Quoted price per month |
|---|---|
Pool/spa equipment | $20.83. |
Additional pool/spa equipment | $20.83. |
Water softener | $7.08. |
Limited roof leak | $8.33. |
HVAC tune-up | $2.08. |
Well pump | $7.08. |
Central air conditioning (electric only) | $8.33. |
Septic system | $7.08. |
Additional refrigerator (up to three extra fridges) | $4.17 per extra fridge. |
How much First American pays for repairs, aka coverage limits
Many home warranty companies limit how much they’ll pay for most approved repairs, but First American limits its coverage for only a few repair categories.
First American Home Warranty coverage limits | |
|---|---|
Appliances | $3,500 per appliance with Starter and Essential Plans and $7,000 per appliance with the Premium Plan. |
Water heater | $1,000 with the Essential Plan but no limit with the Premium Plan. |
Clothes washer and dryer | $3,500 with the Essential Plan but no limit with the Premium Plan. |
Water heaters and clothes washers and dryers are not covered in First America’s Starter Plan. | |
First American doesn’t limit how much it’ll pay to repair all other covered items in your selected plan. For example, if the company approves a repair to your HVAC system, it won’t limit its coverage to a maximum of, say, $5,000. But it might limit it to an aggregate amount, which is the maximum amount a company will pay for all repairs during a 12-month period.
Plan to still max out coverage on repairs that cost a lot. Unlimited coverage limits don’t guarantee First American will approve repairs or pay the full cost. A company can still deny repairs that don’t meet certain requirements.
First American also applies limits to how much it’ll pay for add-on items, which is common with home warranty companies. Be sure to pay attention to these coverage limits because they can differ from the major categories that your plan covers. For example, a freestanding freezer might have a different coverage limit as an add-on item than the appliances covered in a plan.
Optional coverage | Coverage limit |
|---|---|
Pool/spa equipment | $2,500. |
Additional refrigerator | $500. |
Well pump | $1,500. |
Water softener and reverse osmosis water filtration system | $500. |
Septic tank system and pumping | $500 for septic system; up to the cost of one instance of system pumping caused by tank backup. |
Limited roof leak | $1,000. |
Pre-season HVAC tune-up | Up to the cost of two HVAC tune-ups per year. |
» MORE: Are home warranties worth it?
When First American refuses to pay for repairs, aka exclusions
First American covers systems and appliances that malfunction because of everyday use, known as normal wear and tear. The company generally doesn’t cover repairs caused by:
Improper installation.
Issues relating to a manufacturer recall or defect.
Missing parts or components.
Natural disasters, such as floods, storms, earthquakes and freezes.
Cosmetic defects that don’t affect the item’s main function.
As is common with home warranties, First American doesn’t cover the costs of routine maintenance.
👓 Spotted by the Nerds 👓
Unlike some of its competitors, First American covers issues caused by rust, corrosion, sediment, or a lack of maintenance.
Extra coverage with First American Advantage
First American has additional coverage you can buy for an extra monthly fee that covers situations that it usually excludes. This option is called First American Advantage and covers the costs of the following when they’re required for repairs:
Cranes or other lifting equipment for roof-top HVAC systems.
Correction of code violations.
Local building permits.
Recapturing, reclaiming and disposing of refrigerant.
Disposal of an appliance or system the company has replaced.
It also adds coverage for repairs (except those for ductwork or roof leaks) needed because of:
Improper installation.
Improper modification.
Improper repair.
Mismatched size or efficiency.
If you purchase this add-on coverage, how much the company will pay for these situations depends on your plan. First American Advantage will pay up to $500 total for the extra coverage with the Essential Plan and $1,500 total with the Premium Plan. The add-on coverage isn’t available with the Starter Plan.
The fine print in First American contracts
Repair guarantee
First American guarantees that repairs will work for 30 days. If a repair fails before you hit 30 days, the company will send another technician to repair the item without charging you a service fee. This repair guarantee is common with home warranties, but 30 days is shorter than some of First American’s competitors’ workmanship warranties, such as Cinch Home Services and AFC Home Warranty.
‘In lieu of repair’
Most home warranties can choose to pay you what it costs to repair or replace an item instead of doing it on their own. This is known as payment in lieu of repair.
First American also has this option, but the amount it pays you might not be enough to actually repair or replace the appliance or system. That’s because First American can buy some replacement items at a discount, and the company pays you what it would’ve paid to replace the item. If you take that money to the store to buy a replacement, you’ll likely pay more than the company would have paid.
Matching replacements
First American Home Warranty will replace covered systems and appliances with items that have the same efficiency and output as the original item. It will also match an item’s features if they affect the item’s primary function.
But First American doesn’t guarantee that a replacement appliance or system will match the old one’s dimensions, brand or color. In other words, you could end up with a white dishwasher that’s too small for the opening in your kitchen and doesn’t match your stainless steel setup.
Hauling away replaced items
Unless you purchase the First American Advantage, which upgrades some of your coverage, the company won’t pay for contractors to haul away or dispose of old appliances or systems. This means that you’ll be responsible for paying for those costs if First American replaces a covered item.
If you add the First American Advantage coverage to your plan, the company will pay up to $500 with the Essential Plan and $1,500 with the Premium Plan for the coverage in certain situations.
NerdWallet's Editorial Team Picks for Best Overall Home Warranties
See which home warranties our writers and editors think are the best options for homeowners.
Where is First American available?
First American Home Warranty sells plans in 36 states. The company doesn’t cover homes in the following states: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. It also doesn’t sell plans in Washington, D.C.
What homeowners say about First American Home Warranty
This section highlights customer reviews and posts about First American Home Warranty. Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like home warranties, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about First American Home Warranty. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances. Likewise, we can’t verify the experiences customers post on consumer review websites.
Some happy customers mention friendly repair technicians that respond promptly. A customer commented on ConsumerAffairs that most of the contractors are helpful, and another said that First American has worked with them if contractors were unreliable. Others note that requesting repairs was easy with the online portal and by phone. One customer described the company as “fair” and said it tends to address claims quickly.
However, some customers took to Reddit to describe their unhappy experiences with First American Home Warranty. For example, one redditor commented that the company denied their claim by saying that the issue was a pre-existing condition, which the redditor says isn’t true. Another redditor posted that First American denied their claim with information that disagreed with the repair technician’s report.
One redditor noted that they’ve gone 10 days without a repair to their heater during winter temperatures and calls to the company haven’t helped speed up the process. Some customer reviews on other third-party websites cite similar issues with long wait times and unhelpful customer service.
» MORE: Home warranty vs. home insurance: What's the difference?
What to know before buying a home warranty
Reading the coverage and exclusions information in your contract is one of the most impactful things you can do to avoid costly misunderstandings in the future. You have a right to read your contract before purchasing a plan, and it’s important to understand that home warranties:
Always have exclusions to coverage, no matter what their sales pitches say. Read your contract carefully before purchasing a plan — especially anything listed as an exclusion or limit of liability. For example, a company might cover air conditioning systems but exclude certain parts or components, such as coils. Other companies cover plumbing repairs but won’t pay to clear all plumbing stoppages or repair certain types of leaks.
Are not a type of insurance. Even though some companies call their service fees deductibles, home warranties do not work the same way as insurance policies. They differ in what they cover and how they pay for repairs or replacements. A home warranty is not a supplement for homeowners insurance.
Limit how much they pay. If the cost of a repair or replacement goes beyond a limit stated in your contract, you’ll have to pay the difference. For example, if the bill for a repair is $2,000 and the limit is $1,500, you’re required to cover $500. This is in addition to your monthly premium and service fee.
Can deny your claim for several reasons. Examples include if you had work performed on a covered item without approval or you modified the system or appliance.
May not pay enough to cover the full cost of replacing a covered item. Home warranties often depreciate the value of items as they age, so you’ll likely have to pay at least some money to replace an item, even if it’s covered by the contract.
FAQs
Is First American expensive?
How much you’ll pay for a home warranty plan depends on your location because First American’s prices vary. Its plans are more affordable in some areas and more expensive in other areas.
How much are First American’s plans?
Plans range from $42 to $172 per month. Your price depends on your location and the plan you choose.
What does First American Home Warranty cover?
It covers major appliances and systems, including HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. What’s covered depends on your plan and any extra coverage you add on to your plan.
Does First American cover HVAC systems?
Yes, it covers air conditioning systems and heating systems. The types of systems it covers depend on your plan, so read the coverage agreement before purchasing a plan.
Does First American Home Warranty have good coverage?
Compared to some of its competitors, First American offers good coverage for certain items. For example, it covers a lot of types of repairs for plumbing and electrical systems compared to some home warranty plans, and it has high coverage limits. However, it doesn’t cover as many HVAC systems as some other companies.
Alternatives to First American Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty guarantees its repairs for the life of a membership, which means you won't pay a service fee if a repair technician has to repair the same issue again at any point as long as you renew your membership.
What the Nerds like about AFC
Offers four plans, including an appliance-only plan.
Has no coverage limit on HVAC repairs.
Has one of the longest repair guarantees in the industry.
Why it's a good alternative to First American
AFC Home Warranty:
Has no coverage cap for HVAC repairs, like First American.
Charges less for its top plan than First American does.
Rolls over your repair guarantee as long as you renew your plan.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want a repair guarantee that keeps going as long as they renew their plans.
Read our full review of AFC Home Warranty.
Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Home Protection's coverage limits are on the high end compared with competitors, especially for HVAC and appliances.
What the Nerds like about Old Republic
Covers a lot of appliances in its lowest comprehensive plan.
Has high HVAC coverage caps and no coverage cap on electrical repairs.
Has consistently higher customer satisfaction scores than most of its competitors.
Why it's a good alternative to First American
Old Republic Home Protection:
Has the same service fee options: $100 and $125.
Charges less for its top plan than First American does.
Offers relatively high coverage caps for HVAC, appliance and electrical repairs.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want high coverage limits but are on a budget.
Read our full review of Old Republic Home Protection.
Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty's coverage limits for electrical, plumbing and appliances are on the high end compared to competitors.
What the Nerds like about Choice Home Warranty
Offers affordable pricing for both plans.
Is available in 49 states.
Covers a decent number of appliances and systems in its cheaper plan.
Why it's a good alternative to First American
Choice Home Warranty:
Charges less for its top plan than First American does.
Has more add-on items available for optional coverage.
Is available in more states.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want comprehensive coverage with a lot of add-on options.
Read our full review of Choice Home Warranty.
How we rate and review home warranties
Our Home Services team reviews home warranty companies with our readers in mind. We provide unbiased reviews that consider several factors, including cost, covered items, coverage limits, customer ratings, ability to choose your own technician and warranty on work completed. When rating home warranties, we researched 13 companies, compared terms and conditions in their service agreements and read customer reviews from three consumer review websites. While NerdWallet does have partnerships with some home warranty companies, our editorial team is uninvolved in that process to ensure unbiased reviews and recommendations. Read more about how NerdWallet rates home warranties.