Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
AFC Home Warranty offers homeowners a competitive package of plans with comprehensive coverage, no limit on HVAC repairs and a repair guarantee that carries over with plan renewals. The company lets customers choose their own repair technicians with approval and pays up to $3,000 for some kitchen appliance repairs. However, AFC has lower customer satisfaction scores than some competitors and is on the higher end of cost for monthly premiums.
Call AFC Home Warranty
on AFC Home Warranty's website
Overall | 3.0 NerdWallet rating |
Price | 2.0 NerdWallet rating |
Service fees | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
Customer satisfaction | 3.0 NerdWallet rating |
Breadth of coverage | 3.0 NerdWallet rating |
Coverage limits | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
This snapshot shows some factors that we consider when rating a home warranty company and is not representative of the full evaluation process. | |
No HVAC coverage limit. AFC doesn’t limit how much it’ll pay toward HVAC repairs; however, this comes with the caveat that it can depreciate the repair cost for older systems.
High coverage limits for some items. AFC covers up to $3,000 for ovens, rangers, cooktops, washers and dryers, dishwashers and kitchen refrigerators.
Flexible service fees. You can choose your service fee from three options and see how it affects your monthly premium.
Lower coverage limits for plumbing and electrical systems. The company only covers up to $500 for these two systems, which is low compared to some competitors’ coverage.
No technician approval for some items. If you need a repair for an item that is covered for less than $250, AFC is more likely to pay you the money directly for you to hire someone to fix it.
No $100 service fee option online. If you want to get a quote for the $100 service fee option, you have to call the company instead of using the website.
AFC offers four home warranty plans:
Silver Plan only covers appliances, including a refrigerator, oven/range, cooktop, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, garbage disposal and garage door opener.
Gold Plan includes the Silver Plan items and covers a water heater, plumbing and electrical systems and heating and air conditioning systems along with ductwork.
Platinum Plan builds on the Gold Plan, adding coverage for a built-in microwave, plumbing stoppages, faucets and attic, exhaust and ceiling fans.
Diamond Plan includes the same coverage as the Platinum Plan with additional coverage for exterior water lines, exterior sewer lines and electronics, including smartphones.
Nerdy Perspective
Skipping a tuneup might forfeit your coverage.
“AFC Home Warranty requires proof of a checkup, sometimes called a tuneup, before it’ll approve a service request for an HVAC system or tankless water heater. If you anticipate covering either item, stay on top of annual maintenance to avoid having a claim denied.”
AFC Home Warranty has add-on coverage that you can tack onto existing plans. Available options include coverage for:
Septic systems.
Sump pumps.
Well pumps.
In-ground pools and spas.
Stand-alone freezers.
Electronics (for plans below the Diamond Plan).
As with most home warranties, AFC covers repairs for items that malfunction because of daily wear and tear. It doesn’t cover issues resulting from rust or corrosion or pre-existing conditions. AFC won’t fix cosmetic issues, like dents on a dishwasher, if it doesn’t affect the function of the item. These are common exclusions with home warranty companies.
» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?
Like most home warranty companies, AFC limits how much it’ll pay for certain repairs.
Coverage for appliances includes:
Oven or range, cooktop, dishwasher, refrigerator, and clothes washer and dryer are covered up to $3,000 each.
Built-in microwave and garage door opener are covered up to $500 each.
Refrigerator ice maker is covered up to $300.
Garbage disposal is covered up to $150.
For systems, AFC has the following limits:
HVAC systems do not have a coverage limit.
Ductwork is covered up to $150.
Plumbing is covered up to $500 with up to $300 of that available for plumbing stoppages.
Water heater is covered up to $1,000.
Interior electrical is covered up to $500.
Ceiling, exhaust and attic fans are covered up to $150.
Although AFC doesn’t have a coverage limit on HVAC repairs, that doesn’t guarantee that it will replace your system with a new one or that a replacement will be identical to the one you have. Approved replacements depend on multiple factors and the company’s approval.
Additionally, regardless of coverage limits, AFC aggregated cover maxes out at $50,000 per contract term.
AFC also states in its sample contract that it won’t assign a technician for items with $250 or less in coverage, which includes a garbage disposal, ductwork and fans. If you file a claim for these items, the company can choose to pay you cash to have it replaced on your own.
Plans start at $64.75 per month for the company’s basic comprehensive plan.
To compare AFC Home Warranty’s pricing, we requested quotes for every plan in three cities that represent different costs of living.
City | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan | Diamond Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Seattle, Washington | $64.75. | $75.08. | $106.08. |
Dallas, Texas | $64.75. | $75.08. | $106.08. |
Tulsa, Oklahoma | $64.75. | $75.08. | $106.08. |
Average price | $64.75. | $75.08. | $106.08. |
Prices in this table show a range of quotes for the $125 service fee option. These quotes will change if you choose a different service fee; generally, selecting a lower service fee raises the cost of a monthly premium. | |||
Like most home warranty companies, AFC charges a service fee every time it dispatches a repair technician for a claim. A customer can choose $75, $100 or $125 for their service fee, and customers who choose a higher service fee will pay less for their monthly premiums. But you’ll have to call the company to get a quote with the $100 service fee — only prices with the $75 and $125 service fees are available online.
We think that AFC’s repair guarantee is one of the better ones we've seen among home warranty companies. Most home warranties guarantee repairs for 30 or 60 days, which saves the customer from paying another service fee and any additional costs if an approved repair fails within that time frame. However, most homeowners would likely agree that a repair done properly should last longer than 60 days.
AFC raises the bar with its guarantee that repairs will be covered for the life of your plan. As long as you continue to renew your plan, the guarantee will carry over, which means you’ll never be charged if a repair has to be repeated on the same part for the same reason. This policy applies to all repairs except plumbing stoppages (clogged drains).
You might be charged another service fee if a different part of the same appliance or system fails or the same part fails for a different reason, which is standard with home warranty repair guarantees.
NerdWallet considered customer reviews from three review websites to get a wider perspective of customer experiences. We’ve highlighted the types of experiences that we’ve found to be most common, keeping in mind that online reviews tend to lean toward negative experiences. NerdWallet hasn't independently verified the claims made in these consumer reviews.
Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5. ConsumerAffairs: 2.0 out of 5. Better Business Bureau: 3.65 out of 5.
Positive customer reviews of AFC Home Warranty note that claims were handled quickly, technicians made appointments promptly and customers are satisfied with the repairs. Some customers mention that the company has approved the majority of their claims as well and note good experiences with customer service representatives. Customers have also stated that they appreciate being able to hire their own repair technicians with AFC’s approval.
Some customers mention long wait times for technician appointments and technicians that don’t show up for appointments. Reviews also describe issues with no technicians being available in their areas, which required the customers to find their own technicians and then be reimbursed.
Some customers also note that AFC denied claims they felt should’ve been covered by their contracts, and several customers shared similar experiences with the company only paying them $100 to repair or replace older HVAC systems because of its depreciation policy.
» MORE: Are home warranties worth it?
AFC Home Warranty is available in every state except California and Hawaii.
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.
Call Choice Home Warranty
on Choice Home Warranty's website
» MORE: Read our full review of Choice Home Warranty
on Money.com and 2-10 Home Buyers website
» MORE: Read our full review of 2-10 Home Buyers Home Warranty
on NerdWallet
» MORE: Read our full review of Old Republic Home Protection
on First American Home Warranty's website
» MORE: Read our full review of First American 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.
