Frequently Asked Questions

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. Unlike homeowners insurance (which covers sudden damage from events like fires or storms), a home warranty covers mechanical failures of systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, as well as appliances like refrigerators, washers, and ovens.

Complaint scores (A through F) are based on BBB complaint data: normalized complaint volume relative to estimated customer base, timely response rate, and dispute rate. Coverage matrices are built from publicly available plan documents. PlainWarranty does not accept paid placements, sponsored rankings, or affiliate commissions.

Consumer review sites can be gamed through incentivized reviews, fake reviews, or suppression of negative feedback. We focus on standardized, verifiable data sources: BBB complaints (which are documented and tracked) and official plan documents. This gives a more comparable and harder-to-manipulate picture of company performance.

The complaint score reflects three factors: complaint volume normalized by estimated customer base, the percentage of complaints that received a timely company response, and the dispute rate (how often customers reject the company's resolution). An A score means very few normalized complaints with high response and low dispute rates. An F score indicates the opposite.

Standard exclusions typically include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic damage, improper installation or maintenance, code violations, and damage caused by misuse. Coverage limits, diagnostic fee/service call fee requirements, and exclusions for older systems vary significantly by company and plan. Always read the full contract — the exclusions section is critical.

No. Coverage matrices show the typical coverage described in publicly available plan documents. Actual coverage depends on your specific contract, state, property age, plan tier, and any exclusions or limitations. Coverage details may vary by state due to regulations, and custom or add-on options are not always captured. Always read your actual contract.

PlainWarranty analyzes 19 major home warranty providers, covering the most widely available companies in the US market. The database is updated as new information becomes available or new major players enter the market.

No. PlainWarranty does not accept paid placements, sponsored rankings, or affiliate commissions from any home warranty company. Rankings and scores are based solely on complaint data and plan documentation.