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Best Home Warranty Companies in Delaware (2023)

Home warranty coverage can save you hundreds of dollars when a covered system or appliance breaks down from everyday use. Your home warranty company will handle everything from finding a service contractor to paying for a repair, so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Here are our top picks for home warranty providers in Delaware.

The This Old House Reviews Team compared the best home warranty companies nationwide and selected the top providers available in Delaware. In our research, we reviewed coverage options, monthly premiums, service fees, add-on options, and customer reviews to determine the best companies.

Delaware’s Top 3 Home Warranty Companies

The highest-rated Delaware home warranty companies include the following:


Summary of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Delaware

Company
Best For
BBB Rating
Monthly Cost
Service Fee
Response Time
Best Customer Ratings
A
$49–$59
$65–$125
Up to 48 hours
Best for Comprehensive Coverage
B
$49–$109
$100–$125
Up to 48 hours
Flexible Coverage
A
$55–$75
$70
Up to 48 hours
Best For Monthly Cost Service Fee Response Time BBB Rating Link
Liberty Home Guard Liberty Home Guard Best Customer Ratings $49–$59 $65–$125 Up to 48 hours A VISIT SITE
American Home Shield American Home Shield Best for Comprehensive Coverage $49–$109 $100–$125 Up to 48 hours B VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty Flexible Coverage $55–$75 $70 Up to 48 hours A VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard
Logo Liberty Home Guard
Best For Best Customer Ratings
Monthly Cost $49–$59
Service Fee $65–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating A
VISIT SITE
American Home Shield
Logo American Home Shield
Best For Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Monthly Cost $49–$109
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty
Logo Elite Home Warranty
Best For Flexible Coverage
Monthly Cost $55–$75
Service Fee $70
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating A
VISIT SITE
Why Trust Us? Our review and rating process for the best home warranty companies
57
Companies Considered
2000
Homeowners Surveyed
57000
Reviews Analyzed
31
Coverages Compared

Lifespan and repair cost data sourced from InterNACHI and Home Depot


Liberty Home Guard

Best Customer Ratings
4.5 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is our top pick for Delaware residents due to its 38 unique add-on options, and coverage for working systems and appliances regardless of age. Liberty also offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee on all completed repairs, which is double the industry standard of 30 days.

Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in our rating system. It has the best customer ratings of any home warranty provider on this list, holding an A rating* with the BBB and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. We recommend LHG for homeowners with specific coverage needs, as it offers an extensive list of add-ons ranging from pool coverage to water softeners.

Our team spoke with multiple customer representatives to learn how LHG handles customer inquiries. Based on our experiences, it holds up to its stellar ratings, with each representative picking up the phone in under one minute and answering all of our questions thoroughly.

Pros and Cons

Pros Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee Offers 38 unique optional add-ons, including pest control and gutter cleaning Provides a live-chat customer service feature Cons Doesn’t allow plan price or service call fee customization Covers high-end appliances only with add-on purchase Lacks transparency about service call fees during the quote process

Plans and Pricing

Liberty Home Guard offers three coverage plans: the Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard. The Appliance Guard covers nine home appliances. The Systems Guard covers six major systems. The Total Home Guard covers all 15 home systems and appliances.

Liberty Home Guard assigns its $65–$125 service call fee to you based on your home’s size, type, and location, as well as your selected plan and add-ons.

Below are the monthly prices for LHG plans. Expect to pay between $600 and $720 annually. Per our research, LHG offers two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan. LHG allows you to pull a quote over the phone or online.

Here are details on LHG’s plans and optional add-on coverage:

  • Appliance Guard ($49.99 per month): Covers appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers
  • Systems Guard ($54.99 per month): Covers built-in systems, such as air conditioning, heating, ductwork, and water heater
  • Total Home Guard ($59.99 per month): Covers all the items in the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans
  • Optional add-ons: Up to 38 options, including pest control, re-key service, gutter cleaning, floor cleaning, and generator coverage. When we pulled our quote, a representative informed us that pest control coverage costs an extra $15 monthly.

American Home Shield

Best for Comprehensive Coverage
4.4 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

Since 1971, American Home Shield (AHS) has provided home warranty protection to homeowners in Delaware. The home warranty provider offers three plans and provides comprehensive coverage with rare protection, like coverage for items that have undetectable preexisting conditions. American Home Shield also provides monthly premium flexibility, for those who want affordable and customizable coverage.

Why We Chose American Home Shield

We rated AHS 4.4 out of 5 stars in our review standards. We consider AHS to be the best provider for comprehensive coverage due to its three coverage plans, multiple service call fees, and solid industry reputation. It covers several things other companies don’t, such as rust damage and improper installations.

We thoroughly read American Home Shield’s sample contract and found it applies a $2,000 limit per covered appliance in its ShieldGold plan. It doubles its coverage cap to $4,000 per covered item in the ShieldPlatinum plan.

AHS coverage plans provide extensive coverage; even its basic plan, ShieldSilver, covers your HVAC system. Its multiple service call fees allow you to customize your monthly premium to fit your budget.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a flexible service call fee model that allows customers to adjust monthly fees to fit their budget Sets generous coverage caps (up to $5,000 on built-in systems and $4,000 on appliances with its ShieldPlatinum plan) Provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions, items damaged by rust and corrosion, and items that have been improperly installed or modified Cons Charges higher monthly premiums than other providers Offers less coverage flexibility than most providers with only a few add-on options

Plans and Pricing

The ShieldSilver™ plan covers home systems, and the ShieldGold™ adds home appliance protection to the ShieldSilver’s existing coverage. The ShieldPlatinum™ covers all of the ShieldGold plan and increases coverage limits, covers roof leaks, and provides one free HVAC tune-up per contract term.

AHS also offers optional coverage for the following items: Electronic extended warranty, pool and spa, well pump, septic pump, and guest unit up to 750 square feet

AHS allows you to pull a quote by calling a representative or using its online tool. When we used AHS’s quote tool, it allowed us to choose a service call fee of $100 or $125. AHS states that a higher service call fee will result in a lower monthly premium and vice versa. All AHS plans come with a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

While pulling our quote, we discovered that AHS only offers monthly premium options. It doesn’t include an annual premium like other providers on this list.

Here are details on each of American Home Shield’s plans:

  • ShieldSilver ($29.99–$39.99 per month): Covers home systems, such as heating, cooling, and electrical
  • ShieldGold ($49.99–$59.99 per month): Covers major systems and appliances, such as air conditioning, roof leaks, and plumbing
  • ShieldPlatinum ($79.99–$89.99 per month): Covers systems and appliances and adds additional benefits, such as $1,500 for roof-leak repairs
  • Optional add-ons: Electronics, pools/spas, guest units, septic pumps, and well pumps. Based on the quote we pulled, we found that AHS offers competitively priced add-ons. For example, septic pump coverage costs an extra $5 per month.

Elite Home Warranty

Flexible Coverage
4.6 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

We recommend Elite Home Warranty for homeowners who want flexible premiums and coverage. The company offers three base plans with a standard $70 service call fee and 27 add-on options.

Monthly cost: $44–$58

How We Scored Elite Home Warranty

We rated Elite Home Warranty 4.6 out of 5 stars in our review standards. We awarded high scores for its plan and add-on coverage variety.  We deducted points for its restrictive service technician policy and limited online options. Here’s how Elite rated in key categories:

  • Coverage (4.6 out of 5): Elite scored high for its three customizable coverage plans and extensive add-on catalog. 
  • Value (4.25 out of 5): We deducted points because the company only offers one service call fee and charges a higher fee for high-end appliances.  
  • Trustworthiness and transparency (4.8 out of 5): Elite scored well for its excellent customer review scores on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other third-party sites. 
  • Availability and service (4.5 out of 5): Elite lost points for its limited online services. Unlike other providers, it doesn’t offer an online quote tool.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✔ Offers three comprehensive standard plans                                        

✔ Provides 27 add-on options     

✔ Includes a 90-day workmanship guarantee                               

 

Cons                                 

X Charges higher service call fees for high-end appliances

X Excludes out-of-network contractors from workmanship guarantee

X Requires you to call for a quote 

Plans and Cost

When reading through the Elite Home Warranty sample contract, we learned that the company offers a $15,000 annual limit for all plans. This breaks down to a $7,000 claim limit for appliances and $8,000 for systems. However, claim limits vary among coverage items. For example, air conditioners receive up to $4,000 while electrical systems are capped at $2,000.

We recommend reading through the sample contract or getting a quote for full details on coverage caps. 

Below are the details of Elite’s coverage plans:

  • Elite Appliances: The appliance-only plan covers eight essential appliances, including cooktops, clothes washers, and dishwashers. Coverage caps vary by appliance but are subject to a $7,000 term limit. 
  • Elite Systems: This system-only plan covers eight home systems, such as air conditioning, heating, and electrical systems. This plan has an $8,000 annual limit, though coverage caps vary by system.  
  • Elite Complete: The highest plan tier combines the Elite Appliances and Elite Systems plans for comprehensive systems and appliance protection. 

Based on our sample quotes, Elite Home Warranty charges a monthly premium of about $44–$58. The company has a standard service call fee of $70. It charges $150 for high-end appliance repairs and service calls that occur after hours or on the weekend.

Plan Monthly Cost Service Fee
Elite Appliances $44.49 $70
Elite Systems $49.99 $70
Elite Complete $58.99 $70

Elite offers 27 add-on options, one of the largest catalogs we’ve seen from a home warranty company. Based on our research, most providers offer eight to 15 add-ons. Elite’s add-on coverage limits vary by item. There is a $5,000 total limit per term. 

We’ve highlighted some of Elite’s most attractive add-on options below. View the full list on Elite’s website:

  • Annual maintenance
  • Drainage, sewer, and water service lines
  • Pool and spa equipment
  • Geothermal heating and cooling systems
  • Septic system

Our Experience with Elite Home Warranty

One of our team members tested the Elite Home Warranty claim process to repair his broken high-end dishwasher. Here’s a summary of his experience:

  • He submitted his claim online and received an Elite claims specialist call within 30 minutes. 
  • He received a next-day appointment for his repair. 
  • The technician arrived on the assigned day but realized the repair would require out-of-stock parts. 
  • After an initial service visit on Tuesday evening, the technician returned with the required parts the following Monday morning.
  • The technician completed the repairs within an hour.

Elite sends in-network technicians to complete its repairs. It backs its coverage with a 90-day workmanship guarantee. You won’t receive any workmanship coverage if you choose your own technician.


Annual Home Warranty Cost Calculator

Our team created a calculator to break down the estimated annual cost of owning a home warranty. Enter your monthly premium, service call fee, and estimated number of claims to see your projected annual cost. It’s best to request a quote directly from one of our recommended providers, as annual costs and service fees vary between them.

ApplianceAverage Repair CostAverage Replacement Cost

Dehumidifier

$50–$200

$1,300–$2,800

Microwave

$50–$400

$60–$2,000

Dishwasher

$50–$500

$400–$3,000

Exhaust Fans

$16–$300

$250–$950

Electric Range

$100–$500

$230–$3,000

Gas Range

$100–$500

$230–$3,000

Dryer

$100–$400

$450–$2,300

Oven

$100–$430

$400–$3,000

Washer

$50–$450

$400–$2,300

Freezer

$90–$500

$160–$2,900

Refrigerator

$40–$350

$200–$5,000

Note: The annual cost figure generated by our home warranty calculator is not an indication of a company’s actual plan cost, as annual costs and service fees vary based on your plan selections and your home’s size, type, and location.


How Does a Delaware Home Warranty Work?

When a covered item breaks down, you submit a service request with your home warranty company either online or over the phone. Since most providers don’t allow you to select your own technician, you will be assigned one to visit your home once your claim is approved. The technician will diagnose the problem and repair or replace the item once you pay the service fee.


What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

A home warranty covers the major systems and appliances in your home. Providers typically offer three plans: a systems plan, appliances plan, and combo plan. Systems plans cover items like plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning, appliances plans protect items like ovens, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers, and combo plan combines the two plans for ultimate protection.


What Is The Best Home Warranty Company In Delaware?

Though all three home warranty companies in this article are great choices, we recommend Liberty Home Guard due to its solid system and appliance coverage, lengthy workmanship guarantee, and extensive list of add-on options.


Our Conclusion

Owning a home is expensive enough without having to worry about the potential failure of appliances and systems. A home warranty protects those items, making it affordable to repair or replace an item when a breakdown occurs. We believe the best home warranty companies in Delaware are Liberty Home Guard, American Home Shield, and Select Home Warranty.

Before you buy a home warranty, we recommend getting quotes from all three home warranty providers listed in this article, so you can find a home warranty plan to fit your specific home protection needs and budget.


Other Resources for Residents in Delaware



How Do I Find the Best Home Warranty Company in My Area?

Find in-depth reviews on the best home warranty companies for each state and major US city below.


Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

  • Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
    • Additional coverage items
    • Annual coverage cap
    • Home systems coverage
    • Major appliances coverage
    • Obstructed wall coverage cap
  • Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
    • Average monthly cost
    • Cost flexibility
    • Lowest service fee
  • Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
    • Brand reputation
    • Policy change flexibility
    • Sample contract availability
    • Workmanship guarantee length
  • Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
    • Claims process
    • Guaranteed response time
    • Service flexibility

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.