Affiliate Disclosure: This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our websiteRead More. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.

Best Home Warranty Companies in Illinois

By Stephanie Koncewicz 11/14/2023

Illinois homeowners know better than most how to prepare for extreme weather conditions during the winter. A home warranty can act as a complement to your home insurance and provide peace of mind by repairing your home’s systems and appliances should they break down.

The This Old House Reviews Team analyzed and reviewed the best home warranty companies in the nation, and determined the top providers available in Illinois. We compared plan options, costs, coverage limits, and additional perks before making our selections.

Illinois’ Top 3 Home Warranty Companies

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


Summary of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Illinois

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
Best Value
B-
$44–$47
$60–$75
48-84 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
Select Home Warranty Select Home Warranty Best Value $44–$47 $60–$75 48-84 hours B- 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
Select Home Warranty
Logo Select Home Warranty
Best For Best Value
Monthly Cost $44–$47
Service Fee $60–$75
Response Time 48-84 hours
BBB Rating B-
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

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 choice for Illinois homeowners. It offers competitively priced plans, a large suite of add-on options, and a comprehensive coverage limit per covered item. LHG also stands out by offering a live chat customer service through its website, which is a rare benefit in the home warranty industry.

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 Offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee Extends up to 38 unique add-on options Provides live chat customer support Cons Doesn’t provide transparency around service call fees Requires you to file a claim as soon as issue is discovered

Plans and Pricing

LHG offers three plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The Appliance Guard covers major appliances, including refrigerators and dishwashers. The Systems Guard protects major systems, such as heating and plumbing systems. The Total Home Guard bundles both plans into one comprehensive coverage plan. Additionally, LHG includes a $2,000 coverage limit per covered item.

Liberty assigns your service call fee between $65 and $125 per claim based on your plan selection, add-ons, and location.

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.

What To Expect

Homeowners can pull quotes for Liberty Home Guard through its customer support line or with its online tool. The LHG tool requires your name, phone number, and email address to begin the process. Next, you’ll enter your home address, home type, and whether it’s smaller than 5,000 square feet. You can then switch between monthly and annual premiums to find the best fit for your budget. 

LHG will send one of its in-network service technicians to repair your appliances. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you select your own. 

After reading online reviews, we learned that homeowners appreciated the company’s professionalism and quick claims process. However, some customers stated their claims payouts were less than expected.

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.

American Home Shield (AHS) is another reputable provider for Illinois residents. The company has thee plans to choose from—the ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™ plans. It provides extensive coverage for home systems and appliances by covering rust, corrosion, and sediment damage. AHS also covers undetectable pre-existing conditions. Its ShieldSilver and ShieldGold include a $3,000 coverage cap per covered item, while its ShieldPlatinum doubles its cap limit to $6,000 per covered item.

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. The company is our top pick because 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 high coverage caps on systems and appliances Provides guest unit add-on coverage Doesn’t exclude pro-series appliance coverage from standard plans Cons Charges more per month than other providers Offers a limited add-on coverage selection

Plans and Pricing

American Home Shield offers three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. We called an AHS representative to ask about the company’s plans. The representative noted that AHS imposes a $5,000 coverage cap per covered system in its systems-only plan, ShieldSilver. ShieldGold adds coverage for appliances, which have a $2,000 coverage limit. ShieldPlatinum also combines system and appliance coverage and increases its appliance limit to $4,000; plus, it adds roof-leak coverage, up to $1,000 in code upgrades, an HVAC tune-up, and air filter discounts.

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.

What To Expect

Our team received quotes from American Home Shield over the phone and online. The AHS online tool requires your home address, ZIP code, and email address. We were able to switch between the different plan and service fee options, with pricing updating instantly. 

AHS does not let you use your own contractor for service repairs. You must select a service technician from its in-network options. One of our team members has an AHS plan and filed a claim for a leaking bathroom pipe. When he called in, an AHS representative located a local plumber in an hour and scheduled a next-day service appointment. All repairs were completed successfully, and he was only charged the service call fee. 

After reading AHS customer reviews, he discovered homeowners liked the company’s prompt claims processes. The customer service department received mixed reviews, with some homeowners disappointed that their claims reimbursement was lower than anticipated.

Select Home Warranty

Best Value
4.3 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.

Select Home Warranty offers three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Bronze Care protects appliances, Gold Care protects systems, and Platinum Care covers both appliances and systems.

Why We Chose Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty scored 4.3 out of 5 stars in our review standards. It’s an affordable home warranty with all plans costing less than $50 per month. Select stands out by offering roof-leak repair coverage in each protection plan. Home warranty companies don’t typically offer roof-leak coverage without an additional fee.

Pros and Cons

Pros Gives customers two months free when they sign up for coverage Offers free coverage on roof leaks Provides discounts for customers who purchase several years of protection Cons Doesn’t have a mobile app Charges a $75 cancellation fee

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty offers three plan options: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Select charges a $60–$75 service call fee per claim. Our team discovered via secret-shopping that Select offers its lower service call fee as an over-the-phone deal only. 

After reviewing Select’s sample contract, we found it provides a $3,000 cap for HVAC systems. However, Select limits other covered systems, such as plumbing and electrical, plus appliances, to a $500 coverage cap. Select’s plans include a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

Select Home Warranty offers monthly and annual premium options. Expect to pay between $533 and $573 annually. According to the quote we pulled, Select offers up to $150 off and two additional months of coverage if you choose an annual premium. It lets you pull a quote by calling or using its online tool.

Here are more details about Select Home Warranty’s plans:

  • Bronze Care ($44.42 per month): Covers appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, and cooktops
  • Gold Care ($44.42 per month): Covers systems, such as air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical systems, water heaters, and ductwork
  • Platinum Care ($47.75 per month): Covers all the appliances and built-in systems in the Bronze and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and ceiling fans
  • Optional add-ons: Central vacuums, lawn sprinkler systems, pools, septic systems, spas, stand-alone freezers, sump pumps, and well pumps. Select Home Warranty also offers low prices for its add-ons. For example, it charges less than $4 monthly for central vacuum coverage.

What To Expect

During our secret shopping process, we created sample quotes over the phone and through Select’s online quote tool. Surprisingly, you don’t need your home address for the tool. You only enter your name, phone number, email address, and ZIP code. We did learn that Select prefers resolving plan issues and processing claims over the phone. 

In most cases, Select will choose a service technician from its network of contractors. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you choose your own. However, Select must approve the choice before the repair process begins. 

Based on online reviews, homeowners appreciated Select’s affordable plan options and simple sign-up process. However, many reviews mentioned issues reaching customer support to file their claims.

How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost in Illinois

The average home warranty costs customers between $300 and $600 per year. There’s such a large price range because there are plans that offer basic and more comprehensive coverage. In addition to the monthly or annual premiums, you’ll also pay a service fee every time you file a claim for a technician to repair one of your covered items. This fee is usually between $75 and $125 per visit.

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.


What Does A Home Warranty Cover in Illinois?

A home warranty protects major systems and appliances in your home, like your water heater, refrigerator, and air conditioning. Most providers will include three plans: one for appliances, one for systems, and one for both. If you have other systems or appliances that you want covered, like a septic tank or second refrigerator, most companies will offer add-on options that can be tacked on to any plan you choose for an additional cost.


Who Can Buy a Home Warranty in Illinois?

Real estate agents, home sellers, home buyers, and veteran homeowners can all buy a home warranty. The real estate agent and seller in a home sale may choose to include a warranty because that incentivizes potential buyers to pick that house over other homes whose systems and appliances don’t come with protection. If your new home doesn’t come with a warranty or you have owned your home for years, you can still purchase a warranty directly from a provider.


Our Conclusion

If you’re in the market for an Illinois home warranty, we recommend looking into Liberty Home Guard, American Home Shield, and Select Home Warranty. These companies provide comprehensive coverage at affordable price points and offer 24/7 customer service. We encourage you to get a quote from all three companies before making a purchase since pricing can vary depending on your specific region and home’s square footage. We also recommend reading their sample contracts to be aware of their coverage exclusions and limitations.


Other Resources for Residents in Illinois


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.