Like many places in Florida, Tampa has high levels of humidity, and its subtropical climate can take a toll on homes. The excess water vapor in the air can make the weather feel warmer and the air thicker, and it can wreak havoc on your home’s systems and appliances. For example, the higher the humidity, the harder your fridge has to work to keep your food cold. Moisture in the air can also seep into appliances and electrical systems, leading to corrosion and rust.
Fortunately, a home warranty can protect you from the unexpected costs associated with repairing or replacing home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. To help you find the best home warranty, the This Old House Review Team reviewed the top home warranty providers in Florida and compared them on coverage, plans, and pricing. Here are our recommendations for the three best home warranties in Tampa.
Top 3 Home Warranty Companies in Tampa
The best home warranty companies in Tampa, FL, include:
- American Home Shield: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Ratings
- Cinch Home Services: Best Additional Perks
American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the oldest home warranty companies in the industry and offers homeowners some of the best value for their money. Its most basic coverage, the ShieldSilver plan, protects more than a dozen major systems, including your air conditioning and plumbing. It also provides more comprehensive protection with its ShieldPlatinum plan, covering a total of 23 systems and appliances.
Unlike other home warranty companies, American Home Shield covers appliances that break down from humidity-induced corrosion, improper installation, or a lack of maintenance. Its policies also cover most wear-and-tear scenarios, and the company backs its technicians’ repairs with a 30-day workmanship guarantee. Compare all three American Home Shield home warranty plans below.
American Home Shield Plans
| Plans | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioner | x | x | x |
| Heating unit | x | x | x |
| Ductwork | x | x | x |
| Built-in exhaust, vent, and attic fans | x | x | x |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | x | x | x |
| Doorbell and chimes | x | x | x |
| Interior electrical lines | x | x | x |
| Ceiling fans | x | x | x |
| Garage door openers | x | x | x |
| Interior plumbing lines | x | x | x |
| Toilets | x | x | x |
| Faucets and valves | x | x | x |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | x | x | x |
| Water heater | x | x | x |
| Refrigerator | x | x | |
| Range/Cooktop | x | x | |
| Oven | x | x | |
| Built-in-microwave | x | x | |
| Garbage disposal | x | x | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | x | x | |
| Laundry appliances | x | x | |
| Roof-leak repairs | x | x |
Homeowners can customize each of American Home Shield’s plans with coverage for a pool or spa, guest unit under 750 square feet, septic pump, and well pump. AHS also provides an optional Electronics Protection Plan that includes coverage for items like TVs, computers, tablets, and video game consoles.
American Home Shield Prices
The cost of a home warranty includes a monthly payment and a service call fee, which is the amount you’ll pay for each technician visit over the course of your policy. With American Home Shield, homeowners can choose from one of three service call fees: $75, $100, or $125. The lowest service call fee best serves those expecting regular repairs and replacements, but that benefit comes at a higher monthly premium.
Your policy’s total cost will depend on which service call fee you choose, as well as any add-on coverage your home requires. The rates below reflect plan pricing with the $75 service call fee option.
| Plans | Monthly Premium | Yearly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| ShieldSilver | $44.99 | $539.88 |
| ShieldGold | $54.99 | $659.88 |
| ShieldPlatinum™ | $74.99 | $899.88 |
Call 844-529-9298 or fill out this easy online form to receive a personalized quote.
Liberty Home Guard
Whether your ceiling fans slow to a halt or your cooktop breaks just in time for dinner, problems with your home systems and appliances are never convenient. With a policy from Liberty Home Guard, homeowners can rely on the support of professional service technicians the moment it’s needed—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The company includes this guarantee with each of its three warranty plans, which you can compare below.
Liberty Home Guard Plans
| Plan | Appliance Guard | Systems Guard | Total Home Guard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes washer | x | x | |
| Clothes dryer | x | x | |
| Refrigerator with ice dispenser | x | x | |
| Built-in microwave oven | x | x | |
| Dishwasher | x | x | |
| Garbage disposal | x | x | |
| Range/Oven/Cooktop | x | x | |
| Ceiling and exhaust fans | x | x | |
| Garage door openers | x | x | |
| Air conditioning | x | x | |
| Heating | x | x | |
| Ductwork | x | x | |
| Plumbing | x | x | |
| Electrical | x | x | |
| Water heater | x | x |
You can also add coverage for a wide range of home appliances and systems, including a sump pump, pool and spa, central vacuum, stand-alone freezer, limited roof leak repairs, well pump, and second refrigerator. Optional maintenance services, such as pest control, floor and carpet cleaning, re-key, and septic system pumping, can also be added to any plan.
Liberty Home Guard Prices
No matter what plan you choose, you can expect to pay a competitively priced $60 service call fee anytime you require technician support. Compare Liberty Home Guard’s plan rates below.
| Plans | Monthly Premium | Yearly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance Guard | $44.99 | $539.88 |
| Systems Guard | $49.99 | $599.88 |
| Total Home Guard | $54.99 | $659.88 |
Get in touch with a Liberty Home Guard representative at 866-452-9107 or fill out this simple online form to receive a personalized quote.
Cinch Home Services
With more than 40 prestigious customer service awards, the South Florida-based Cinch Home Services aims to simplify homeownership with affordable and comprehensive home warranty plans. The company stands out for its digital service request tools, a vetted network of service professionals, and a 180-day workmanship guarantee—a promise that exceeds guarantees offered by other industry players.
Like most home warranty companies, Cinch offers three coverage plans: one that covers appliances, one that covers systems, and one that protects a combination of both systems and appliances. Compare all three plans below.
Cinch Home Services Plans
| Plan | Appliances | Built-in Systems | Complete Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes dryer | x | x | |
| Clothes washer | x | x | |
| Cooktop | x | x | |
| Dishwasher | x | x | |
| Food center (built-in) | x | x | |
| Freestanding ice maker | x | x | |
| Microwave (built-in) | x | x | |
| Range | x | x | |
| Range exhaust hood | x | x | |
| Refrigerator | x | x | |
| Trash compactor (built-in) | x | x | |
| Wall oven | x | x | |
| Air conditioning including ductwork | x | x | |
| Attic fans | x | x | |
| Ceiling fans | x | x | |
| Central vacuum | x | x | |
| Doorbells | x | x | |
| Electrical system | x | x | |
| Garage door openers | x | x | |
| Garbage disposal | x | x | |
| Heating system including ductwork | x | x | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | x | x | |
| Plumbing system | x | x | |
| Smoke detectors | x | x | |
| Sump pump | x | x | |
| Toilets | x | x | |
| Water heater | x | x | |
| Whirlpool/Jetted tub (built-in) | x | x | |
| Homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement – $500 | x | ||
| Air conditioner or water filter credit | x | x | x |
| Water sensor | x | x | x |
In addition to these plans, Cinch offers optional coverage for swimming pools, spas, septic systems, and well pumps.
Cinch Home Services Prices
Whether you choose to cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both, you can opt for a $100, $125, or $150 service call fee with Cinch Home Services. All plans also include a $25 credit towards an air conditioner or water filter, a free water sensor to detect leaks, and discounts on new appliances.
The prices below reflect what monthly payments you can expect if you choose the $100 service call fee.
| Plans | Monthly Premium | Yearly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances | $37.99 | $455.88 |
| Built-in Systems | $44.99 | $539.88 |
| Complete Home | $51.99 | $623.88 |
To get a personalized quote, contact Cinch Home Services at 844-979-0899 or fill out this easy online form.
What Does a Home Warranty in Tampa Cover?
While each policy varies in terms of coverage, there are several standard systems and appliances that most home warranty plans in Tampa will cover. Compare the items commonly covered under a home warranty below.
Common Items Covered Under a Home Warranty
| Systems | Appliances |
|---|---|
| Heating | Refrigerator |
| Air conditioning | Stand-alone freezer |
| Electrical | Clothes washer/dryer |
| Plumbing | Stove/Range/Oven/Cooktop |
| Ductwork | Dishwasher |
| Water heater | Built-in microwave |
| — | Garbage disposal |
Benefits of a Home Warranty in Tampa, FL
Each of the home warranty companies listed in this review aims to serve a common goal: provide affordable, comprehensive coverage that can stand up to Florida’s demanding climate. When a covered system or appliance fails, customers have access to vetted technicians and workmanship guarantees on the services they provide.
Additionally, houses with home warranties sell 50% faster on average than those without one, according to the National Home Warranty Association.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost in Tampa?
Multiple factors determine the cost of a home warranty policy, from the extent of its coverage to the size of your home and how often you expect to file a claim. Generally speaking, a home warranty in Tampa will cost you between $25 and $75 per month and $60 to $150 in service call fees whenever you need a repair or replacement.
Our Conclusion
For the best home warranty in Tampa, consider American Home Shield. It has over 50 years of experience in the home warranty industry and offers affordable, comprehensive coverage. If reliability is your top priority, Cinch Home Services shines through with its 180-day workmanship guarantee. For around-the-clock customer service and a responsive team, consider Liberty Home Guard.
To help you make your final decision, get a free quote from multiple home warranty companies to compare pricing in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.