Written by

Tara Farmer

February 22, 2024

Edited by

Jennifer Carlson

Fact-checked by

Kristen Cramer

First American Home Warranty cost

First American Home Warranty costs $45 to $65 per month on average, but monthly rates range from $35 to $85, depending on your state and the plan you choose. Average annual First American Home Warranty prices range from $400 to $1,000 and cost less when you pay in full up front.

• First American Home Warranty (FAHW) was founded in 1984 in Santa Rosa, CA, with plans available in 36 states, though some states have limited coverage areas. The company offers warranties for single-family homes, mobile homes, townhouses, and condos.

• FAHW does not offer warranties in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

• With no home warranty, appliance repair costs $100 to $400 on average, with a $70 to $130 call-out fee.

First American Home Warranty service fee

First American's service call fee ranges from $75 to $125 per claim, depending on your contract and monthly premium. Contracts with higher monthly premiums have lower service fee pricing, and vice versa. You pay this one-time service call fee directly to the technician at the time of your diagnostic appointment.

While only one service fee is required per claim, additional fees may incur if the visit requires multiple repairs or takes longer than expected to diagnose and repair the issue.

What does First American Home Warranty cover?

First American offers three plans, each covering a variety of appliances and systems. They also offer some additional coverage options you can add to any of the plans. Paying up front for the year typically results in a lower monthly premium.

First American Home Warranty upgrades

Besides individual add-on options, First American offers several upgrades to broaden your coverage and lower out of pocket expenses for home repairs:

• First Class Upgrade: Adds protection for building permits, limited building code upgrades, refrigerant recapture and removal, and removal and disposal of replaced appliances, systems, or components.

• Plumbing Plus: Extends protection to pipes encased in concrete or outside the home's foundation, water heater expansion tanks, ground-level cleanout installations, and clearing of stoppages due to roots.

• Appliance Plus: Increases plan limit to $7,000 for luxury kitchen appliances, clothes washer, and clothes dryer, and increases additional refrigerator coverage cap to $2,000.

• Codes, Mods, and More: (Must purchase First Class Upgrade) Adds HVAC zone controller coverage, up to $1,250 for code violation corrections, and increases coverage limits for some water heater and heating systems.

First American Home Warranty coverage limits

First American does not limit the number of claims you can file per year. The table below details the coverage limits for each item or system. Optional upgrades cost more but provide increased coverage allowances in some categories.

First American Warranty exclusions

First American excludes certain parts or components of every covered appliance or system. Read your contract carefully and take note of the "Not covered" section in each covered category. The list below highlights common exclusions:

• Water heaters: First American does not cover the holding, storage or expansion tanks, flues, vents, fuel storage tanks or solar equipment.

• Heating systems: Several heating systems and components are excluded, including space heaters, cable heat, humidifier and dehumidifier systems, filters, registers, fuel storage tanks, heat lamps, fireplace inserts, and more.

• Plumbing systems: Stoppages due to foreign objects, roots, collapsed, or broken lines are not covered under the standard plans.

• Roof leaks: FAHW does not cover roofs over detached structures or roof leaks caused by roof mounted installations, metal roof, skylights, gutters, chimneys, and more.

• Hazardous materials: First American does not cover system or appliance issues related to hazardous or toxic materials, including asbestos, gas leaks, lead-based products, and carbon monoxide leaks.

• Removal & disposal: FAHW does not cover appliance removal or disposal unless you purchase an optional upgrade.

First American Home Warranty pros & cons

First American Home Warranty offers warranty plans with generous coverage allowances, optional upgrades for even higher coverage caps, and an easy claims process with quick turnaround times in most cases. However, FAHW is not available nationwide, and some plans list a lot of exclusions in the fine print.

First American Home Warranty reviews

First American Home Warranty reviews are generally positive, but they still receive a mix of high and low ratings like other home warranty companies.

• Over 13,500 customers have reviewed First American on Trustpilot, resulting a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews comment on the high appliance coverage and the speed and quality of service, while negative reviews indicate some service areas experience longer response times than others.

• FAHW currently has a "B" rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. The BBB reports over 1,200 complaints were closed in the last 12 months, and FAHW appears to respond to the complaints quickly.

First American Home Warranty vs. other companies

A typical home warranty costs $35 to $90 per month, depending on the company, plan, and coverage level. First American Home Warranty's prices fall in the middle of this range, but they tend to have higher coverage allowances than other companies.

FAQs about First American Home Warranty

How does First American Home Warranty work?

First American Home Warranty coverage starts 30 days after you sign up. Then you can submit a claim by phone or online at any time if a covered appliance or system breaks. Once they confirm coverage, First American dispatches the claim within 4 hours to one of their independent network providers.

The technician contacts you within 48 hours to schedule an appointment. You pay the service fee directly to the technician on the first visit. If they need to order parts, they'll set up another appointment to complete the repair. First American guarantees the technician's work for 30 days.

If they can’t repair the covered item, First American will replace it with an item with comparable size, features, and efficiency.

How long does a First American Home Warranty last?

A standard First American Home Warranty contract lasts 12 months. However, the company typically offers a discount when purchasing a 2-year warranty plan.

How do I cancel my First American Home Warranty policy?

First American Home Warranty requires a request via email to cancel. Their website suggests you call them first to discuss your options.

• If you cancel within 30 days of purchase, you're refunded the full amount, provided you haven't used any services.

• Cancelling after the 30-day window results in a reduced refund. The refund calculation varies depending on your location and contract terms.

Do I need a home warranty if I have homeowners insurance?

You don't need a home warranty if you are comfortable paying out of pocket when an appliance or system in your home breaks down. Homeowners insurance typically covers damage caused by hazards like extreme weather, fire, theft, or vandalism, but it doesn't cover appliance or system damage from wear and tear.

Getting quotes from First American Home Warranty

Before buying a First American Home Warranty, read the details of the contract carefully, noting these important specifics:

• The service call fee amount

• The monthly premium amount

• Annual coverage allowances and limits

• Coverage exclusions

• Any additional conditions or exclusions specific to your state

• The ease or difficulty of the claims process

• The covered appliances and home systems

• The non-covered appliances and systems

• Conditions that may void the warranty

• The warranty plan renewal process

Questions to ask

Asking the right question can help ensure you find the best home warranty for your needs:

• What plan do you recommend for my home, and what does it cover?

• What types of repairs are not included in the First American Home Warranty plan?

• What is the service visit fee, and when does it apply?

• What are the annual coverage limits for each covered category?

• What makes your home warranty plans better than your competitors?

• What discounts do you offer on your warranty plans?

• Are any other benefits to a First American Home Warranty?