Choice Home Warranty (CHW) makes it easier for homeowners to handle surprise breakdowns with appliance and systems service contracts. It also offers a few standout features you won’t find with every home warranty company. Here’s what we discovered during our research.

Choice Home Warranty offers two service plans covering specific home systems and appliances, making it easy to find the plan that meets your needs—whether covering a tub with jets, a built-in microwave, or your air conditioning system.

Like many home warranty companies, Choice Home Warranty charges you a membership fee and a service fee. The membership fee is for coverage. Then, you pay a service fee each time you file a claim. 

I contacted Choice Home Warranty for a quote. The Basic Plan would cost $46.67 per month or $560 per year, if I wanted to pay for it all at once. The Total Plan wasn't that much more expensive. It would cost $55 per month or $660 per year. Both plans have a service fee of $100.

The difference between the two plans is that Basic doesn't cover air conditioning systems, refrigerators, washers, or dryers. Those things are highly likely to break down in the common home, so the Total Plan is probably the better option. Here's what's covered with each plan:

Basic Plan

• Heating system
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
• Plumbing stoppage
• Water heater
• Whirlpool bathtub
• Oven / range / stove
• Cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Built-in microwave
• Garbage disposal
• Ductwork
• Garage door opener
• Ceiling and exhaust fans

Total Plan

• Air conditioning system
• Heating system
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
• Plumbing stoppage
• Water heater
• Whirlpool bathtub
• Refrigerator
• Oven / range / stove
• Cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Built-in microwave
• Garbage disposal
• Clothes washer
• Clothes dryer
• Ductwork
• Garage door opener
• Ceiling and exhaust fans

You can also add extra coverage to either plan, a la carte. Here's what you can add for an additional monthly cost per option:

•  Pool-spa
• Well pump
• Central vacuum
• Limited roof leak
• Second refrigerator
• Stand-alone freezer
• Sump pump
• Additional spa
• Septic system
• Septic tank pumping

When you sign a contract with Choice Home Warranty, you’re essentially signing up for an extended limited warranty on your home’s appliances and systems—things not covered by homeowners insurance. You can pay for a one-year warranty upfront, or you can choose to pay in monthly installments.

Within its warranty plans, if a covered appliance breaks down—like a water heater, for example—you’ll file a claim with Choice Home Warranty, and the company will have a local service professional call you to set up an appointment.

You’ll pay a flat service fee to the service professional at the time of service, and if the repair is covered under your contract, you’ll pay nothing else for the needed repairs or replacement. Keep in mind, though, that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered under warranty.

Unlike some competitors, Choice Home Warranty doesn’t require a home inspection before you can get coverage for your home’s systems and appliances—making it easier to get started. That said, it’s important to read the fine print. As with any warranty or insurance plan, the CHW contract excludes some appliance components and repair issues, such as garage door tracks.

Other exclusions include:

• Routine maintenance or repairs due to misuse, abuse, or physical damage (like dents or scratches)
• Upgrades or modifications due to incompatibility
• Manufacturer’s recalls or defects under warranty
• Code violations or cost to meet new building requirements
• Permits
• Electronic energy management, lighting systems, and solar systems
• Disposal fees
• Service provider's negligence or conduct
• Commercial properties or equipment
• Delays due to uncontrollable events (e.g. labor strikes, pandemics)
• Attorney fees, indirect, or punitive damages

This is pretty common with home warranty companies. Choice Home Warranty has fewer exceptions and limitations than we've seen in other home warranty contracts, though.

CHW also has "caps" on how much the warranty covers on certain items. A cap is the maximum a home warranty will pay to fix or replace an appliance or system that's covered in your policy. Caps are standard in most home warranty plans. All of the specifics are laid out in your contract, but here's the information we gathered from the company:

• CHW will pay up to $3,000 to repair or replace an item as long as there isn't a lower cap listed in your contract.
• Limited roof leaks are covered up to $500.
• Well pump coverage is capped at $500 for diagnosis and repairs.
• Septic tank pumping is covered up to $250.
• Septic systems are capped at $500.
• Sprinkler systems are covered for up to $500.
• Stand-alone ice makers have a cap of $500.
• Trash compactors are covered for up to $500.

Two things stand out about Choice Home Warranty's customer service: its 24/7 claims hotline and work guarantee. 

You can call to arrange a service call anytime, day or night, year-round. And CHW offers a 30-day guarantee. If your repair breaks within 30 days, the company will waive the service fee to send someone out to fix it.

Choice Home Warranty seems to be liked by its customers, too. On Trustpilot, 60% of the customer reviews give the company five stars.

Choice Home Warranty surprised us with how few exceptions and limitations it has in its contract when compared with other home warranty companies. Its prices are also on par with its competitors. Another thing we like is that the plans are simple, and you can add on any extras you need.

As with any home warranty company, though, be sure to read the contract and understand what you're signing.

To evaluate Choice Home Warranty, we spent dozens of hours studying the CHW website and contracts, reading customer reviews of the company, researching competitors, and digging deeper into some of the claims against the company. We also contacted CHW ourselves to learn more about plans, pricing, and customer service.