Carter Gaddis is a senior writer at USA TODAY Homefront. He is an experienced journalist who has written about roofing, sunrooms, title insurance and other home service topics. Carter has contributed to the TODAY SHOW parenting section, CBS SPORTS and ESPN, among other publications. He lives with his family in Central Florida, where he spends most weekends at theme parks or watching English soccer on TV.
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Cold, snowy winters and hot, humid, rainy summers — that’s weather in most of Virginia. A homeowner must stay alert for HVAC breakdowns all year long. For air conditioners and appliances that are no longer under manufacturer warranties, a home warranty can provide you with financial peace of mind.
We recommend 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty for Virginia homeowners because of its comprehensive HVAC coverage options. If you are more concerned with home warranty plans that focus on appliances, we recommend First American Home Warranty for affordability, reliability and friendly customer service.
That said, any of the providers that made the cut for our top home warranties in Virginia could prove a good fit, depending on your circumstances.
To get started, request quotes from top providers below.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website receives compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. This listing does not include all companies or all available offers and products.
Our research into Virginia home warranty companies showed that these five providers stand out for covered systems, customer service, prices, add-on coverage, reputation and reliability.
Virginia’s climate varies across the commonwealth. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Virginia experienced much higher than usual temperatures in 2023, including record heat in large portions of Northern Virginia.
While Virginia’s recent summer droughts and extreme heat increased the importance of reliable air conditioning, parts of the state remain vulnerable to winter storms that could increase the demand placed on your heating system.
As we researched home warranty companies for this article, we focused heavily on HVAC coverage and customer service. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty stood out in both categories.
We gathered pricing information for the comparison table below by requesting quotes across all 50 states and calculating a national average for all featured companies. We used a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home in each state to obtain our quotes. Your pricing will vary based on your home’s size, location and coverage needs.
These five home warranty providers stood out among a crowded field for their HVAC options, reliability, reputation and cost.
To acquire fresh quotes for this article, we used a 2,034-square-foot, single-family home in Richmond, Virginia.
What we like
We rated 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty 4.8 out of 5 stars, our top score among the home warranty providers we’ve reviewed. Here are a few positives about 2-10:
What we don’t like
Despite its strong offerings, 2-10 does fall short in a few areas, including the following:
2-10 Home Buyers offers one of the most flexible sets of plans in the industry — it includes an HVAC-specific plan and a lower-priced plan that covers kitchen appliances.
Here are its offerings:
Add-on options: 2-10 offers 16 add-ons, including a Luxury Package upgrade that increases the aggregate annual coverage limit to $25,000. It offers an HVAC tune-up for $8 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: Coverage caps max out at $2,000 without the Luxury Package add-on. 2-10 provides the option for scaling premiums based on service fees of $65, $85 and $100. The company’s “Even If” guarantee states you may be reimbursed for your service fee if a technician determines the item is not eligible for repair or replacement.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty holds accreditation and an A rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Its BBB customer rating of 1.2 out of 5 stars reflects multiple customer complaints about poor communication and delayed service.
In a 5-star customer review for BBB, Cheryl W. wrote that the service tech repaired an AC unit in less than an hour. On the other hand, Randy M. gave the provider 1 star, complaining of poor communication and a lack of help for a faulty heating system.
First American Home Warranty provides a solid combination of coverage plans, with competitive pricing and generous dollar limits for covered appliances and systems. We also like the following:
Although First American offers comprehensive HVAC coverage with its midtier and premium plans, its basic plan does not cover air conditioning. Here are other areas where First American falls short:
First American Home Warranty offers $75, $100 and $125 service call fees, allowing you to scale your premiums. The higher the service call fee, the lower the premiums.
Below is an overview of First American’s plans:
Add-on options: Offers eight add-on options, including coverage for water softeners, septic systems and central air conditioning. First American also offers an HVAC tune-up for $2 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: First American provides a $1,000 coverage cap for water heaters. The company offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which is shorter than many competitors.
First American Home Warranty holds BBB accreditation and a B rating. Its BBB customer rating of 1.8 out of 5 reflects multiple customer complaints of tardy or no-show technicians. In a recent 1-star review, Eugene T. said technicians were unresponsive or did not show up within the promised 48 hours.
First American fares better with Trustpilot, where its rating is 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on more than 13,500 consumer reviews.
American Home Shield (AHS) offers comprehensive coverage options for AC and heating systems, including HVAC coverage in its lowest-priced plan. We also like the following:
With no annual premium option, AHS departs from the industry standard. Many companies offer additional months or lower overall premiums in exchange for a lump annual payment. Some other drawbacks of AHS include the following:
American Home Shield offers two options for monthly premiums with all of its plans. The lower premium comes with a $125 service call fee, while the higher premium comes with a $100 service call fee.
Here’s a look at the provider’s plans:
Add-on options: While its add-on options are relatively limited compared with competitors, AHS offers optional pool and spa coverage, roof-leak coverage for $10 per month and electronics coverage for $14 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: The coverage limit for HVAC items is $5,000. Appliance coverage limits are between $2,000 and $4,000, depending on the item and the coverage plan.
American Home Shield holds BBB accreditation and a B rating. Its BBB customer rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars reflects multiple unfavorable reviews regarding lengthy service call wait times.
Some customer reviews on the consumer site Trustpilot praised AHS for fast action on service appointments, with some stating they received an appointment confirmation within several hours of filing a claim. Even so, AHS’ Trustpilot rating is 2.2 out of 5 stars.
These Virginia home warranty providers generally matched up well with the three above, but they fell short because of pricing, coverage exclusions and inconsistent customer service.
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) enjoys favorable ratings with consumers because of its convenience and friendly customer service. It offers comprehensive appliance and home systems coverage. Here are some of LHG’s strengths:
While LHG offers overall generous coverage caps on most items, its coverage cap for electrical systems and plumbing is limited to $250 during the first 90 days of the contract. Here are some other cons:
Liberty Home Guard offers all three of its coverage plans at a $200 discount if you pay annually. Its service call fees range between $65 and $125 but are not revealed through the online quote request process.
Here’s a closer look at its plans:
Add-on options: LHG offers 42 add-ons — these are listed with prices during the online quote request process. For Virginia homeowners, it recommends add-ons that cover septic systems. It also offers limited roof-leak coverage for $12 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: LHG provides a 60-day workmanship guarantee. Its standard dollar limit for covered items is $2,000, falling to $500 for electrical and plumbing systems.
Liberty Home Guard’s A rating on BBB was changed to N/R (“not rated”), but it holds a BBB customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. In March 2024, LHG responded to losing its A rating with a statement that the company’s customer satisfaction levels remain the highest relative to its scale. LHG also stated that in February 2024, it received the lowest number of cancellation requests in its history.
LHG’s customer rating with Trustpilot is 4.7 out of 5 stars. Of more than 2,600 customer reviews, 92% gave the provider 5 stars.
Elite Home Warranty does not require a maintenance record for covered items at the start of the contract. This is a welcome difference from the industry norm, especially for homeowners who might not have maintenance records on hand. Here are some other factors we like:
While there is a lot to like about Elite, potential customers cannot acquire a quote instantly through an online request form. Here are some other factors we dislike:
Elite Home Warranty’s plans follow the usual industry structure of coverage for appliances, systems and the whole home. Elite also offers upgrades to premium appliance coverage.
Below is an overview of Elite’s plans:
Add-on options: Elite offers 30 add-on options, including annual maintenance for appliances and systems, coverage for lawn sprinklers and limited roof leaks, as well as pool and spa coverage. The company offers an HVAC maintenance plan for $299.
Other factors that influence coverage: Elite’s dollar limits for appliances are $500–$3,000, depending on the plan, and $1,000–$4,000 per claim for systems coverage. Elite caps annual payouts at $7,000 for appliances and $10,000 for systems. Elite’s 90-day workmanship warranty does not apply unless you use the technicians it assigns.
Elite Home Warranty holds BBB accreditation and an A+ rating. Its BBB customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars is among the best in the industry.
While Elite receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from customers on sites such as BBB and Trustpilot, customer Byron gave the provider 1 star. He wrote that he overheard an Elite customer service representative speak rudely to a technician who was assigned to diagnose his water damage. Elite responded to the review, stating that the customer had been reimbursed for his payment.
As you consider whether to purchase home warranty coverage to protect your appliances and major systems, factor in the potential strain that extreme Virginia temperatures could place on your air conditioning and heating systems.
It’s not only about HVAC, though. Check the time left for any manufacturer warranties your appliances are under. If some of them have seen better days but you are not quite ready to buy new ones, a home warranty may help defray the cost of any needed repairs or replacements.
As you shop for a home warranty in Virginia, one of the first questions to ask a sales representative is how much money the company allows for necessary repair costs or replacements. Compare that dollar figure, known as a coverage cap or coverage limit, to what you would be willing to pay out of pocket.
We analyzed home warranty costs in three Virginia ZIP codes and found that the average premiums are $41 per month or $492 annually. The monthly cost will depend on factors such as the company you select, your geographic location and the coverage plan you choose.
To help you determine whether your appliances need additional protection, below is a list of appliance life expectancies from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Data for the replacement costs reflects the ranges of listed retail prices for five major manufacturers: GE, LG, Maytag, Samsung and Whirlpool.
Virginia’s climate is considered mild compared with warm-weather states such as Arizona and Florida, as well as cold-weather states including Vermont and Minnesota. Still, Virginia residents who are near the NWS major climate site at Dulles Airport experienced the warmest September on record in 2023. Even in temperate Virginia, the heat can grow fierce.
A historic heat wave is no time to lose your air conditioning for an extended period. Higher temperatures typically increase the load on your air conditioning system, so be sure to check your current manufacturer warranty and keep up to date on regular maintenance.
If your AC unit’s manufacturer warranty has expired, home warranty coverage may be in order. We recommend the same course of action for your heating system if extreme cold is a concern where you live.
Home warranty companies should provide reliable home protection but also consistent communication and reliable service. Think twice about a company if you find that the representative takes longer than expected to respond to emails or phone calls.
Another potential red flag is a pattern or persistent theme of unfavorable customer reviews. For example, if a home service provider’s BBB page contains a lot of 1-star reviews about rejected claims, make sure to ask about that before you sign a contract.
Other red flags include the following:
Most home warranty companies provide a sample contract on their websites. If you can’t find one, ask your sales representative to provide it for you.
A sample contract provides a glimpse into the coverage you’ll get for your premium payments. It lays out the company’s responsibilities, the consumer’s responsibilities, the contract length and other important information.
As you explore the sample contract, pay attention to these sections:
Home service contract providers in Virginia are regulated under the terms of the Home Service Contract Providers Act. The Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs (OCRP) administers the act.
The Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services enforces the act and conducts investigations into potential violations. The commonwealth provides online complaint forms through the OCRP’s website.
All of the home warranty providers listed in this article possess qualities in their favor. Your unique circumstance might also lead you to consider a company not included in this article.
We chose 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty as the top provider in Virginia because of its focus on HVAC coverage, company reputation, price and customer satisfaction. While no home warranty company is perfect, the five we listed here serve as a good starting point for your shopping.
Before you sign with a home warranty company, we recommend that you request and compare quotes from at least three different providers.
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and your home. The best home warranty companies offer multiple coverage choices, high coverage limits, competitive pricing, good reviews, solid service and extra features.
We rate companies based on our in-depth methodology. We score companies out of 100 on factors related to their coverage options, coverage limits, pricing, reputation, customer service and extra features. We then divide their final score by 20 to obtain a 5-star rating in our reviews.
BBB and Trustpilot reviews are accurate as of March 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
Overall, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is our top choice because of its unlimited workmanship guarantee, low plan premiums and service fees. As a homeowner, you have to deal with the occasional unexpected expense. For a monthly or annual premium, a home warranty can offset the financial burden of repairing or replacing your most-used systems and…
An American Home Shield (AHS) plan adds a layer of financial protection for your home’s essential appliances and systems. It’s a solid home warranty provider that covers repairs up to $5,000 per claim, compared to the industry standard, which typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per claim. AHS is considered the founding company and among…
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers an extensive suite of add-on home warranty coverage options alongside comprehensive plans to match your home’s specific needs. LHG is fairly new to the industry, having opened its doors in 2017. The company has quickly built a reputation for excellent customer service, which we confirmed compared to other home warranty…
Purchasing home appliance insurance — more accurately referred to as a home appliance warranty — helps you pay for repairing or replacing kitchen and laundry appliances that no longer work. Our in-depth research revealed that Liberty Home Guard is your top option for comprehensive coverage in case one or more of your appliances break down…