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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.
Arizona’s HVAC systems were pushed to the limit in July 2023. The daily high temperature in Phoenix averaged nearly 115 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. If your air conditioner breaks down during a heat wave, you’ll want the peace of mind that comes with a home warranty company that provides fast and reliable AC repairs or replacements.
We recommend 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, American Home Shield and Liberty Home Guard based on the depth of their HVAC coverage options, pricing and available add-ons. More coverage options and affordability give 2-10 the edge, as AC replacement or repair can get expensive. According to our November 2023 survey of 750 homeowners, 46% paid between $5,000 and $14,999 for HVAC replacement.
The Homefront team analyzed and compared dozens of national top home warranty companies using our proprietary methodology. From those, we chose our top providers for Arizona.
To get started, request quotes from the home warranty providers below.
In the know
Over 150 homeowners have bought a home warranty plan from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.
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.
A home warranty company’s reputation is based largely on its timely response and level of customer service. Not all home warranty claims are automatically approved, though you can increase the chances that a claim will be approved by regularly maintaining your appliances and systems.
For example, be sure to replace your central AC filter as directed and invest in annual HVAC inspections to ensure the ducts and other components remain in good repair.
“Keep your appliances and other home systems and units in good condition,” said Dottie Herman, vice chair of Douglas Elliman Real Estate in New York. “The warranty companies can tell if something has been mishandled or not properly cared for.”
The warranty companies can tell if something has been mishandled or not properly cared for. Dottie Herman
The warranty companies can tell if something has been mishandled or not properly cared for.
Our research shows that the nationwide average cost for a home warranty is $59 per month and $703 per year. In Arizona, expect to pay an average of $54 monthly and $647 annually. These costs are an average of quotes we requested from various leading home warranty providers. Your price will vary depending on your coverage level and covered items, the billing practices of the warranty company and your geographic location. Below are the average monthly and annual premiums of nine popular home warranty companies .
In addition to considering monthly or annual premiums, you should take into account the cost of service visit fees. According to our research, service call fees range from $75–$125, depending on the company you choose.
For this article, our team acquired quotes for a 2,021-square-foot home in Mesa, Arizona, from the five home warranty companies featured below. They ranged from $30–$90 (without add-ons).
Arizona’s extreme summer heat, especially in and around southern population centers such as Phoenix and Tucson, can wreak havoc on HVAC systems. The heat wave of July 2023 produced daily low temperatures in the 90s for 16 consecutive days, and maximum temperatures reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit on three separate occasions.
The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends staying indoors as much as possible during extreme heat events. Therefore, a well-maintained, reliable air conditioning system is vital. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, window AC units last for five to seven years, while central air conditioners last for seven to 15 years. In parts of Arizona, a broken AC system could lead to health risks such as heatstroke.
As you research Arizona home warranty companies, keep an eye out for potential red flags. For example, you might find a lot of poor reviews on consumer sites such as Trustpilot.
Common complaints include unexpected costs related to service calls, rejected claims for needed home repairs, slower-than-expected service, unreturned phone calls or emails and slow response times for service calls.
To truly understand the depth of home warranty coverage, it helps to read a sample service contract before you commit to a home services agreement. You can find these on most home warranty company websites — some companies, such as American Home Shield, even provide sample contracts specific to Arizona and every state they serve.
In addition to listing monthly fees and service call fees, a home warranty sample contract may include sections on the following:
Home warranties in Arizona are regulated by statute and enforced by the state’s Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI). The department issued a document that provides an overview of home warranty information, including consumer protections, potential red flags, coverage costs and tips for home warranty shopping.
Consumers can file complaints with the state through DIFI’s complaint form or through the Arizona Attorney General’s consumer complaints division.
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.
Because of the extreme summer heat in Arizona, you need a home warranty company that covers systems that help keep you cool in the summer. These three home warranty companies scored well on overall coverage and service, as well as vital HVAC coverage.
For this Arizona article, we pulled quotes from each company below based on a 2,021-square-foot, single-family home in Mesa, Arizona. Our research shows that companies don’t vary their plan prices for homes that are under 4,000 square feet. This means that a provider will typically charge the same plan premium for a 2,000-square-foot home and a 3,000-square-foot home within the same ZIP code. However, pricing will vary based on your home’s location and coverage needs.
What we like
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty features unique coverage perks and comprehensive system and appliance protection. For example, 2-10 provides an unlimited workmanship guarantee that lasts the life of your plan. This means 2-10 will cover the repair cost of a previously serviced item if it malfunctions during the policy term.
Another feature we like is its Supreme upgrade, which increases appliance and system coverage limits from $2,000 to $5,000 per claim. As a bonus, 2-10 includes this add-on within its Pinnacle Home plan.
What we don’t like
Through our secret shopping we found that 2-10 excludes clothes washer and dryer coverage from its entry-level plans. You must buy the Pinnacle Home plan or an add-on if you want coverage for those items.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty provides three home protection plans, each with the choice of a $65, $85 or $100 service call fee.
Here is a brief overview of each coverage plan:
2-10’s sample contract mentions that it offers two additional coverage plans not available online: Simply HVAC and Essential Home. As its name implies, the Simply HVAC plan only covers cooling and heating systems. The Essential Home plan bundles the Simply HVAC and Simply Kitchen plans.
When I called 2-10 to inquire about the missing plans, the representative stated that those plans were only available over the phone.
Add-on options:
2-10 provides 16 additional coverage options, which is more than other companies we’ve reviewed. The quote we requested listed add-ons that other Texas homeowners frequently buy together. Based on our quote, the Supreme add-on costs an extra $5 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage:
As mentioned above, 2-10 extends a workmanship guarantee that lasts the life of your plan. Few home warranty companies provide workmanship guarantees of that length.
Regarding coverage caps, 2-10 pairs each covered item with a $2,000 annual cap. If you purchase the Supreme upgrade or the Pinnacle Home plan, the annual limit rises to $5,000.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty holds an A- rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Most home warranty companies have a B rating on BBB, so 2-10 scored better. However, 2-10’s BBB profile has a customer rating of 1.2 stars out of 5. A BBB review from Ryan V. stated that his claims experience had multiple delays due to a lackluster service provider.
On other review sites, such as Best Company, 2-10 had more positive customer reviews. For example, a Best Company review from Kaitlyn W. highlighted the seamless claims experience 2-10 provides.
The lowest-priced plan from American Home Shield (AHS) covers air conditioning, which is not typically the case. The company also covers preexisting conditions for appliances and systems, and its top-tier plan offers discounted HVAC tune-ups.
The company does not offer an appliance-only plan, and its list of six available add-ons is relatively thin. The company also does not offer an annual premium plan, unlike most other home warranty providers.
American Home Shield’s three plans vary in premium price based on the number and type of items or systems included in the coverage. For all three plans, you can reduce your monthly premium by choosing a service call fee of $125, or pay more per month with a $100 service call fee.
Here’s an overview of the three plans:
Add-on options: AHS’ list of add-ons stops at six, though it includes coverage for septic pumps and guest units. It offers an electronics protection plan for $14 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: The annual limit for covered air conditioning items is $5,000, but it is $1,500 for certain types of HVAC systems, including glycol, hot water or steam heating systems. The coverage limit for appliances ranges from $2,000–$4,000, depending on the item and the plan type. When an appliance must be accessed through concrete or other obstacles, AHS will cover up to $1,000 of the cost to “return such access opening to a Rough Finish,” per its service agreement.
American Home Shield holds a B rating with BBB and an average customer rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars.
Like most home warranty providers, AHS receives its share of good and poor reviews on consumer sites such as Trustpilot. In one 1-star review, customer Bill Davis praised AHS for quickly responding to his icemaker breakdown, but pointed out that neither of two technicians sent by AHS were able to make the repair. Others, such as customer Jim Harner wrote in a 5-star review that he “would definitely use” AHS again.
The Systems Guard plan from Liberty Home Guard (LHG) includes coverage for two AC condensers and handlers or two window-mounted AC units. The company also covers HVAC ductwork, and its Appliance Guard plan covers clothes dryers and washers. It also offers 38 add-ons and provides live chat services on its website.
LHG chooses the technician for you rather than allowing you to select one. The company also charges extra to cover premium appliances, whereas some home warranty providers include premium appliances automatically.
Liberty Home Guard offers three coverage plans, with its coverage for appliances and systems split into two plans. Its most comprehensive plan combines coverage for appliances and systems.
Here’s an overview of each plan:
Add-on options: LHG offers 38 add-on options, including five that it says are most popular with its Arizona customers: pool and spa, lawn sprinklers, stand-alone freezer, limited roof leak and septic system pumping. The company offers an outdoor generator add-on for $19.99 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage: The company offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee on repairs, twice as long as the industry standard of 30 days. Its coverage cap for covered appliances and most systems is $2,000 annually but drops to $500 for electrical and plumbing. Exclusions include no coverage for preexisting conditions and some maintenance-related damage.
Liberty Home Guard’s A rating on BBB was changed to N/R (“not rated”). 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.
Complaints filed with BBB are not uncommon, especially for home warranty companies that serve a wide geographic area. LHG holds a BBB customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and its reviews on other consumer sites and generally favorable. A recent 5-star review on BBB from James C. cited “great customer service” and timely assistance.
These two reputable companies also serve Arizona and offer comprehensive coverage through their home warranty plans but just missed making our top three.
Elite Home Warranty provides a 90-day workmanship guarantee. Unlike some companies, Elite does allow you to choose your own technician. Its annual coverage caps of $7,000 for appliances and $8,000 for systems are among the highest in the industry. Elite also provides a customized plan that allows you to mix and match the appliances and systems you want covered.
Elite won’t include the workmanship guarantee unless you go with a technician that it recommends. Most companies provide quotes directly through their websites, but Elite requests that you call for a quote. A representative provided the quote we requested by email when we asked for it.
Elite Home Warranty’s coverage options include its three main plans and an “a la carte” feature that lets you customize your coverage for a to-be-determined price. All of its plans offer optional add-ons for further customization. Most of Elite’s plans include a $70 service fee. The annual premium is reduced by $30 with a $100 service fee and by $50 with a $130 service fee.
Here’s an overview of the main plans and their coverage:
Add-on options: Elite offers coverage for 30 add-on options at an additional monthly cost. Add-ons offered include annual maintenance for appliances and systems, coverage for lawn sprinklers and limited roof leaks, as well as pool and spa coverage. Elite offers an annual HVAC maintenance plan for $299.
Other factors that influence coverage: Elite’s coverage caps for appliances are $500–$3,000, depending on the plan, and $1,000–$4,000 per claim for systems coverage.
Elite Home Warranty has an A+ rating with BBB; its customer review rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
In one 5-star review for BBB, Elite customer Ronald J. wrote that he shopped for a home warranty for half a year and decided to commit to Elite after a favorable customer service experience.
Consumers on the review site Trustpilot gave Elite an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
First American Home Warranty includes an annual HVAC tune-up with its Premium Plan, which also covers the cost of refrigerant recharging. Both are available as add-ons with the Starter and Essential Plans.
Its monthly premiums are slightly higher than other Arizona home warranty companies we reviewed. The company also does not offer complete AC coverage with its Starter Plan, only certain components.
First American Home Warranty offers three coverage plans, with monthly payments that scale based on whether you choose a service call fee of $75, $100 or $125.
Here’s an overview of the plans and what they cover:
Add-on options: First American offers eight add-ons, including central air conditioning for $8.33 per month or $100 when paying annually. The company also offers an annual AC system tune-up as add-on coverage for an additional $2.08 per month or $25 per year. These features are add-ons for the Starter and Essential plans — the Premium Plan includes them.
Other factors that influence coverage: First American only requires a coverage cap on water heaters, with a $1,000 annual limit.
First American Home Warranty has a B rating with BBB as of February 2024 and a rating of 1.8 out of 5 stars among customer reviewers.
First American fares better with consumer review sites such as Trustpilot, where 84% of reviews came in at 4 or 5 stars. In one 5-star review, verified customer Sandy Hayes praised First American’s prompt response time and efficiency.
Air conditioning breakdowns aren’t the only factor to consider as you shop for the right home warranty, but it’s important in Arizona. Several of the home warranty providers we reviewed offer good AC coverage, but 2-10’s combination of HVAC coverage options, pricing and reputation gives it the edge.
As you do your research and request multiple quotes, make sure your plan options include home warranties that specifically cover ACs.
BBB and Trustpilot reviews are accurate as of February 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.
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