Frequently Asked Questions

First American is a leader in the home warranty industry, with more than 40 years of experience. Last year alone we spent more than $174 million* on repairs and replacements. Our customer service team is available to respond to your service requests seven days a week, including holidays.

Our customers say it best and consistently provide positive feedback in our satisfaction surveys.

*Paid invoices net of service fees in 2025, prior to deductions and/or rebates.

A home warranty is typically a one-year renewable service contract designed to protect your household budget from unexpected, costly repairs on home systems and appliances.

You can choose from different plans and options to best suit your home’s specific requirements. Plans can cover kitchen appliances, water heaters, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, heating systems, and more. You can select options such as pool/spa equipment, well pump, and more. Coverage varies by region and whether the home is involved in a real estate transaction.

Current homeowners can get a quick quote. If you are buying or selling a home, here’s how to order and get a quote for a real estate plan.

Your home warranty contract covers only items listed as covered and excludes all others. Therefore, when you have a breakdown you may have additional expenses associated with the repair or replacement. For instance, costs to bring out-of-code systems into compliance, structural modifications, modifications to existing equipment, secondary damage, and cosmetic fixes are examples of items that may not be covered. Read your contract for full details.

Review your coverage. It is best to review your home warranty contract to understand specific coverage and limitations for the broken item.

Request service. Sign in to place your request online or call 800.992.3400.

Schedule an appointment. A service provider will contact you to schedule a mutually convenient appointment.

Repair or replacement. The service contractor will diagnose and repair or replace your covered item. Simple repairs are typically made during the first appointment. In some cases, parts may need to be ordered and additional visits may be needed to complete the repair or replacement.

Home insurance is usually required by your mortgage lender and protects the structure of your home against risks such as damage from severe weather and theft, secondary damages resulting from some system and appliance failures, as well as protecting you personally from liability in the event that someone is accidentally injured on your property. Each time you make a claim on your home insurance you pay a deductible cost, which is commonly $500 or $1,000. 

Home warranties protect many of the home systems and appliances that you rely on daily. When these systems and appliances inevitably fail over time due to normal wear and tear, a home warranty will pay to repair or replace them. You will pay a service fee each time you request service.

We will send a local technician from our network of thousands of independent service providers who are prescreened, and monitored for performance through customer satisfaction surveys.

Yes. You will pay a service fee each time you make a new service request. Your service fee is listed in your contract, or you can see it when you get a quote.

In most situations we will not repair or replace an item that was broken prior to the start of the home warranty coverage. Some plans that are purchased as part of a real estate transaction will protect you from unknown pre-existing conditions - if at the time the coverage begins the defect is not known or could not have been reasonably observed by looking at or operating the system or appliance.

No. We will cover your system or appliance regardless of age, provided it is in safe, working order before the start of your contract.

Yes! If a covered system or appliance is beyond repair, we will replace it with a brand new unit with like functionality.

In some instances, you may be offered cash in lieu of repair or replacement. Payment will be made based on First American’s negotiated rates with its suppliers, which may be less than retail.

Repair or replacement of ice makers, ice crusher, beverage dispensers, and their respective equipment will only be completed when parts are available.

It's easy to get a free quote. Costs vary depending on geographic location as well as by which plans and options you choose to best suit your home. If you're buying or selling a home, contact your real estate agent for local pricing.

For many new customers, there is a 30-day waiting period before requesting service. Please see your contract for specific details.

There is no limit to the number of times you can request service during your contract. Many of our customers request service multiple times each year and save hundreds to thousands of dollars in repair and replacement bills.

If you're buying or selling a home, we offer specialized home warranty plans made just for you. Learn more about the benefits of a home warranty for buyers and sellers, and how to get a quote for a real estate plans.

We'd hate to see you go! As your home warranty is an annual contract, please call us at 800.327.9292 Ext. 7521 to discuss options.

There’s no need to. Our trusted network of prescreened professional technicians are ready to assist you, so you don’t have to search for help on your own. We take pride in our contractors’ professionalism and expertise, continually monitoring their performance and rewarding those who provide exceptional service.

Our plans do not have a cap or dollar limit for the total amount we’ll cover per contract term. Some items do have dollar limits, however. For example, appliances and roof leak coverage have dollar limits. Your sample contract details limits and coverage for specific items.

If parts are not available for your covered appliance or system and we cannot repair it, we’ll replace the broken item with a comparable model. Rest assured that you’ll receive a brand-new product with like functionality.

An exception to this is ice makers, ice crusher, beverage dispensers, and their respective equipment; These will only be repaired or replaced when parts are available.

Yes, all of our plans include refrigerant coverage. Our Premium plan and all real estate plans cover 100% of refrigerant costs. Our Starter and Essential plans cover up to $20/lb. and you pay any additional cost up to a maximum of $250 per covered unit and failure.

Yes, you can add or change coverage any time before your coverage starts or within the contract grace period, which varies by plan. You can also add or change coverage when your plan renews.

A home warranty can be worth it if you have aging appliances or systems, you want to avoid unexpected repair costs, or your savings may not be enough to cover major breakdowns. We also have a network of prescreened service providers, so you don’t have to find a tech when something breaks.

Learn more about when a home warranty is worth it.

Roof leak coverage is not included in our plans, but it's available as an add-on. Our roof leak option covers up to $1000 for repairing leaks from normal wear and tear on tar and gravel, tile, shingle, shake, and composition roofs.

Learn more about roof leak home warranty coverage and what it does and doesn’t cover.

Yes! You can easily manage your coverage and service requests through your online account. Simply sign in to request service, review your coverage details, and track your claims 24/7. If you haven't created an account yet, you can register here to get started (and start using your member benefits).

Yes! Home warranties are a great way for property owners to manage repair and replacement expenses for long-term rental properties. As a landlord, you can purchase coverage for single-family homes, condos, multi-unit properties, and more.

First American offers special warranty options and discounts for multiple properties. Contact our Portfolio Management team at 855.851.3454 to learn more.

Yes, our home warranty plans can cover appliances and systems that fail from lack of maintenance. The item simply needs to be in safe working order at the time coverage starts.

No, cosmetic issues like scratches and dents aren’t covered. A home warranty takes care of repairing or replacing covered items when they stop working due to normal wear and tear.

Yes, we offer plans and upgrades that include coverage for code upgrades and permits as well as improper installations, modifications and repairs. Coverage starts at $250 and varies depending on the type of plan or options you choose.

Please review the sample contract for specific coverage, terms, and limitations.

Call us or go online 24/7 to request service as soon as possible.

When the failure of a covered item renders the home uninhabitable, we will make all reasonable efforts to expedite and initiate emergency service within 24 hours. Examples of such events include when there is no power, water, or available toilets.