Best Home Warranties for HVAC Systems

When it comes to expensive home repairs, those for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be at the top of the list. HVAC repairs can run north of $2,000, depending on the issue. For homeowners who hope to offset those costs, a home warranty can provide coverage for unexpected issues with heat and air conditioning systems, as well as ductwork.

Here are our picks for the best home warranties for HVAC systems.

With no limit on HVAC repairs, First American Home Warranty is our pick for the best coverage caps.

• Cost: Plans with AC coverage start at $52 per month; service fees are $75, $100 or $125 per claim.

• Availability: Heating system and ductwork coverage with all plans; air conditioning system coverage with Essential and Premium Plans only.

• Coverage caps: No coverage cap for heating, air conditioning or ductwork repairs; $1,500 limit on geothermal and glycol systems.

• Air conditioning system coverage: The cheapest plan doesn’t include AC coverage, but most components are covered with the Essential Plan, including mini-split ductless systems. The Premium Plan adds coverage for window units, grills, registers and filters.

• Heating system coverage: The majority of components are covered in the Starter Plan.

• Ductwork coverage: The Starter Plan includes basic ductwork coverage. First American Home Warranty doesn’t cover collapsed or clogged ducts.

All of First American Home Warranty’s plans include coverage for refrigerant, paying up to $20 per pound with the Starter Plan. The Premium Plan includes two seasonal HVAC tuneups, but coverage is limited to certain types of systems. Coverage caps for repairing walls, floors and concrete depend on your plan, but all plans pay toward repairs stemming from improper or insufficient maintenance, rust, corrosion and sediment (coverage for improper installation requires an extra fee).

» READ MORE: NerdWallet's full review of First American Home Warranty.

Unlike many providers, American Home Shield covers repairs for mismatched HVAC systems, meaning your air conditioner and furnace are different sizes or made by different manufacturers. It also includes coverage for issues related to rust, corrosion or sediment.

• Cost: Plans start at $19.99; service fees are $100 or $125 per claim.

• Availability: Heating and air conditioning systems and ductwork are covered in all three plans.

• Coverage caps: $5,000 for each item, including heating and air conditioning systems and ductwork.

• Air conditioning system coverage: American Home Shield covers all mechanical components for most types of systems, including ducted central, package and electric split units, evaporative coolers, geothermal units, wall air conditioners and mini-splits.

• Heating system coverage: The company also covers all mechanical parts for most heating systems, including gas, electrical and oil forced air units, package units, wall-mounted heaters, geothermal units, floor furnaces, heat pumps, hot water or steam circulating heat units, mini-splits and electric baseboard units.

• Ductwork coverage: For ductwork connected to covered systems, American Home Shield covers breaks or leaks in plenums (the box connecting the air handling unit and ductwork), dampers (the adjustable valves in ductwork), damper-only controls (the parts that allow you to adjust the dampers), vapor barriers, grills and registers.

While most competitors don’t cover repairs for improper installation, maintenance issues or mismatched HVAC systems, American Home Shield’s coverage includes all three. It covers problems caused by improper installation as well as improper or insufficient maintenance as long as it’s reasonable to assume that the homeowner was unable to detect the issues on their own. The company also includes one seasonal HVAC tuneup in its premium ShieldPlatinum plan — or you can pay $100 for a tuneup if you have one of the other plans.

» READ MORE: NerdWallet’s full review of American Home Shield.

Liberty Home Guard stands out with coverage for ductwork along with grills and registers, clogged ducts and some damaged ducts, making it the best coverage for ductwork.

• Cost: Plans that include HVAC coverage start at $54.99; service fees are $70 to $125 per claim.

• Availability: Heating and air conditioning systems and ductwork are covered in the Systems Guard and Total Home Guard plans.

• Coverage caps: $2,000 each for heating and air conditioning systems and ductwork.

• Air conditioning system coverage: Liberty Home Guard’s coverage is for two AC systems and includes most major parts. However, plans do not cover gas air conditioning systems, non-ducted wall units, any system-related coils, evaporative coolers or wiring.

• Heating system coverage: The company also covers all mechanical parts for a heating system, including circulating pumps and reversing valves (valves that control the flow of refrigerant on a heat pump). However, it doesn’t cover hydronic, steam, Apollo HydroHeat systems or radiators, and it excludes evaporator coils and heat pumps for geothermal or water source systems.

• Ductwork coverage: Coverage includes ductwork along with registers and grills, leaks or breaks in ductwork connected with heating or air conditioning systems, clogged ductwork and collapsed ducts caused by something other than a lack of support.

Liberty Home Guard’s plans cover up to two AC systems, such as two mini-splits or two condensers. However, the company doesn’t offer HVAC tuneups (in plans or as an add-on), has less coverage on heating systems than most competitors and doesn’t repair any damage to walls, ceilings or floors if a technician has to break through to access a system.

» READ MORE: NerdWallet’s full review of Liberty Home Guard.

The only company on our list that covers two heating systems and two air conditioning units makes Cinch Home Services our pick for covering multiple systems.

• Cost: Plans start at $35.99 a month; service fees are $100, $125 or $150 per claim.

• Availability: Air conditioning and heating systems and ductwork are covered in the Built-in Systems and Complete Home plans.

• Coverage caps: $10,000 combined for all claims during a 12-month term; $1,500 for geothermal and glycol systems.

• Air conditioning system coverage: Cinch Home Services covers all mechanical parts for ducted central electric split and package units, wall air conditioners, mini-splits and geothermal units. Exclusions include well pumps, window units and chillers.

• Heating system coverage: The company also covers all mechanical components for most heating systems, including gas, electric and oil forced air units, package units, geothermal units, floor furnaces, wall-mounted heaters, mini-splits, heat pumps, electric baseboards, hot water or steam circulating heat units and cable heat if its the only heat source.

• Ductwork coverage: Plans cover ductwork for covered systems, including dampers and damper-only controls, plenums, registers, grills and breaks or leaks in ductwork.

Cinch Home Services has an aggregate coverage cap: The company will pay up to $10,000 total for all claims without a limit on how much goes toward specific items. Because its plans cover two heating and two air conditioning systems, you have flexibility in how you apply that coverage across multiple systems. Cinch Home Services doesn’t offer HVAC tuneups, but it does cover issues caused by corrosion, rust and sediment buildup.

» READ MORE: NerdWallet’s full review of Cinch Home Services.

Old Republic Home Protection is the only provider on our list that covers smart and Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats, making it a good option for homeowners with advanced features.

• Cost: Plans start at $60.00 per month; service fees are $100 to $125 per claim.

• Availability: Heating system and ductwork are covered in all plans; air conditioning systems are covered in the Deluxe and Elite plans. Customers can add air conditioning coverage to the Basic plan for an additional fee.

• Coverage caps: $6,500 each for heating and air conditioning systems, $1,000 for ductwork and $1,500 for geothermal and glycol systems.

• Air conditioning system coverage: The company covers all mechanical parts involved in the “cooling operation” of the system, including central and wall or through-the-wall air conditioner, evaporator cooler, mini-split ductless systems, condenser and compressor, evaporator coil, air handler and metering devices. It also covers any refrigerant lines and condensate drain line leaks or stoppages if they are accessible without going through an obstacle such as a wall. Gas air conditioning units and window units are not covered.

• Heating system coverage: Plans cover all mechanical components for the “heating operation” of the system, including gas, oil and electric heating systems, floor and built-in-wall heaters, heat pumps, mini-split ductless systems. Refrigerant lines for heat pumps and stoppages in condensate drain lines are also covered if they are accessible without having to go through an obstacle such as a wall. Exclusions include cable heat and window units.

• Ductwork coverage: The company covers repairs to ductwork but excludes dampers, insulation and leaks in the ductwork.

Coverage for both air conditioning and heating systems includes for smart and Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats, but smart vents are excluded from ductwork coverage. Two seasonal HVAC tuneups are included in the Elite Plan or can be purchased separately for an additional fee. And unlike most competitors, Old Republic Home Protection covers replacement filters for heating systems with its Deluxe and Elite Plans. It also covers issues caused by rust, corrosion and sediment.

However, if the company has to go through a wall, ceiling or floor to repair a system, it will only return them to a rough finish for heating system or ductwork repairs; it won’t repair any damage to surfaces for air conditioning repairs.

» READ MORE: NerdWallet’s review of Old Republic Home Protection.

Homeowners with wall-mounted air units (ductless systems that connect an interior unit with an exterior condenser through piping) will appreciate Home Service Club’s coverage of up to three units when they’re the main cooling system for the home.

• Cost: Plans start at $54 per month; service fees are $65, $95 or $125 per claim.

• Availability: Coverage for air conditioning and heating systems are included in both plans; ductwork is only covered in the Comprehensive Plan.

• Coverage caps: $2,000 combined for air conditioning and heating systems (including geothermal systems); $600 for ductwork. Geothermal and glycol systems are included in this coverage.

• Air conditioning system coverage: Home Service Clubs covers most mechanical parts of ducted central electric package and split units, mini-split units, geothermal units, wall-mounted air conditioners when they’re the primary cooling system and swamp coolers (also called evaporative coolers). Exclusions include condensate lines, window units, gas systems and drain line stoppages.

• Heating system coverage: Plans include coverage for gas and electric forced air systems, package units, geothermal systems, floor furnaces, wall-mounted heaters, mini-splits, room heaters and oil heating and cable heat systems if the primary heat source for the home. Exclusions include electric baseboard heaters, built-in radiant heating systems and drain line stoppages.

• Ductwork coverage: Coverage includes ductwork including registers and grills, dampers and damper-only controls, plenums and breaks or leaks in covered ductwork. Plans don’t cover ductwork that has collapsed or is only accessible through concrete.

Home Services Club doesn’t cover issues related to improper or insufficient maintenance, improper installation, sediment, rust or corrosion. It also doesn’t cover mismatched HVAC systems or offer HVAC tuneups.

Our research shows that Home Service Club charges a $30 monthly surcharge when customers pay monthly instead of annually. This amount is not included in the cost listed above and would come out to an extra $360 per year.

» MORE: Check out NerdWallet’s best home warranties in Texas and best home warranties in California

What a home warranty covers for HVAC systems

A home warranty can cover the cost of repairs to or replacement of certain appliances, home systems or both. Specific coverage depends on the plan, and most companies offer several plans to let you choose the coverage you need.

For HVAC systems, home warranty companies will list the types of systems they cover in a service agreement. Although some companies cover most types of systems, most will exclude certain types of units. Coverage usually includes most mechanical parts affecting an HVAC system, but some providers exclude specific parts from their coverage. Service agreements will also list specific components and situations that are excluded, such as drain line stoppages, evaporative coils, window units and mismatched HVAC systems.

» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?

How much a home warranty costs

Based on our research, the average cost of a home warranty plan is about $58 per month, and the starting cost for plans that cover HVAC systems can range from about $20 to $60 per month. Overall cost for a home warranty depends on the company you go with, the plan you choose and your location. Whether you pay monthly or annually can also affect the price with some companies.

» MORE: How much does a home warranty cost?

What to look for with home warranty HVAC coverage

Depending on your HVAC system, you might want to consider the following aspects of home warranty coverage when comparing your options. Most of this information will be in a sample service agreement on each company’s website.

• Types of systems. Most plans that include HVAC systems cover common systems such as ducted central electric units and might cover less common ones such as wall-mounted air units. But many companies exclude certain system types as well as mismatched HVAC systems.

• Number of systems. Generally home warranty plans cover one heating system and one air conditioning system, but a few cover more. Some will cover several units if they are of a certain type and are the primary system for a home.

• Coverage caps. Home warranties vary on how much they’ll pay toward repairs, and the amount can even differ between a company’s plans as well. For HVAC coverage, our research showed that of those companies that capped their coverage, amounts ranged from $2,000 to $6,500 per system and up to $10,000 for combined coverage. First American Home Warranty is the only company in our list that doesn’t cap its HVAC coverage.

» MORE: Home warranty vs. home insurance: Which is better?

• Specific parts and components. Even companies that say they cover all mechanical parts for HVAC systems are likely to have some exclusions. Read the service agreement to see which specific components a company or plan covers and which are excluded.

• Causes of issues. Home warranties rarely cover every problem with an HVAC system. Common reasons a company will deny a repair claim include improper or insufficient maintenance, improper installation by a homeowner or other company and rust, corrosion or sediment affecting performance. Most companies won’t cover repairs to HVAC systems with mismatched parts as well.

• HVAC tuneups. An HVAC tuneup can potentially help your system perform better and catch small issues before they become major problems. Some home warranty plans include season HVAC tuneups, and some companies offer add-on coverage for them. 

• Cost. The total cost for a home warranty is more than just the monthly premium — consider the service fee, which you’ll pay every time a technician comes to your house. Also pay attention to any additional fees such as surcharges for paying monthly instead of annually, as these can add up quickly.