4 Best Home Warranty Companies for Furnaces (2023)

Home repairs can range from changing the batteries in your thermostat to replacing your gas furnace. That means expenses vary, too. A home warranty can prepare you for repair and replacement costs that are out of your budget. For a relatively small monthly fee, a home warranty plan will cover a portion of these expenses when you file a claim on a covered item.

Home warranties cover your home's most-used built-in systems and appliances, including furnaces, when they malfunction from everyday wear and tear. We at the Guides Home Team have rated the best home warranty companies and compared their policies on heating systems. Below, we outline each provider's monthly costs, coverage limits and standout features.

See how the best home warranty companies for furnaces compare on key metrics.

*Range demonstrates the least expensive plan to the most expensive plan.

**A service fee is a one-time payment typically between $60 and $125, with some fees being as high as $150. This fee covers the service you receive and is typically paid directly to your service contractor.

We pulled all pricing information used in this article from sample quotes we received for a single-family home smaller than 5,000 square feet in Minneapolis, Minn. Your quote may differ depending on your home's location, its square footage and your coverage selections. We recommend requesting quotes from a few different companies to compare plan pricing in your area.

The MarketWatch Guides Team developed a calculator that analyzes the anticipated yearly expenses associated with owning a home warranty. To determine your projected annual cost, simply input your monthly premium, service call fee and estimated number of claims. We recommend getting quotes from our top providers directly, as prices vary by plan, location and home size.

Source: Home Depot

Here are our top four home warranties for furnaces:

►Year founded: 1971

►State availability: 49 (excludes Alaska)

American Home Shield (AHS) is an industry veteran with more than 50 years of experience. AHS stands out for its comprehensive policies — which cover situations typically left off of competitors’ policies — its nationwide availability and higher-than-average coverage caps. Due to its tenure in the industry, you may notice more complaints against AHS than its newer competitors.

AHS offers three plan options: one systems-only plan and two tiers of combination plans. ShieldSilver covers items, such as your heating units, ductwork, built-in exhaust and vents. ShieldGold expands on that coverage by adding five essential home appliances. ShieldPlatinum covers everything in ShieldGold plus roof leaks up to $1,500.

Compared to its competitors, AHS offers a limited selection of add-on options. Its options include the following:

According to our quote, customers can expect to pay between $45 and $90 per month for furnace, heating system and HVAC unit coverage. Your monthly fees will depend on your selected service call fee, plan and location.

Get your quote: To request a personalized quote, call 844-529-9298 or fill out American Home Shield's quick form.

To learn more: American Home Shield review

►Year founded: 2017

►State availability: 48 (excludes Washington and Wisconsin)

Liberty Home Guard is a newer home warranty provider, but it remains competitive by providing affordable plans, accessible customer service and an unbeatable list of add-on options. However, Liberty Home Guard caps coverage at $2,000 per covered item, which is lower than many of the providers featured on this list.

Liberty Home Guard has two plans with furnace and heating system coverage. The Appliance Guard plan covers major appliances exclusively. The Systems Guard plan covers air conditioning, heating ductwork, plumbing, electrical systems and water heaters. Total Home Guard combines the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard coverage into one plan.

Liberty Home Guard offers the following 38 additional coverage options:

Liberty Home Guard will set your service call fee for you after you select your plan and add-on options. Unfortunately, during the quote process, Liberty is not clear about which service call fee will be assigned to you.

When we reached out to a representative, they told us customers can always ask questions or get clarification by calling customer service. We recommend speaking to a salesperson before making any final decisions about your home warranty coverage.

Get a quote: To request a free quote, fill out Liberty Home Guard's quick form or call 866-452-9107.

To learn more: Liberty Home Guard review

►Year founded: 2010

►State availability: 49 (excludes Hawaii)

America's First Choice Home Club (AFC Home Club) leads the list in plan variety. Not only does AFC Home Club offer four plans (compared to the typical two or three its competitors offer), but it also offers a flexible service call fee and a slew of add-on options for extra customization.

AFC Home Club offers three plans — the Systems Plan, Gold Plan and Platinum Plan — that cover major systems, including heating units. The Silver Plan is reserved for customers seeking appliance-only coverage.

Note that our quote from AFC Home Club did not include ductwork coverage, but when we reached out to the company, a representative told us that ductwork is included in all systems plans. We recommend reading your home warranty contract carefully so you know what your plan covers.

AFC Home Club offers optional coverage for the following items:

According to our quote, customers can expect to pay between $40 and $68 per month for home warranty coverage. Your monthly fees will depend on your location, plan selection and chosen service call fee.

Get your quote: To request a quick quote, use AFC Home Club's form or call 877-755-1115.

To learn more: AFC Home Club review

►Year founded: 2012

►State availability: 46 (excludes New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin)

Select Home Warranty is a budget-friendly option for customers who want to keep their home warranty fees at less than $50 per month. In addition to its affordability, Select offers a quick claim response time and includes roof-leak coverage with all plan tiers.

Select offers two plans that cover your heating system. Bronze Care is limited to appliance-only coverage, and Gold Care exclusively covers your home's built-in systems. Platinum Care combines the two basic plans into one comprehensive package. It also includes coverage for your garage door opener and plumbing stoppages.

Customers can add coverage for any of the following items to Select's plans:

Select charges a $75 service call fee when you request service. According to our quote, customers can expect to pay between $41 and $46 per month with Select Home Warranty.

Get a quote: To request a free quote, call 888-370-3956 or use Select Home Warranty's simple online tool.

To learn more: Select Home Warranty review

All the providers featured on this list offer home warranty coverage for furnaces, but coverage caps, covered items and service call fees will vary depending on your plan selection.

American Home Shield does not impose coverage caps on built-in systems, including your furnace. Select Home Warranty offers affordable plan options for less than $50 per month. We recommend requesting a quote from at least three providers to compare your customized options.

Installation and manufacturer warranties will vary; there isn't a typical furnace warranty. You can check on your furnace's warranty status by consulting the serial and model numbers on the furnace, calling your HVAC technician or consulting the paperwork from when you bought your house.

If you recently purchased your home, the seller may have provided a home warranty as an incentive in the sale. In this case, you can call the home warranty provider to discuss your heating system's coverage.

If your furnace is damaged in a fire, flood or other perilous events, then your homeowners insurance will likely cover furnace replacement. However, if your heating system is damaged accidentally or as a result of normal wear and tear, you will likely be financially responsible for the entire unit. A home warranty will protect your heating system in the event of damage from normal use.

Whether a home warranty will cover an old HVAC will vary by policy. Some home warranty companies won't cover systems and appliances older than a certain age. Others say they cover systems of any age, but will only cover the depreciated value of the system.

Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank providers based on objective factors. We researched each company by speaking with company representatives, reading sample contracts, and analyzing and comparing consumer reviews. We deepened our research by gaining homeowner insights through surveys and focus groups.

After collecting data, we scored each provider in the following categories: plan options, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, state availability, additional benefits and coverage specifics.

Ally Sabatina is an experienced content producer whose work has appeared on sites like The Financial Diet and Inverse. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Temple University and strives to distill complex and nuanced topics into accessible and approachable language for all readers.

Veronika Jelenik is an editor with a background in journalism. She previously has had her work published in the New York Daily News and the Hartford Courant, and she has covered many disparate topics. Veronika has a bachelor's degree in journalism and social and cultural analysis. When not immersed in home services content, Veronika enjoys spending time with her friends and her Chihuahua, Beanie.