Total Home Protection Review | 10 Best Home Warranty Companies

Comprehensive coverage plans
Affordable $45 deductible
One month free

Coverage

Total Home Protection offers two home warranty plans: Gold and Platinum, plus optional coverage.

The Gold plan includes a customer’s plumbing system, plumbing stoppage, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, electrical system, oven/range/stove, cooktop, range exhaust hood, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, trash compactor, ductwork, garage door opener, and ceiling and exhaust fans. As you can see, this plan is quite comprehensive and includes many appliances and systems, but the Platinum plan is even better, as it includes everything the Gold one does, plus 2 AC units, 2 units of heating system, refrigerator, washing machine and clothes dryer.

In addition to these two plans, Total Home Protection also offers optional coverage for customers’ pools and spas, additional spas, limited roof leaks, central vacuums, sump pumps, well pumps, septic systems, septic pumping, additional refrigerators, standalone freezers, water softeners, refrigerator ice makers, free standing ice makers, as well as additional units of air conditioning, heating systems, water heaters and garage door openers.

The way home warranty works with Total Home Protection is that, if one of the appliances or systems covered by the warranty breaks down, you file a claim by calling the company phone number or submitting a request on their website. The customer service is available 24/7/365. The company will then send a licensed technician, from their own network of contractors, to your home to inspect the appliance or system in question. You will pay a service fee and the company will cover the cost of the repair or the replacement.

Terms and Conditions

As it is usually the case, there are many exceptions from the coverage, even for appliances and systems that are listed as covered in your plan. The thing is that not all parts of an appliance or a system are included in the coverage and not all types of malfunctions are included either. For example, if you have an AC system included in your home warranty plan and it breaks down, it will not be covered and repaired if the malfunction is related to the filters, window units, condensate pumps and so on. Or if we are talking about a whirlpool bathtub, the heater, jets, and the bathtub shell are not included either. Therefore, you have to check your contract very carefully before filing a claim to see if the kind of malfunction you are experiencing is even covered.

Furthermore, Total Home Protection will only cover repairs that are caused by normal wear and tear. Breakdowns caused by misuse, improper installation, lack of maintenance, snow, water damage, storm, fire, earthquake, hale, power failure or surge, pest damage, flood, smoke, freezing and other circumstances. Another thing that will cause your claim to be denied is pre-existing damage and known defects on the appliance or system. The company will not repair cosmetic damage or perform regular maintenance.

If your appliance or system fails again even after it was repaired, you can call Total Home Protection and they will repair it or replace it again at no extra charge and without demanding the trade service call fee, provided the previous claim was made in the previous 30 days (for labor costs) or 90 days (for parts).

You also need to bear in mind that the trade service call fee has to be paid every time you file a claim, i.e. every time you contact the company requesting service. It doesn’t matter if your claim ends up being denied or accepted. You still have to pay. This is why it is so important to read Terms and Conditions in your home warranty contract very carefully and to make sure to call only if you are certain your breakdown is covered and not excluded. Fortunately, the Terms and Conditions page is very detailed so you should have no problems determining whether your claim is justified or not.

Finally, as it is often the case with home warranties, your actual coverage term doesn’t start the moment you sign the contract – it actually starts 30 days later and lasts for 365 days from that date. Any malfunction that happens within that 30-day period will, logically, not be covered.

Customer Service

Total Home Protection has both phone and online customer service (through a customer account you are supposed to create as soon as you sign the contract), which are both available for customers’ questions and claims 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, all year round. However, don’t think that this means your claim will be considered and answered right away. The company will actually contact the contractor within two days on working days and four days on weekends and holidays. Also, they will only do so during regular working hours. There is no strict policy regarding emergency repairs, but if the company decides your breakdown does constitute an emergency, they will consider sending a contractor earlier. You can try to get a contractor earlier, but you may have to pay an additional fee.

Contractors

A wide network of pre-screened, skilled and professional contractors (technicians) is one of the best things about home warranty in general, and Total Home Protection is no exception. The contractors working for this company are highly motivated, dedicated and professional, and they have all been carefully screened before they started working for Total Home Protection. It is also important to note that the company will always try to send you a local contractor, someone from your own area, which is great not only from the point of view of time efficiency and convenience, but it also helps build trust and confidence in the technician entering your home. Total Home Protection is always looking for new contractors, which is why their network continuously growing.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Around the clock customer service
Trade service call fee only $45
Comprehensive and affordable plans
Free transfer of contracts

Cons:

Many exceptions from coverage
Obligatory deductible even for denied claims

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