HSA Home Warranty Reviews & Coverage — Is It Worth It?

Home Service Research Team
·8 min read

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Buying a house is a major investment, and buying a home warranty can help protect your home and save you money. If you're searching for a home warranty that works for your needs, Home Security of America (HSA) is one of the many companies you may come across.

In this HSA home warranty review, we'll discuss the company's plans, prices, availability, and customer reviews so you can be best informed on your home warranty purchase. Consult our reviews on the best home warranty companies before making a purchase as well.

Best Overall

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Best Basic Plan

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Best Discounts

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Best Coverage upgrade

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Best Plan Variety

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Best Membership Perks

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Ultimately, we recommend American Home Shield as the best overall option with a long-standing reputation. You can get a customized price by calling 844-529-9298 or by filling out this form.

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Background and Availability

Home Security of America is a reputable company with decades of experience in the home warranty industry. It was founded in Wisconsin in 1984 and has since been made a subsidiary of American Home Shield, one of our top providers. HSA currently serves these 25 states:

HSA Home Warranty Plans

HSA's home warranty plan offerings are relatively simple. It offers a comprehensive basic plan with the option to add on coverage a la carte. The following items are included in the basic plan:

  • Central Air/Central Heat/Ductwork

  • Water Heater

  • Plumbing System

  • Faucets and Drain Line Stoppages

  • Water/Gas/Drain/Waste Lines

  • Whirlpool Bathtub

  • Electrical System

  • Garage Door Opener

  • Fans

  • Refrigerator

  • Oven/Stovetop/Range

  • Garbage Disposal

  • Built-in Microwave

  • Failures Due To Lack Of Maintenance

  • Rust

  • Rekeying

  • Septic System

  • Lighting Fixtures

  • Central Vacuum

  • Alarms and Doorbell

For extended coverage, HSA offers a 7-Star Upgrade as its featured add-on, which includes:

  • $250 toward code violations

  • Permits up to $250 per occurrence

  • Central air: refrigerant recovery and non-ducted window or wall air conditioner

  • HVAC: registers, grills, filters, and heat lamps

  • Mismatched heating and/or air conditioning system

  • Improper installation/repair

  • Removal and disposal of replaced equipment

  • Oven/range interior lining, clocks, rotisseries, racks, handles, knobs, and dials

Individual add-ons include:

  • Clothes Washer and Dryer

  • Hot Tub

  • Water Softener

  • Well Pump

  • Standalone Freezer

  • Swimming Pool

  • Electronic Air Cleaner

  • Roof Leaks

  • Electronics Plan by Asurion (Smart Home Products, TVs, Laptops, and More)

We are particularly impressed with HSA's coverage on just its base plan. Central air, refrigerators, and septic systems are all covered under the basic plan; it's rare to see all three of those items covered under a basic plan.

Coverage Exclusions

Home Security of America has several exclusions on its coverage. For a full list of specific exclusions, get a personalized quote for your area. We've compiled this list of important exclusions from a sample contract (not a comprehensive list):

  • Solar Water Heaters

  • Bathtubs/Showers/Sinks

  • Telephone Wiring

  • Chimneys

  • Fireplaces

  • Condo/Townhome Roof Leaks

  • Pool Cleaning Equipment

  • Pre-existing Conditions

  • Issues with Water Pressure

Coverage Limits

Home Security of America holds certain limits on service, which is the maximum it will pay for repairs on a certain system or appliance. Limits may change by state, but these are the general coverage limits we've found for HSA:

  • Plumbing: $500

  • Kitchen Appliances: $2,000

  • Central Heat: $1,500

  • Central Air: $1,500

  • Kitchen Refrigerator: $2,000

  • Roof Leaks: $500

  • Well Pump: $1,500

  • Septic System: $300

  • Standalone Freezer: $2,000

  • Hot Tub (Covered): $1,000

  • Pool: $1,000

There is also an aggregate limit on all services of $25,000. We like a lot of HSA's plan offerings and its comprehensive coverage, but some of its limits on coverage are slightly lower than its competitors.

HSA Home Warranty Cost

Home Security of America's prices vary slightly by state. We received a sample quote for a single family home in Georgia and were quoted $445 for the basic plan with a $100 service call fee. The 7-Star Upgrade is an extra $149 per year.

These prices for both the base plan and the upgrades are in line with the industry standard, although the base plan price falls slightly on the more expensive side. Some of HSA's limits, particularly the plumbing and roof leak limits, are lower than many of its competitors'.

How To Submit a Claim

Submitting a claim is easy with Home Security of America. It has a 24/7 customer service hotline where you can speak with a representative, or you can utilize the mobile-friendly customer portal on the company's website. Either way, HSA promises fast service and peace of mind.

The HSA website instructs customers to not feel obligated to do any research on contractors; your representative will make the contacts and send great contractors your way as soon as possible. HSA's sample contract states that an HSA contractor must be used on all repairs. This is intended to be more convenient and streamline the repair process, but it can also be frustrating if you have a contractor you trust and want to use.

HSA Home Warranty Reviews

Our team combed through HSA home warranty reviews on third-party websites to help you get a pulse on what real customers are saying. Many complaints were centered on the customer service hotline; customers have been frustrated in the past about contract language and gaps in coverage.

There are only 20 reviews on the Better Business Bureau's website, and all 20 are negative reviews. It's not uncommon for home warranty companies' BBB reviews to be mostly negative, as consumers are more likely to express their frustration than their gratitude online.

Below is a sample of reviews from the BBB's website:

"This is the worst company ever. They take your payment every month but deliver nothing! This company is a scam! Do not do business with them if you expect service!. My Air Conditioner went on 2 weeks ago. They have held the authorization up for 10 days so my family has sweated through 3 90 degree plus days and we still have not been serviced!!" - Scott R.

"When I finally spoke with someone after a 1.5 hour wait, I was assured I would hear back as to why my claim was denied within 24 hours. Did not hear anything for 2.5 days so now I am back on a long hold. This company wants to collect fees then discourage customers from contacting them." - Todd M.

"AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Their customer support is awful, they will give you the runaround for MONTHS to solve an issue. They took a double payment from us and we still haven't received it back. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY, seriously." - Alex O.

"I can't really add anything that any other review hasn't covered. This company is terrible, more like a scam. I only have it because it was purchased by the sellers of my home." - David B.

Verdict and Recommendation

We like some of HSA's home warranty plan offerings. The plans are simple, reasonably priced, and provide comprehensive coverage. Its limits are not the best among home warranty companies, and HSA's coverage is only available in about half of the U.S.

Ultimately, we encourage our readers to seek quotes from several of the best home warranty companies before selecting their provider.

Best Home Warranty Companies

Our team has reviewed a handful of home warranty providers. Choice Home Warranty, Select Home Warranty, and American Home Shield scored the highest. If you're in the market for a home warranty, get a free quote from these providers:

Choice Home Warranty

  • Get a free quote: Call 929-400-6165 or complete this form

  • Our verdict: Best Basic Plan

  • Number of plans: 2

  • Monthly cost: $36.17–$43.85

  • Service fee: $60–$85

  • State availability: All but CA and WA

  • BBB rating: B

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Select Home Warranty

  • Get a free quote: Call 888-370-3956 or complete this form

  • Our verdict: Best Discounts

  • Number of plans: 3

  • Monthly cost: $35.83–$37.50

  • Service fee: $75

  • State availability: All but NV, NY, WA, and WI

  • BBB rating: B-

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American Home Shield

  • Get a free quote: Call 844-529-9298 or complete this form

  • Our verdict: Best Overall

  • Number of plans: 3

  • Monthly cost: $39.99–$64.99

  • Service fee: $75–$125

  • State availability: All but Alaska

  • BBB rating: B

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Home Warranty Rating Methodology

The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on home warranty companies and rating the providers on a variety of factors.

Here's what our review process looks like:

  • We examine each provider's website to determine plan details, coverage, customer service offerings, and other benefits. We also speak with company representatives to get more insight on plan details.

  • We read sample contracts from each home warranty company to analyze and compare coverage details, limits, and exclusions.

  • We read at least 100 third-party customer reviews for each home warranty company to determine the real-life benefits and drawbacks of each provider.

  • We gather cost information for a variety of home warranty plans in different states by completing online quote forms and speaking with sales representatives to simulate the quote process.

  • We revisit each company's offerings on a seasonal basis, ensuring that we include the most up-to-date information in our reviews.

We also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on objective factors, such as plan options, coverage, and customer service:

Overall, the Home Service Research Team has reviewed over 70 home warranty companies to select the top-rated providers in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions About HSA Home Warranties

How long will my HSA home warranty last?

Your initial coverage term is 12 months; however, there are options to automatically renew your HSA home warranty.

What is a trade service call fee?

A trade service call fee is an amount you pay to the contractor when they come to your home to make repairs. If multiple repairs are needed in the same trip, you only have to pay the fee one time.

Will I need to pay anything besides the trade service call fee?

Usually, you'll only need to pay the trade service call fee, and HSA will take care of the rest. Certain exceptions apply, though, so check your contract for details.

Is the 7-Star Upgrade worth it?

In addition to deepening coverage on many items and systems, the 7-Star Upgrade with your HSA home warranty will pay for correction of code violations, permits needed, and hauling your old appliances or systems off your property. We've found this add-on to be reasonably priced, and these benefits are impressive.