AFC Home Club home warranty review

About AFC Home Club (AFC)

America’s First Choice or AFC Home Club (AFC) is a home warranty carrier. A home warranty is a service contract that covers major home systems and/or appliances.

What types of homes are covered?

AFC covers occupied, owned, or rented residential single-family homes (including manufactured homes), new construction homes, condominiums, townhomes, and mobile homes under 5,000 square feet. Commercial properties or residences used as businesses (e.g. day care centers, fraternity/sorority housing, or nursing/care homes) are not covered.

Available plans

AFC offers four plans: a System Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan.

System Plan

Covers 6 systems, including:

• Air conditioning/cooler
• Heating system
• Water heater
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
• Ductwork

Silver Plan

Covers 9 appliances, including:

• Clothes dryer
• Clothes washer
• Kitchen refrigerator
• Oven
• Range
• Stove/cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Garbage disposal
• Garage door opener

Gold Plan

Combines the System Plan and Silver Plan and covers everything that’s included in those plans.

Platinum Plan

Includes everything covered in the Gold Plan (i.e. System Plan and Silver Plan) as well as plumbing stoppages, built-in microwave, and ice maker.

What add-ons are available?

AFC offers some items that you could add to your plan at an additional cost. These include:

• Sump pump
• Septic system
• Hot water dispenser
• Pool and spa
• Standalone freezer
• Tankless water heater

Note: commercial grade equipment, systems, or appliances are not covered.

How much does AFC cost?

AFC’s pricing varies by zip code, plan type (System Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, or Platinum Plan), and the service fee amount you choose. The service fee options are $75, $100, and $125. The lower the service fee, the higher the plan cost and the higher the service fee, the lower the plan cost. As with most home warranty carriers, you may pay for your plan in monthly installments or all at once.

AFC plan pricing summary

Note: these prices do not include taxes. They are also estimates. Check for actual pricing on AFC’s site.

How’s the service contractor network?

AFC provides access to a nationwide network of contractors. It also allows you to use your own contractor as long as the contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. You just have to let AFC know when you’re using your own contractor and your contractor has to call AFC with the diagnosis. AFC also provides a workmanship guarantee for the life of your plan to repair problems that persist at no additional cost. Most home warranty carriers offer guarantees for 30 to 60 days. This is the longest workmanship guarantee period we’ve seen among home warranty carriers.

You may submit a service request by calling customer service or on the AFC website.

What types of malfunctions are covered?

AFC covers malfunctions of covered systems and appliances due to “normal wear and tear” during the contract term. The covered items must have been in good working condition when you purchase one of AFC’s warranty plans. The items must also have been maintained and installed as specified by manufacturer, federal, state, or local code requirements and recommendations.

What types of malfunctions are not covered?

AFC does not provide coverage for covered systems and appliances that:

• Are covered by other insurance, warranties, or guarantees provided by manufacturers, distributors, or other home warranties
• Have known or unknown pre-existing conditions, long-term failures, deficiencies, and/or defects
• Have been improperly installed or repaired
• Have malfunctions due to rust or corrosion, chemical or sedimentary build-up, mildew, mold, misuse or abuse, failure to clean or maintain as specified by the equipment manufacturer, missing parts, structural changes, fire, freezing, electrical failure, electrical shorts or power surge, water damage, lightning, mud, earthquake, soil movement, soil settlement, settling of home, storms, accidents, pest damage, acts of god, or excessive or inadequate water pressure
• Have malfunctions due to inadequacy, lack of capacity, mismatched systems, oversized defect, and any modification to the system or appliance

Note: the above may not be the full list of what’s not covered by AFC. Review your agreement for the full list.

Also, AFC does not cover the costs to dismantle and remove defective equipment.

What coverage amount limits are there?

Most home warranty plans have maximum amounts that the carrier will pay out to you for repairs and/or replacements of certain covered systems and appliances per covered item per contract term.

AFC’s total coverage limit for all covered items per contract term is $10,000.

Covered appliance limits

For appliances, AFC pays up to $2,000 for all repairs and replacements per covered item per contract term. Some covered limits have other limit amounts per contract term. They include:

• $200 for kitchen refrigerator ice maker
• $125 for garbage disposal
• $500 for garage door opener
• $1,000 for built-in microwave
• $1,000 in aggregate for professional series or like appliances, such as high-end brand names including Sub Zero, Viking, Wolf, Bosch, Samsung, LG, Jenn-Air, GE Monogram, Thermador, etc.

Covered system limits

For systems, AFC has the following limits per contract term:

• $25 per pound for air conditioning refrigerant with a maximum limit of 10 pounds
• $80 for standard thermostat for air conditioning or heating systems
• $250 for ductwork
• $1,000 for standard water heater
• $150 for interior electrical outlets
• $500 for interior electrical
• $200 for plumbing stoppages
• $150 for plumbing faucets
• $250 for returning access to plumbing systems to rough finished condition
• $500 for plumbing systems

Covered add-on limits

For add-ons, the following limits are included:

• $500 for pool and/or spa equipment
• $500 for well pump
• $500 for sump pump
• $200 for central vacuum
• $500 for standalone freezer
• $500 for second refrigerator
• $500 for septic system
• $200 for hot water dispenser
• $750 for tankless water heater

Available discounts and promotions

AFC’s plans include free credit monitoring and family emergency services as well as discounts on home security, household items, kitchen appliances, restaurants, entertainment, and more. AFC also offers discounts when you cover more than one home.

When does coverage start?

There is a 30-day waiting period from the time you purchase your plan to when you may request service. This is the standard waiting period for most home warranty plans.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You may cancel your warranty agreement at any time. To cancel, you may call AFC’s customer service. If you cancel within the first 30 days after you purchase your plan, you’ll get a full refund. After the 30 days, you’ll receive a pro-rated refund based on the months not used in the plan minus any service or claim costs incurred and a $75 cancellation fee.