Best Home Warranty for Heat Pumps (2026): Limits Compared

Heat pumps heat and cool your home, so they run year-round - and a failure in January is as urgent as one in July. They're also among the most expensive systems to replace: central ducted heat pumps commonly run roughly $5,000-$15,000 installed, ductless single-zone systems roughly $1,500-$5,000, and geothermal systems $12,000-$30,000 or more (rough estimates from Fixr, Carrier and contractor guides). This guide compares how the seven companies we track cover them.

Sources: AHS, 2-10 and First American coverage pages and sample contracts; HWA, Select and Home Service Club terms; NerdWallet, This Old House and CNBC reviews. Confirm terms in your state's sample contract.

1. American Home Shield ShieldPlatinum - best overall for heat pumps

Every AHS plan includes heating and cooling, and AHS lists HVAC coverage up to $5,000 per system. ShieldPlatinum adds the features that matter most for heat pumps: all refrigerant costs covered (versus $10 per pound on ShieldSilver and ShieldGold), an annual HVAC tune-up, and permits and modifications coverage up to $250 each per term. AHS also states it covers "upgrades to maintain compatibility and/or compliance with SEER, HSPF, or refrigerant standards" during a covered repair or replacement. Read the AHS review.

2. First American Premium - best refrigerant terms

First American covers 100% of refrigerant costs on Premium and real estate plans, and its Essential plan includes mini-split ductless systems in at least some contract forms (others exclude ductless units when only a central-air option is purchased - check yours). Geothermal and water-source heat pumps are capped at $1,500. Availability is limited to roughly 35-37 states. Read the First American review.

3. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty - best value

2-10's published terms mirror AHS's: a $5,000 HVAC limit, a $1,500 limit for geothermal and water-source heat pumps, a $10-per-pound refrigerant limit, and coverage for upgrades needed for SEER, HSPF or refrigerant standards. It shares a parent company with AHS (Frontdoor) and starts at a lower price. Read the 2-10 review.

Watch out for

• Plans without air conditioning. Choice Basic and HWA Premier exclude AC. Because a heat pump's cooling mode uses the same equipment, choose Choice Total or HWA Premier Plus to be safe.
• Low HVAC caps. Select's $3,000 per term and The Home Service Club's $2,000 per 12 months cover only a fraction of a heat pump replacement.

Since January 1, 2025, new residential heat pumps and air conditioners made or imported in the US can't use high-GWP refrigerants such as R-410A; new systems use R-454B or R-32. Existing R-410A heat pumps can still be repaired and recharged indefinitely, and an EPA rule effective July 27, 2026 removed the deadline for installing systems built from pre-2025 R-410A components.

Why this matters for heat pump claims:

• The new refrigerants aren't interchangeable with R-410A, and indoor and outdoor units must be matched - so a failed outdoor unit on an older system can turn into a full replacement.
• Per-pound refrigerant limits ($10/lb at several companies) can leave a gap on recharges.
• Contracts that cover upgrades for refrigerant and efficiency standards (AHS, 2-10) are better positioned for those replacements than plans that exclude incompatibility upgrades.

Heat pump replacements must also meet the Department of Energy's national minimums of 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 for split systems. And the federal 25C tax credit for heat pumps ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.

→ R-410A phase-out and home warranties: the full guide

A heat pump is often the single most expensive system a warranty covers, which makes the HVAC limit the deciding factor.

Rough costs (estimates)

Sources: Fixr, Carrier and contractor cost guides; local prices vary widely.

What the limits mean

• Most heat pump repairs - capacitors, contactors, fan motors, reversing valves, control boards - fall well within a $2,000-$5,000 limit.
• A full replacement of a ducted system can exceed even a $5,000 limit; you'd pay the difference plus excluded items such as permits on most plans.
• A geothermal system's $1,500 limit at AHS, 2-10 and First American covers repairs, not replacement.

The sweet spot for a home warranty is an air-source heat pump that's several years old and past its manufacturer warranty, where the plan's limit comfortably covers the repairs you're most likely to need.

1. Schedule maintenance twice a year - heat pumps work in both seasons. Keep every invoice; AHS ShieldPlatinum includes a tune-up.
2. Change filters on schedule and keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, leaves and debris.
3. Note your refrigerant type (on the outdoor unit's data plate) and the system's age.
4. Report problems early - weak heating or cooling, ice that won't clear, short cycling.
5. Before approving a replacement, ask whether matching components, refrigerant, permits and line sets are covered, and get it in writing.

Some do. First American's Essential plan lists "mini-split ductless systems" in at least some contract forms, though other forms exclude them when only a central-air option is purchased. For other companies we couldn't confirm ductless coverage from published materials, so ask the company and check the sample contract before buying.

Often, but with a low limit. American Home Shield, 2-10 and First American all cap geothermal and water-source heat pumps at $1,500, and AHS excludes geothermal parts located outside or under the home's main foundation. That covers many repairs, but not a replacement.

Usually up to a limit. AHS (ShieldSilver and ShieldGold), 2-10 and Home Warranty of America cap refrigerant at $10 per pound; First American covers up to $20 per pound on Starter and Essential and 100% on Premium and real estate plans; AHS ShieldPlatinum covers all refrigerant costs. Select excludes refrigerant unless you buy its Freon add-on.

We compared each company's published coverage pages, sample contracts and third-party reviews as of October 2026, alongside EPA, DOE and IRS guidance on refrigerants, efficiency standards and tax credits. Terms vary by state and contract version. See how we rank and the complete home warranty guide. More guides: best home warranty for water heaters, heat pumps, electrical systems, dishwashers and appliances, most comprehensive plans, no or low deductible.

General information, not insurance, legal, tax or HVAC advice. Your contract determines what is covered.