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Home Warranty

American Home Shield Warranty Review

Modernize Rating: 5/5

Average Cost: $40 - $61

American Home Shield Warranty stands out with 45 years of experience, offering flexible plans starting at $34.99 per month across all states except Alaska, utilizing a vast network of 17,000 contractors for repairs on home systems and appliances. Their warranty plans cover essential home systems and offer add-ons, providing comprehensive protection and peace of mind for homeowners looking to safeguard their property’s major components.

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Modernize maintains homeowner-first editorial integrity, meaning we accept no commissions and no partner links for this review. Our reviews are thoroughly fact-checked by our home improvement experts. Ratings are determined by a sophisticated algorithm to rate brands, including analyses of products, materials, quality, costs, sizes, durability, energy efficiency, and warranties.

Whether you are buying a new home or just looking to protect the property you have, you’ve likely considered investing in a home warranty to protect your home’s major appliances and systems such as plumbing, heating and cooling. But with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which provider is the right fit for your needs. American Home Shield Warranty is a leader in the field with 45 years in business. Founded in 1971, their flexible plans guarantee coverage starting at $34.99 per month. AHS currently serves more than 2 million customers across the country in every state except for Alaska. Using a network of 17,000 local, licensed contractors, they offer repairs on more than 23 home systems and appliances plus a wealth of add-ons.

American Home Shield Home Warranty Plans

American Home Shield Warranty offers customers three plans to choose from. Each has a number of different appliances and systems it covers. Reading the fine print on what your home warranty covers is key to evaluating whether it will fit your needs.

All three American Home Shield home warranty plans cover 14 different home systems. The 14 home systems are components of three major systems in your home: heating and cooling systems, electrical systems and plumbing systems.

White house with black front door

For your heading and cooling (HVAC) system, all three plans will cover:

  • Air Conditioners
  • Heating Units
  • Ductwork

For your electrical systems, all plans will cover: 

  • Built-in Exhaust, Vent & Attic Fans
  • Main Breaker & Fuse Panel Box
  • Doorbell & Chimes
  • Interior Electrical Lines
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Garage Door Openers

And for your plumbing system, all plans will cover: 

  • Interior Plumbing Lines
  • Toilets
  • Faucets & Valves
  • Whirlpool Tub Motor & Components
  • Water Heaters

Below we go over the three options for American Home Shield warranty plans. Keep in mind that while none of the plans include limits in terms of dollar amount for system repairs, the plans do include limits for appliances. Read carefully to determine which plan best suits your needs, based on how much appliance coverage you are looking for.

ShieldSilver

This American Home Shield warranty plan is considered the most basic of the three options. You can think of this plan as a “beginner’s” home warranty. It covers the major parts of the 14 home systems outlined above. There are no system limits for this plan.

This plan does not include coverage for any appliances, so you will be out of pocket for any appliance repair expenses. However, there are some add-on options that are available, such as an electronics protection plan, roof leak repair plan, and a pool or spa plan.

ShieldGold

This plan covers the major parts of 14 home systems plus 9 kitchen and laundry appliances. There are no system limits for this plan, and appliances are covered up to $3,000 each. Covered kitchen appliances:

  • Refrigerators
  • Ranges/Cooktops
  • Ovens
  • Dishwashers
  • Built-in-Microwaves
  • Garbage Disposal
  • Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispensers
  • Covered laundry appliances:
  • Washers
  • Dryers

The same as the American Home ShieldSilver plan, the ShieldGold plan offers optional add-ons including electronics protection, pool and spa, roof leak repair, guest unit coverage, septic pump components, and well pumps.

Coverage that this American Home Shield plan does not offer includes free HVAC tune ups, unlimited refrigerant, and modification coverage for code violations and permits (see the ShieldPlatinum plan if you are interested in this).

ShieldPlatinum

This top tier American Home Shield warranty package covers the major parts of 14 home systems, plus the 9 kitchen and laundry appliances included in the ShieldGold level. There are no system limits for this plan, and appliances are covered a bit more, up to $6,000 each. There is a $1,500 roof leak repair limit as well.

Additional premium features included in the ShieldPlatinum warranty plan include: 

  • Roof leak repair coverage
  • Unlimited HVAC refrigerant
  • One pre-season HVAC tune-up per year
  • $1,000 coverage for Modifications, Code Requirements, and Permits

With any of the three plans, you can also opt to add-on additional coverage for your particular property for an added fee. Those options include: 

  • Electronic extended warranty
  • Guest unit under 750 square feet
  • Pool and inground spa
  • Septic pump
  • Well pump

How Much Does AHS Home Warranty Cost?

The cost of a home warranty typically includes a monthly subscription fee plus service fees for each time a technician is called or a claim is filed. AHS home warranty costs also function in this way.

Pricing for your AHS Home Warranty varies depending on the size and location of your home. For example, a 2,000 square foot home in Ohio can get coverage for less than $100 a month at any level. The basic plan, ShieldSilver, is $34.99 a month. ShieldGold is $44.99 per month. The top tier plan, ShieldPlatinum, is $74.99 per month. To translate, the ShieldSilver plan would cost $419.88 a year. ShieldGold would cost $539.88 and ShieldPlatinum would cost $899.88.

Copy of AHS Home Warranty Cost
AHS Home Warranty PlanMonthly CostYearly Cost
ShieldSilver$34.99$419.88
ShieldGold$44.99$539.88
ShieldPlatinum$74.99$899.88

Service calls will range in price from $75 to $125 based on the monthly subscription fee outlined in your contract. The above pricing model is based on a $100 service fee. If you select a lower service fee, your monthly premium will increase. If you agree to a $125 service fee, your monthly payment will decrease. Your cost will depend on which option you select based on your needs.

In other parts of the country, prices might be lower or higher, depending on the size of your home. You can get a quick quote through the AHS site by providing your address. 

You can buy a home warranty from AHS without a home inspection, meaning your home is covered no matter the age or condition of your property or the appliances and systems you’re looking to cover.

American Home Shield Home Warranty Discounts

When you choose AHS home warranty, there are several ways to save on your plan with a number of discounts.

  • Multiple property discount: If you’re looking to cover a rental property or second home under 5,000 square feet, you can add it to your plan and get $50 off.
  • National Association of Realtors discount: NAR members can get buyers and sellers protection at discounted costs.
  • Refer-a-friend discount: Both you and your friend will get a $25 Amazon gift card when referred through Facebook, Twitter, or email.
  • Air filter discount: Discounted air filters are delivered directly to your home.
  • Appliance discount program: Save when you buy a new appliance from KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, Amana or JennAir. 

Home_Warranty

AHS Home Warranty vs. Other Plans

To determine the best home warranty service for you, it is best to compare multiple companies and plans.Here’s how AHS home warranties stack up against OneGuard and First American.

AHS vs OneGuard vs First American
 American Home ShieldOneGuardFirst American
Monthly subscription fee$34.99 to $74.99$25 to $56$38 to $48.50
Service fee$75 to $125$69 to $75$85
States servicedAll states except AlaskaArizona, Texas, Nevada35 states
BBB ratingBA-B
Waiting period30 days30 days30 days

American Home Shield’s subscription fee is considered average for the home warranty industry. Keep in mind that some companies offer lower rates, for example, OneGuard starts at $25 per month. AHS service fees (per call) are also considered average for the industry. Keep in mind that fees can change based on your location, home size, and plan, so it is best to compare multiple companies to get the best rates.

One big advantage of AHS home warranty is their coverage area. American Home Shield covers 49 states, only excluding Alaska. By comparison, OneGuard only services Texas, Arizona and Nevada. First American only covers 35 states, with the exception of Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Modernize recommends looking at each brand’s BBB review to ensure customer satisfaction before choosing a company.

Pros and Cons of AHS Home Warranty

There are pros and cons to the American Home Shield warranty plans. One benefit of opting for American Home Shield is that they cover many common problems that other plans do not including: 

  • Older items, no matter their age
  • Undetectable pre-existing conditions
  • Items without maintenance records
  • Breakdowns caused by lack of maintenance
  • Improper installations, repairs or modifications
  • Malfunctions due to sediment, rust or corrosion
  • Removal of old, defective items
  • Duplicates of the same item, like that extra fridge

AHS also offers a 30-day guarantee on its work. That means that if you have a problem with any repair done under your plan, you can file a complaint within 30 days and they will send a contractor back to the property for free.

You can also buy a home warranty from AHS without a home inspection. This means your home is covered no matter the age or condition of your property or the appliances and systems you’re looking to cover.

There are some downsides to coverage through AHS. First, many plans offer longer guarantees on its work, up to 90 days or more. Second, there are several items in your home that AHS won’t cover. For a comprehensive list, you’ll have to check their site and your particular plan, but here’s a quick rundown:

AHS will not cover appliances or systems if you have an active manufacturer warranty in place. They will not cover sites or dwellings that have been converted into businesses.

The following items are not covered:

  • Multi-media centers
  • Wine chillers
  • Free-standing freezers
  • Garage doors
  • Door track assemblies
  • Outside or underground piping and pump components
  • Window units
  • Water towers
  • Water lines
  • Phone wiring
  • Circuit overloads
  • Extra water heaters
  • Doorbell intercom parts
  • Damaged drains
  • Sewer and vent lines outside your home’s foundation
  • Septic tanks
  • Baths
  • Sinks
  • Shower enclosures
  • Toilet lids and seats
  • Water purification systems

Finally, AHS has been negatively reviewed by some customers for a lack of communication between AHS, homeowners and contractors. 

Submitting a Claim

Once you purchase a home warranty plan with American Home Shield, you can begin filing claims after the 30-day waiting period. You’ll receive a response for your claim within 48 hours. From there, your service fee for a contractor will range from $75 to $125 depending on the service. These fees are not covered in your monthly subscription costs. Once paid, a contractor will take a look at the problem and offer a quote which American Home Shield will review and respond to with your included coverage amount. From there, you can agree to the services and a contractor will service your system or appliance. If you have a problem with the way in which a problem is fixed, you can file a complaint within 30 days and they will send a contractor back to the property for free.

American Home Shield Warranty Review

Evaluating a home warranty company begins with a review of its plans and should always include a look at what customers and business authorities are saying about the company. 

Customer reviews for American Home Shield are low on the BBB’s site, but with a company servicing more than 2 million customers, complaints arise. Their current customer rating is 2.26 out of 5. More than 25,000 customer complaints were filed in the past three years and more than 10,000 have been resolved in the last 12 months.

Positive reviews applauded the company’s Professionalism, timeliness, expertise, and politeness. Several reviewers had multiple appliances serviced under their warranty and to their satisfaction. Negative reviews highlighted long wait times for repairs, difficulty with customer service, inadequate repairs and rude technicians.

As you decide which home warranty to go with, be sure to ask questions about what is covered, what it costs and perhaps more importantly, what is not covered. 

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