American Home Shield: Home Warranty Reviews

Updated August 21, 2020

Everything you need to know about American Home Shield

American Home Shield initially launched in 1971 and, since then, over 1.7 million customers have received service. Throughout the company's history, its mission has been to protect customers from unexpected repair costs. You can find an American Home Shield warranty in every state except for Alaska. Since 2013, AHS home warranty has paid out more than two billion dollars in service requests. The company stands by its guarantee that, if they cannot repair an appliance or system covered by your warranty, they will provide a replacement. When you read American Home Shield reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, you can see that they have a mix of positive and negative reviews.

American Home Shield at a glance:

Plan options: Appliances Plan, Systems Plan, and Combo Plan
Length of contract: 12 months
Offers services in 49 states
Prices start at $22 per month
Service fees: $75 - $125
Length of work guarantee: 30 days
BBB Rating: B
Trustpilot rating: Bad

How American Home Shield compares:

| | American Home Shield | Select Home Warranty | Choice Home Warranty | | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Plan options | Appliances Plan, Systems Plan, and Combo Plan | Gold Care, Platinum Care, and Bronze Care | Basic Plan and Total Plan | | Length of contract | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | | Availability | 49 states | 50 states | 48 states | | Price | Starting at $22 per month | Starting at $36 per month | Starting at $370 annually | | Service Fees | $75 - $125 | $60 - $75 | $60 | | Length of work guarantee | 30 days | N/A | 90 days on parts and 30 days on labor | | BBB Rating | B | B | B- | | Trustpilot rating | Bad | Average | Great |

American Home Shield pros and cons:

| Pros | Cons | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | - Reasonable plan pricing - Customer service available 24/7 - Can build a customized plan - You can select your trade service call fee | - Unable to choose a contractor - No coverage available in Alaska - Customers must call to receive a quote for their area - Short workmanship guarantee |

A deeper look at American Home Shield

American Home Shield offers three plans:

Appliances Plan

What does it cost? $22 per month What does it cover? | Systems | Appliances | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | - None | - Built-in food centers - Built-in microwave ovens - Clothes Washers - Clothes dryers - Dishwashers - Freestanding ice makers - Garage door openers - Ranges/ovens/cooktops - Refrigerators - Trash compactors |

Systems Plan

What does it cost? $32 per month What does it cover? | Systems | Appliances | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------- | | - Air conditioning w/ductwork - Ceiling fans - Central vacuums - Doorbells - Electrical - Garbage disposals - Heating w/ductwork - Instant H/C water dispensers - Plumbing (incl. stoppages) - Smoke detectors - Water heaters | - None |

Combo Plan

What does it cost? $42 per month What does it cover? | Systems | Appliances | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | - Air conditioning w/ductwork - Ceiling fans - Central vacuums - Doorbells - Electrical - Garbage disposals - Heating w/ductwork - Instant H/C water dispensers - Plumbing (incl. stoppages) - Smoke detectors - Water heaters | - Built-in food centers - Built-in microwave ovens - Clothes washers - Clothes dryers - Dishwashers - Freestanding ice makers - Garage door openers - Ranges/ovens/cooktops - Refrigerators - Trash compactors | Additional optional coverage

Electronic Extended Warranty: $14.99
Guest Unit: $17.99
Pool and Spas: $23.75
Septic Pump and Well Pump: $8.33

Does an AHS home warranty have coverage limits?

There are specific coverage limits for various systems and appliances that receive coverage by American Home Shield. If repairs exceed this coverage cap, it is the homeowner's responsibility to pay out of pocket for the remainder of the repairs. Common coverage dollar limits include:

Covered appliances have a maximum allowance of $3,000 per appliance
There is a $1,500 cap for air conditioning and heating systems
Ductwork has a $1,000 cap
There is a $10 cap per pound per occurrence for refrigerant
Plumbing has a $1,000 cap
Central vacuum systems have a $3,000 cap
There is a $1,500 cap for well pumps

American Home Shield reviews

Out of more than 6,000 reviews on the BBB, American Home Shield has three stars and a B rating. The company is also accredited through BBB, and its B rating means that, out of a possible 100 points, American Home Shield reviews land between 84 and 86.99. On BBB, many customers praise the company for its prompt and knowledgeable service team. Others have complaints about negative experiences with customer service. There are only just over 200 American Home Shield reviews on Trustpilot with an overall average of one star. Many customers have issues with the length of time they have to wait for service, not receiving the coverage they need, and difficulty scheduling service calls.

The bottom line

With coverage in nearly the entire nation, the American Home Shield warranty offers reasonable rates for contracts. Each contract lasts for one year, and, as a bonus, customers can choose between $75 and $125 for their trade service fee (monthly plan rates are lower if you choose a higher service fee). When a service technician performs a repair, the company also offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee. You can reach the customer service team 24/7 but, according to many American Home Shield reviews, there could still be challenges scheduling service calls, and with coverage caps for certain repairs or replacements.

Frequently asked questions

How does an AHS home warranty work? If your appliance or system breaks down, contact American Home Shield. If the appliance or system receives coverage under your plan, then the customer service team sets up an appointment. AHS choose the technician and, when they arrive, they assess your coverage and how to address the situation. Is American Home Shield warranty worth it? Because homeowners face unexpected repairs that could wind up being costly, an American Home Shield warranty helps pay for those expenses. That way, it is possible to focus budgets on other things instead of the appliances and systems that you use frequently. It's especially beneficial if you have an older home and/or appliances. Each time a covered appliance or system breaks down or needs replacement, your warranty provides you with the coverage you need. What does an AHS home warranty cover? An AHS home warranty covers the majority of your home's major systems. That includes electrical systems, water heaters, HVAC systems, plumbing, and more. You can also get coverage for appliances, including dryers, refrigerators, and washers. If you need optional add-on coverage, you can find that for pumps, a second refrigerator, spas, swimming pools, and more.

home warranty First American Home Warranty Reviews

Serving more than 590,000 customers out of its California headquarters, First American Home Warranty initially launched in 1984. For nearly 40 years, the company's mission has been to offer customers 24-hour access to coverage seven days a week. In 2019, First American Home Warranty saved consumers...

home warranty Sears Home Warranty Reviews

In 1893, Sears, Roebuck & Company initially launched as a watch retailer. It was not until 1925 that the company opened a retail location on Chicago's west side, complete with a catalog center. During March of 2005, Sears and Kmart merged as Sears Holdings Corporation. Later, in February of 2019,...

home warranty What is Home Appliance Insurance?

Home appliance insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing systems or devices in your home. The policy is distinctly different from homeowners insurance as it doesn't insure your home against specific perils, but rather the gradual wear and tear of the appliances in your living...