By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
By Dan Simms
Updated Jan 10, 2023
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American Home Shield (AHS) is a home warranty industry veteran with more than 50 years of experience. A top-rated and highly trusted provider available to homeowners across the United States, AHS provides comprehensive coverage in all 49 continental states, protecting all major home systems and appliances. The home warranty industry is saturated, but with five decades of experience and top-tier customer service, AHS is easily one of the best home warranty companies.
Pros
Cons
We rated American Home Shield a 4.7 out of 5. It earned high marks for its plan customizability and flexible service fee model. We recommend American Home Shield to homeowners interested in comprehensive coverage that goes where other popular providers won’t. Unlike many competitors, AHS covers unknown pre-existing conditions and damage caused by improper installations, poor routine upkeep, and more.
We surveyed more than 800 U.S. homeowners in May 2022 to find out what matters the most to them when choosing a home warranty. Here’s how AHS stacks up against the survey results:
American Home Shield offers three home warranty plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. ShieldSilver offers stand-alone coverage for 14 major home systems. ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum include coverage for a combo of 23 systems and appliances. The main difference between ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum is that platinum policyholders will also benefit from the following coverage boosts:
Here’s an itemized overview of how American Home Shield’s home warranty coverage differs across each plan based on their inclusions and exclusions:
Covered Appliance or System | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
Central air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Built-in exhaust, vent, and attic fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Interior electrical lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Doorbell | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Garage door openers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Interior plumbing lines and stoppages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Hot water heaters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Faucets and valves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Refrigerators | ✓ | ✓ | |
Freestanding ice maker | ✓ | ✓ | |
Built-in microwaves | ✓ | ✓ | |
Dishwashers | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ovens | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranges and cooktops | ✓ | ✓ | |
Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
Instant hot/cold water dispensers | ✓ | ✓ | |
Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | |
Roof leak repairs | ✓ | ✓ |
AHS provides coverage for all of your home’s major systems, including the following:
AHS’s plans also cover many major home appliances, with $3,000 per-item limits for the ShieldSilver and ShieldGold plans and $6,000 limits for some items with the ShieldPlatinum Plan. Covered items include:
Coverage add-ons are optional features that homeowners can purchase separately to extend their coverage beyond what’s included in their base plan. American Home Shield advertises six additional coverage items.
AHS’s optional add-ons available for coverage are the following:
Additional services and discounts include the following:
Like other home warranty companies, AHS does not cover damage caused by acts of God; this includes theft, floods, storms, fires, etc. If you need coverage on your home due to this situation, look to your homeowners insurance policy for guidance.
A homeowners insurance plan covers those damages, whereas a home warranty is geared toward normal wear-and-tear of home appliances and systems. AHS doesn’t offer coverage on a central vacuum, freestanding ice makers, or food centers, but other providers like The Home Service Club do.
You can cancel your American Home Shield policy at any time. However, if you cancel within your first 30 days of coverage, you’ll receive a full refund minus the cost of any paid service fees or claims. If you choose to terminate your service contract after those first 30 days, you’ll be refunded for the unexpired term of your coverage minus an administrative fee. These terms are outlined in your service agreement but are usually equal to or less than one month’s payment. Potential customers can find examples of administrative fees in a sample contract.
American Home Shield typically costs between $35 and $90 per month or $420 and $1,080 per year. With such a low-cost monthly payment, policyholders can easily justify having a home warranty policy in place with just a few repairs.
We secret-shopped for a home warranty policy for a single-family home located in Raleigh, N.C., and here’s what American Home Shield offered:
Plan Name | $75 Service Call Fee | $100 Service Call Fee | $125 Service Call Fee |
ShieldSilver | $49.99 | $39.99 | $34.99 |
ShieldGold | $59.99 | $49.99 | $44.99 |
ShieldPlatinum | $89.99 | $79.99 | $74.99 |
Quotes are for a 12-month contract.
Add-on coverage options range from $5 to $24.99 per month, depending on which coverage riders choose.
The service fees from AHS are customizable. It is not typical of a provider to allow the customer to choose their pricing; this feature is unique to American Home Shield and only a few other home warranty companies. AHS offers service fees of $75, $100, and $125, and the monthly payment depends on the selected service fee.
The service fee selected directly impacts the cost of the monthly deductible. If you choose a higher service fee, your monthly price will be more affordable. However, if you choose a lower service fee, you’ll pay more per month, but the cost will be less each time you need a repair.
One of the main differences between AHS and its competitors is the leniency regarding coverage limits. AHS doesn’t place a limit on systems for covered repairs during the length of your contract and offers coverage even if an item has been improperly installed, insufficiently maintained, or mismatched. Most appliances are covered up to $3,000 per contract term, but with the ShieldPlatinum plan, you can get coverage up to $6,000.
AHS does not cover home systems or appliances already protected under a manufacturer’s warranty (including appliance warranties from companies like Kenmore or Samsung). If you read the fine print, you’ll learn that if they cannot repair or replace a covered item, the company may offer money for you to repair or replace the item yourself. Review the terms of your desired plan before signing up for a home warranty to know what’s covered and what’s not. A sample contract is available online.
Note: AHS is not liable for matching the brand, dimensions, or color of home systems or appliances.
American Home Shield is available in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska. To see the best home warranty companies in your state, click on the map below:
Reading customer reviews is a great way to gauge how a home warranty company treats its customers. You can read why actual policyholders either loved or hated their policies. Common positive reviews for AHS include comments that the company has professional and knowledgeable staff, comprehensive coverage, and reliable contracts. Some of the negative reviews complain of claim denial, which is a common complaint from home warranty policyholders of any company.
American Home Shield has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an average of 2.25 stars from more than 11,000 customer reviews.*
* All BBB data is accurate as of November 2022.
Here are a few customer reviews we’ve pulled from Trustpilot:
“I have been with AHS for 20+ years with my primary and vacation home. My experience has always been a good one. I don’t have to look for an electrician, plumber, HVAC, or any appliance repair person. It is one call or email, and the rest is taken care of, including my pool pump. I can’t imagine being without AHS!” – Valerie A., 08/09/2022
“I have been associated with American Homeshield for decades. My wife and I were in real estate and always recommended American Home Shield to both our buyers and sellers. And we have always carried coverage on our own homes. We have never been disappointed in the service and never had any clients express disappointment.” – James W., 08/06/2022
“Very pleased with American Home Shield and the warranty they provide for our home. We had to have a blower motor replaced in our HVAC system after being in our home for only six months. They were very professional and thorough in getting the repairs completed in a minimum amount of time. And our cost was $75 for the repair, including a $1,500 special order motor!” – Bill P., 08/04/2022
“Response time was excellent – unfortunately, we were sent the wrong contractor, and the new one has not been dispatched yet. We have never really had a problem with AHS and have used them for years on many of our homes.” – Christine W., 01/28/2022
“We explained that we had a duct that had water in it creating a musty, damp smell. The young tech came in and said that the smell was due to mold. We have taken the duct that had the issue down, and the insulation was wet with brown stains. We now have to replace the duct at our costs.”– Judy K., 10/11/2021
Company | Choice Home Warranty | Select Home Warranty | American Home Shield | Home Service Club | Liberty Home Guard | First American Home Warranty |
Number of Plans | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Annual Cost* | $562–$657 | $500–$553 | $420–$1,080 | $615–$750 | $840–$960 | $432–$558 |
Service Fee | $85 | $75 | $75–$125 | $95 | $65–$125 | $85 |
Coverage Cap | $3,000 for base coverage items, $500 for add-ons | $3,000 for HVAC, $500 for plumbing, electrical and appliances, $400 for add-ons | None for built-in systems; $3,000 (ShieldGold) or $6,00 (ShieldPlatinum) for appliances | None | $2,000 per item | None for built-in systems; $3,500 per covered appliance |
Our Rating (out of 5) | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
Compare Free Quotes | choicehomewarranty.com | selecthomewarranty.com | ahs.com | hscwarranty.com | libertyhomeguard.com | homewarranty.firstam.com |
Annual costs are based on a single-family 2,000-square-foot home in Raleigh, N.C. Prices will vary based on home size and region.
Read our Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield comparison for a more detailed breakdown.
Read our Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield comparison for a detailed breakdown.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our First American Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield comparison.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Sears Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield comparison.
In our opinion, American Home Shield is one of the country’s foremost home warranty companies, and homeowners would be hard-pressed to find a better home warranty provider. The company offers several plans and add-ons that allow homeowners to choose the right coverage level while keeping their monthly premiums at a comfortable level.
AHS’s plans have above-average annual coverage limits of $3,000 per item, with the more expensive ShieldPlatinum plan offering an impressive $6,000 annual cap per item. AHS’s monthly premiums range from $35 to $90 per month.
To get an accurate estimate of what AHS home warranties will cost you per month, call 888-365-2839 or fill out this 10-second online form using your ZIP code and home’s details.
Like other home warranty companies, American Home Shield does not require a home inspection to grant customers coverage. The age of your home and its systems and appliances will not affect coverage either. Although not required, a home inspection may be useful in proving a pre-existing condition is unknown to you since most home warranties do not cover pre-existing conditions.
You can make a service request as early as 30 days after you sign up for your warranty. If you purchased coverage during a home sale, your coverage starts on closing day.
AHS plans do not cover septic tanks. However, they offer first-year customers nonrenewable coverage of the sewage ejector pump for septic systems, which includes mainline stoppages that can be cleared without excavation. The septic tank will be pumped once during the contract coverage term if the stoppage is due to backed-up septic. Exclusions apply.
A home warranty with American Home Shield can give you peace of mind and is worth it if you’re a homeowner who wants to protect your major home systems and appliances. AHS has generous coverage limits and competitively priced plans, so you could save hundreds of dollars by buying a home warranty instead of paying for repairs and replacements out of pocket.
Canceling American Home Shield is as easy as a phone call to the company at 833-706-2865 and speaking with a customer service representative. You can cancel your contract anytime, but anyone who cancels within the first 30 days of coverage will receive a full refund.
American Home Shield is a subsidiary of Frontdoor Inc, a U.S. company that provides a platform for home services. AHS’s CEO is Bill Cobb, based in Memphis, Tenn.
You can file a complaint or request service with AHS by calling the company’s customer service hotline at 888-682-1043 or emailing customer service at customercare@ahslink.com.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.
To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching more than 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings using whole-star increments between one and five.
Why Trust House Method
House Method’s Experts collected and analyzed 2000+ critical data points to identify what makes a great home warranty company in the eye of the consumer. Our reviews team used this data to assess over 60 home warranty providers for coverage extent, annual cost, and national availability to provide unbiased reviews so homeowners can confidently navigate key decisions about their homes.
Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories:
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