America’s Preferred Home Warranty Review (2023)

Though America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) coverage does leave ample room for customization, for homeowners with little prior home warranty experience, it can be difficult to know how to properly adjust your policy for maximum protection. In this review, we’ve provided a comprehensive breakdown of APHW’s coverage terms, paired with expert advice on how to secure the best home warranty for you.

Our Take on America’s Preferred Home Warranty

Dedicated to helping you navigate the home warranty market with confidence, House Method has carefully vetted 60+ leading providers, including America’s Preferred Home Warranty. With over 20 years of industry experience, APHW boasts impeccable third-party ratings and overall positive feedback from current customers. Still, because APRW only offers one standalone base plan, we paid especially close attention to the flexibility of its main policy.

America’s Preferred Home Warranty Coverage and Plans

America’s Preferred Home Warranty distributes its standard coverage under its standalone Basic Coverage plan, but with some freedom to customize. The Basic Coverage plan covers a total of 21 major home systems and appliances under fixed per-item payout maximums. APHW also instates an annual maximum coverage cap of $25,000, regardless of the number of claims filed per year.

Customers looking for more robust home protection can opt for APHW’s Preferred Upgrade, which essentially offers enhanced versions of all covered items featured in the Basic Coverage plan. Sellers interested in extra protection for their home, while it’s on the market, can purchase the Seller Preferred Upgrade, though it offers narrower extended coverage and only lasts for the duration of the listing.

America’s Preferred Home Warranty Plans

Item	Basic Coverage	+ Preferred Upgrade
Central Air Conditioning	✓	✓
Heating Systems	✓	✓
Ductwork	✓	✓
Humidifier	✓	✓
Attic and Exhaust Fans	✓	✓
Water Heaters	✓	✓
Electrical Systems	✓	✓
Plumbing Systems	✓	✓
Plumbing Stoppages	✓	✓
Exterior Water and Sewer Lines	✓	✓
Septic Systems	✓	✓
Sump Pumps (permanently installed)	✓	✓
Water Well Pumps	✓	✓
Dishwashers	✓	✓
Garbage Disposals	✓	✓
Instant Hot Water Dispenser	✓	✓
Built-in Trash Compactor	✓	✓
Ovens/Ranges/Cooktops	✓	✓
Refrigerators	✓	✓
Built-in Microwaves	✓	✓
Clothes Washers and Dryers	✓	✓
Hotel Benefits	✓	✓
Roof Leak Repair	✓	✓
Central Air Conditioning (plus): refrigerant recovery, cost of crane, and registers/grills		✓
Heating Systems (plus): registers/grills and heat lamps		✓
Water Heaters (plus): sediment buildup		✓
Electrical Systems (plus): fire/burglar alarms, lighting fixtures, and doorbells		✓
Dishwashers (plus): racks, baskets, and rollers		✓
Ovens/Ranges/Cooktops (plus): interior lining, clocks, rotisseries racks, handles, knobs, and dials		✓
Refrigerators (plus): refrigerant recovery, control boards, ice makers, and ice/beverage dispensers		✓
Built-in Microwaves (plus): interior lining, glass door, clocks, and shelves		✓
Built-in Trash Compactor (plus): lock/key assembly and buckets		✓
Garage Door Opener (plus): hinges, springs, keypads, and remote transmitters		✓
Ceiling Fans		✓
Toilet replacement with like quality		✓
Exterior Water and Sewer Lines		✓
Code Violations (max. $250 per year)		✓

Add-on Options from America’s Preferred Home Warranty

America’s Preferred Home Warranty has nine optional coverage add-ons for homeowners to choose from. While elective add-ons give customers more room to customize their policy based on the unique coverage needs of their home, tacking on even one à la carte inclusion can increase your premium significantly. If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend only purchasing add-ons for priority coverage items, like laundry appliances or A/C, when they’re not already included in a standard plan.

Optional add-ons available for coverage:

• Second refrigerator (+$4.17 per month)
• Clothes washer and dryer (+$7.92 per month)
• Gas fireplace (+$4.17 per month)
• In-ground pool or spa (+$15.42 per month)
• Saltwater pool or spa (+$28.75 per month)
• Jetted bathtub (+$10.42 per month)
• Sprinkler system (+$4.17 per month)
• Termite control (+$4.17 per month)
• Water softener ($7.92 per month)

Coverage details for top systems and appliances

Air Conditioning

APHW’s Basic Coverage plan includes electric refrigerator central air conditioning units only. This coverage extends to coils and compressors, capacitors, motors, thermostats, motors, leaks in refrigerant lines, fuses, breakers, wiring, condenser units, evaporative units, and more. Coverage is capped at $2,250 per year. Manufactured homes over the age of 20 have a $500 limit on air conditioning.

With the Preferred Upgrade, you’ll also be covered for refrigerant reclaim and disposal, industrial crane costs for elevating rooftop HVAC systems, as well as for registers and grills.

Heating Systems

Basic heating coverage spans a variety of central heating systems including electric, gas, oil, steams, or hot water setups. You’ll be covered for up to $2,250 per year in costs related to ductwork, interior gas lines, relays, wiring, thermostats, electric heat pumps, circuit boards, baseboard convectors, pumps, motors, switches, and more. APHW won’t cover geothermal heating components, propane gas storage tanks, solar heating systems, radiators, or fireplaces.

Registers, grills, and heat pumps are included with purchase of the Preferred Upgrade.

Plumbing Systems & Stoppages

Standard coverage for plumbing systems and stoppages includes interior line leaks and breaks for water, vent, gas, or sewer lines. You’ll also be covered for age-related issues with drains and faucets, shower valves, interior hose bibs, angle tops, and risers. Coverage also extends to plumbing located in attached garages, but doesn’t include failures or stoppages beyond the main foundation of the home. All related repairs or replacements are capped at $500 per year.

Washer and Dryer

Laundry appliances are covered for up to $500 in maintenance per year for all parts and components except soap dispensers, plastic mini-tubs, dials and knobs, filter screens, lint screens, venting, and damage to clothing.

Electrical Systems

APHW will cover up to $1,000 in interior electrical costs related to main electrical breakers, panels and subpanels, wiring, fuses, plugs, switches, central vacuum systems, conduits, and junction boxes. Only customers who purchase the Preferred Upgrade will be covered for lighting fixtures, fire/burglar alarms, and doorbells.

Refrigerator

Only standard refrigerators located in the main kitchen area are eligible for $1,000 per year in coverage through APHW (unless the add-ons for secondary refrigerator coverage is purchased.) Refrigerator coverage through the Basic Coverage plan only includes the fridge’s compressor. Extended coverage for refrigerant recovery, control boards, ice makers, and ice/beverage dispensers is available with the Preferred Upgrade.

Not Covered by America’s Preferred Home Warranty

America’s Preferred Home Warranty, like most other home warranty service providers, reserves its coverage for appliance and system issues caused by normal wear and tear over time. Understanding what is and isn’t covered from the get-go will ensure you don’t end up paying for a policy only to have your claims denied.

APHW won’t cover repair or replacement costs related to:

• Damage caused by poor routine maintenance, improper installation, or intentional misuse
• Known or unknown pre-existing conditions
• Damage caused by natural disasters (fire, hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes) or any other scenarios that overlap with home insurance coverage terms
• Factory defects or any other initial issues that overlap with the item’s original manufacturer’s warranty
• Removal or remediation of mold, mildew, rot, or fungus
• Secondary damage as a result of a covered item failure (i.e. tenting tile due to prolonged water exposure from a bathroom sink pipe break)

Service Fees

APHW has a customizable service fee, of which policyholders can choose to pay either $50, $100, or $125 out of pocket each time they file a new claim. With a customizable deductible like this, homeowners have more control over what their premium will look like. The higher the service call fee you select, the lower your monthly or annual premium will be and vice versa. All of APHW’s service fee options sit within the industry average range of $60 to $150.

Coverage Limits

America’s Preferred Home Warranty has a maximum aggregate limit of $25,000 per contract term, but also enforces some per-item limits as well. According to  fine print of APHW’s sample contract, general coverage limits for all covered items are as follows:

• Heating systems: $2,250 per year
• Air conditioning: $2,250 per year
• Roof leak repair: $550 per year
• Interior plumbing: $500 per year
• Pools and spas: $600 per year
• Saltwater pools and spas (with upgrade); $1,200 per year
• Clothes washers and dryers: $500 per year
• Water softener: $600 per year
• Humidifier: $500 per year
• Interior electrical systems: $1,000 per year
• Sump pumps: $500 per year
• Hot water heater: $500 per year
• Refrigerator: $1,000 per year
• Exterior water and sewer lines: $1,000 per year
• Second refrigerator: $1,000 per year
• Termite control: $500 per year
• Sprinkler systems: $250 per year
• Gas fireplace: $400 per year

Cancellation Policy

America’s Preferred Home Warranty offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new joiners. So long as you haven’t filed a claim within your first 30 days of coverage, you’re entitled to a 100% refund from America’s Preferred Home Warranty. Customers who decide to cancel after that 30-day window has passed will be refunded a prorated amount minus 10% of your premium.

Availability

America’s Preferred Home Warranty is available in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding California. If you’re a California homeowner in search of a reputable alternative provider, check out our guide to the best home warranty companies in California.

Best Home Warranty Companies in California

America’s Preferred Home Warranty Reviews

Based on the responses of over 1,000 homeowners across the U.S., customer satisfaction rates were the fourth most important factor of a home warranty. Overall, feedback from homeowners currently or formerly covered by APHW made up 9% of its collective score.

Customer Reviews

We’ve highlighted both positives and negative reviews left by APHW policyholders on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As of July 2022, APHW has garnered an average rating of 3.19 out of 5 stars, with 46 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

Here are a few of the BBB reviews from America’s Preferred Home Warranty customers:

“I love being able to use the contractor of my choice! My parents use a different home warranty company and they have had some interesting characters sent to them. I get to use my plumber of 12 years and electrician of 2 years with no problem. Quick and easy to call and create a claim, then quick payment. They have been outstanding through my basement flooding, plumbing issues, and water heater replacement. I have been a customer for 2 years and would 100% recommend it!” 

– Katie B., 02/04/2022

“I have had an interesting experience with this company. Most of the customer service agents were great, especially the first one I spoke with. The third one I spoke with denied my claim, although he was thoroughly professional in the matter. After my realtor reached out to his sales agent, we were able to get the denial reversed for the max amount as it was very clearly an egregious denial. I am truly appreciative of the effort to make this right. I understand customer service folks are humans and can make a wrong decision. They do have an appeals process that you can use if you disagree with a claim so at least there’s an established method to review decisions you disagree with. They make opening a claim extremely easy and the fact that you can choose the contractor you want to work with makes dealing with your appliance failures very quick to address.”

– Liane G., 05/24/2022

“I always include America’s Preferred Home Warranty in a real estate purchase or listing agreement. It gives the buyers and sellers peace of mind and covers unexpected costs for repair or replacement of malfunctions.They respond quickly to help you get payment, and you can choose your own contractor to perform the work.” 

– Brady S., 03/10/2022

Final Thoughts

America’s Preferred Home Warranty is the leading pick among homeowners looking for a made-to-order home protection plan at a fair monthly rate. Freedom to choose your own contractor can help customers feel more confident and familiar with the service professional leading a repair or replacement in their home. Still, it will require more hands-on involvement during the service request process than if APHW used a pre-screened, licensed contractor.

APHW also includes a customizable service fee, which gives policyholders more say in their short term and long term payment options. APHW’s highest service call fee option of $125 is, however, more expensive than the industry average.

Compare America’s Preferred Home Warranty to Other Home Warranty Companies

Company	Why we chose it	Pricing*	Waiting period	BBB rating	States Covered
Choice Home Warranty	Best Overall	Basic Plan: $45/month Total Plan: $53.33/month Service Fee: $85	30 days	B-	49 states (Not including WA)
Select Home Warranty	Most Cost-Effective Plans	Bronze: $58/month Gold: $57.67/month Platinum: $62.08/month Service Fee: $60	30 days	B	46 states(Not including NV, NY, WA, WI)
American Home Shield	Best Customizable Plans	ShieldSilver: $29.27-$44.27/month ShieldGold: $39.27-$54.27/month ShieldPlatinum: $59.27-$74.27/month Service Fee: $75, $100 or $125	30 days	B	49 states (Not including AK)
The Home Service Club	Quickest Service	Standard Coverage Plan: $50 Comprehensive Coverage Plan: $62.90 Service Fee: $60, $75, or $95	10 days	N/A	All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Liberty Home Guard	Most Trustworthy	Appliance Guard: $70/month Systems Guard: $74.99/month Total Home Guard: $79.99/month Service Fee: $75	30 days	A+	45 states (Not including CA, WA, WY, WI, IL)
First American Home Warranty	Best Appliance Coverage	Basic Plan: $38/month Premier Plan: $48.50/month Service Fee: $75	30 days	B	35 states (not including AL, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, WI)
Cinch Home Services	Best Workmanship Guarantee	Appliances Plan: $34.99-$50.99/month Built-in Systems Plan: $39.99-$57.99/month Complete Home Plan: $49.99-$67.99/month Service Fee: $75, $100, or $150	30 days	A-	48 states (Not including HI or AK)

*Note: The cost of premiums will vary on plan, location, and service fee selected.

Company information

• Company name: America’s Preferred Home Warranty, Inc.
• Company type: Corporation
• CEO: Rodney Martin
• Founding date: 1/1/2000
• Years in business: 22
• Phone number: (800) 648-5006
• Address: 5775 Ann Arbor Rd. Jackson, Michigan 49201-8860
• State availability: Not available in CA
• Service fee: $50, $100, or $125
• BBB rating: A+
• BBB accreditation: Yes
• Number of BBB complaints closed within last 3 years: 142 complaints

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology.

We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home. Additionally, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.

That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology. Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to make sure no detail was left out.

To make the most of our research, we developed a formula to objectively determine the best home warranty companies based on the following criteria:

• Plans: Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
• Prices: How reasonable are the monthly fees and service fees in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
• Coverage: How many items are covered in each plan? We looked at the number of items each company covers. We dig into all service contracts available to get all the details.
• Customer service: How is the customer experience when calling the providers? Based on our phone calls, we were able to judge each company’s customer service.
• Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
• Nationwide availability: How many states does the company cover? We found the number of states covered by each company.
• Unique perks: Does the company offer discounts or cover special items? We looked for perks offered by each company that sets them apart from the competition.

How do we keep our data up to date?

We want to make sure we’re providing you, the consumer, with the most current data available for every home warranty company we’ve researched and rated. That takes significant effort but we feel that’s vital to providing you thorough and trustworthy reviews.

With that in mind, we have dedicated staff members who regularly update our database of home warranty research.

For those that want to come home to a house that is comfortable and functioning, a home warranty makes a lot of sense. For the price that a home warranty is offered, you will quickly learn that it is indeed a good value. At an average of around $40 per month, your policy will cost you just under $500 per year.

If you have ever had an appliance or a home system that needs repair, you probably understand quite well that you will quickly reach that $500 mark to get your home back up and running. Take your time to carefully consider your home warranty options, check around for discounts and then give yourself the peace of mind that you deserve.

For more details, check out our affiliate disclosure and rating methodology.

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