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With decades of experience and multiple comprehensive home warranty plans, American Home Shield is one of the best home warranty companies in the industry. It offers three home warranty plans with the option of adding on extra coverage for a fee.
Although some customers have reported experiencing claim denials and poor customer service, American Home Shield has a solid reputation in the home warranty industry.
Pros
- Three comprehensive and affordable plans
- Numerous add-on coverage options available
- Some freedom of contractor choice
Cons
- Some poor customer reviews
- No live chat available
- Pre-approval required for using
American Home Shield at a Glance
American Home Shield has been providing homeowners with comprehensive home warranty policies since 1997. by covering the cost of a repair or replacement of major home systems or appliances. The homeowner pays a monthly fee and often a service fee for this coverage. American Home Shield offers three tiers of home warranty coverage ranging from $19.99 to $69.99 per month.
In addition to these standard plans, the company offers many add-on options to build a more comprehensive plan to protect your home. For example, you can add coverage for roof leaks, electronics and more. When requesting service as part of your policy, you will likely pick from its vetted list of contractors but in some situations, you can choose your own contractor pending approval from American Home Shield.
All of these accolades land American Home Shield on Forbes Home’s list of best home warranty companies. It is important to note that the company does have some negative customer reviews, however, they are mostly related to denied coverage claims in line with policy contracts. Service requests can be submitted through the 24/7 online form or phone line, but there is no online chat available.
Available Plans
Amerian Home Shield has three different plans to choose from: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. The right plan for you depends on what systems around your home you want to cover as well as your budget.
ShieldSilver
This is the basic plan offered by American Home Shield. It protects parts of the 14 major systems in your home. Think of the major systems such as HVAC, electrical and plumbing. The major category that is missing from this coverage tier is appliances.
ShieldGold
SheildGold is the mid-tier plan offered by American Home Shield and is its most popular pick. Like the ShieldSilver, parts of the 14 major systems in your home are covered, including HVAC, electrical and plumbing. Your appliances will also be covered under this plan from refrigerators and ranges to washers and dryers. You will get up to $3,000 per appliance for repair or replacement.
ShieldPlatinum
Amerian Home Shield’s premium package, ShieldPlatinum will give you the most protection over your home. All of the coverage from previous tiers are included and the coverage per appliance increases to $6,000. Additionally, this plan includes roof leak repairs up to $1,500 as well as maintenance perks such as free HVAC tune-ups and unlimited AC refrigerant.
Other Benefits
If one of American Home Sheild’s standard plans does not provide enough coverage for you, there are additional coverage options that you can add to these plans. American Home Shield offers the following additional coverage:
Roof Leak Repair
This add-on is included with the ShieldPlatinum plan, but not with the two others. It covers roof leaks caused by dry rot, broken or missing shingles, freezing and thawing and normal wear and tear up to $1,500 per contract term.
Electronics
The standard plans do not include any coverage for electronics such as TVs and computers. If you choose to add on this protection, you can receive up to $2,000 per claim with an overall claim limit of $5,000.
Pool and Built-in Spa
This add-on covers the equipment associated with your pool or spa like the pump motors, blower motors and timers and plumbing pipes and wiring. It does not cover above-ground spas, lights, liners or jets.
Guest Units
For those with a guest house or accessory dwelling unit [ADU] on their property, this additional coverage makes a lot of sense. It extends your plan’s coverage to a guest unit up to 750 square feet.
Septic Pumps
While the company will not cover your septic tank or leach lines, it will cover your septic pump with this additional coverage option.
Well Pumps
Similar to the septic pump coverage, this add-on will cover your well pump and well pump only. You could receive up to $1,500 per term for access, diagnosis and repair or replacement.
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American Home Shield State Availability
American Home Shield is available in 49 states, excluding Alaska. Specific plan details can vary from state to state, so be sure to thoroughly review your exact policy before signing a contract.
Fine Print
Despite receiving some negative online reviews, American Home Shield is a well-rounded company that offers comprehensive home warranty services. Most of the negative reviews are in response to claim denials for items that are not covered by American Home Shield’s plans. You can avoid these issues by carefully reading the contract each time you go to make a claim.
Some common claims that the company denies involve materials like mold, mildew, lead paint and asbestos, as well as pest removal or pest damage. However, American Home Shield does provide pest prevention resources on its website. The company is known for its excellent customer service and timely response to service requests, making it a top choice for many homeowners seeking reliable home warranty coverage.
Plan Pricing
There is sure to be a plan that fits your budget across American Home Shield’s three different options. Its base plan ShieldSilver covers parts of the 14 essential systems in your home and is only $19.99 per month. ShieldGold adds coverage for appliances and costs $39.99 per month. For $69.99 per month, ShieldPlatinum is the top-tier plan that has a higher coverage amount of appliances and also includes protection against roof leaks.
In addition to the monthly cost of coverage, you will also pay a service fee each time a trade professional must come to your home for a service. This amount will be either $75, $100 or $125 depending on the amount you choose when purchasing your plan.
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Payout Limitations
There are limitations on the payment amount for certain categories of warranty coverage. For example, the middle-tier ShieldGold plan only covers appliance repairs and replacements up to $3,000 per appliance. This limit increases to $6,000 per appliance for the ShieldPlatinum plan. Additional payout limitations for American Home Shield home warranty plans are as follows.
How American Home Shield Stacks Up
You have plenty of options when choosing a home warranty company. American Home Shield was named as one of the best home warranty companies, according to Forbes Home, but there are a few other contenders worth comparing its services to.
Is American Home Shield the Right Home Warranty Company for You?
If you’re a homeowner in search of a thorough home warranty plan, American Home Shield might be the right choice for you. With its three different plan options, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget, and the wide selection of additional coverage options allows you to customize the perfect plan for your needs.
You will be given some flexibility to work with the contractor of your choosing when filing a claim but it is important to note there have been some customer service concerns. Despite this, American Home Shield still remains a solid choice for homeowners seeking a comprehensive home warranty plan.
Methodology
To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:
Pricing [17%]
When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.
What’s Included in Coverage [12%]
The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.
Credibility and Customer Satisfaction [19%]
Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each company’s BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.
Customer Support [4%]
When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.
Sign-Up and Restrictions [8%]
Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.
Option to Pick Your Own Technician [5%]
Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.
Contract Cancelation [5%]
We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the company’s threshold.
Discount Availability [3%]
Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.
Property Types Covered [3%]
When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.
Nationwide Availability [19%]
Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus DC in which coverages are available.
Other Editorial Judgment Points [5%]
We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Will American Home Shield replace my AC unit?
Yes, American Home Shield will replace your AC unit if it is broken and beyond repair. The company will replace it with the same model as your previous one.
Can you cancel American Home Shield at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your contract at any time. If you cancel within the first 30 days of coverage, the company will give you a pro-rated refund of your contract fees for the rest of the contract term, but it will keep an administrative fee of up to one month’s payment as well as any service or claims costs it incurred during your term.
Are home warranties worth it?
Some homeowners prefer to have a plan with a home warranty provider, while others prefer to pay for repairs out of pocket. Both perspectives have their pros and cons depending on your unique situation. Home warranties are worth it because they offer peace of mind knowing you won’t incur tremendous costs if a home system breaks down. If you have a large emergency fund available to cover the cost of these unexpected repairs, then you can likely pass on a home warranty.
Who owns American Home Shield?
American Home Shield is an American company owned by Frontdoor as of 2018. Prior to this, the company was owned by ServiceMaster.
Can I get my money back from American Home Shield?
You can get your money back from American Home Shield if you cancel your contract within the first 30 days of signing. The company will refund you a prorated amount based on the remaining contract term minus any administrative fees up to one month’s payment. You will not be refunded any service or claim costs.
Is there a class action lawsuit against American Home Shield?
Since 2007, AHS's business practices have been the subject of two class action lawsuits alleging that AHS engaged in a pattern of wrongly denying claims for alleged failure to maintain or clean the system or appliance, deliberately breaching the service contracts, and entering into contracts with service technicians ...
Is it hard to cancel American Home Shield?
To cancel your contract, please call 833.706.2865 and a customer representative will assist you. Please note, if you are moving, you can transfer the remainder of your plan to the new buyer and set up coverage for your new home.
How much does American Home Shield cost?
In most parts of the U.S., American Home Shield costs between $30 and $90 per month. AHS offers three plan tiers: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™ and ShieldPlatinum™. If you choose a higher service fee, you'll pay $10 less each month for the same plan.
What is the benefit of American Home Shield?
Protect your budget and make homeownership less stressful with helpful Home Services from American Home Shield. We also cover Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical Systems, Refrigerators, Ovens, Ranges/Cooktops, Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers, Roof Leak Repair, and more.