AHW Home Warranty Review | 2021
Adobe Stock © soupstock
AHW Home Warranty offers three coverage plans with over 20 optional add-ons. In this article, we share a few AHW Home Warranty reviews and examine the company's plans and cost so that you can decide whether it's the best home warranty provider for your home protection needs.
Best Overall
bhg BUY IT
Best Basic Plan
bhg BUY IT
Best Discounts
bhg BUY IT
Best Membership Perks
bhg BUY IT
Best Coverage Upgrade
bhg BUY IT
Best Plan Variety
bhg BUY IT
Background & State Availability
AHW Home Warranty was founded in Columbus, Ohio. The company has grown to become a recognized name in the home warranty industry, has over 40,000 service providers, and is available in 45 states, excluding California, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.
AHW had its Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation revoked in November 2020 for failing to adhere to the organization's standards, but it's working with the BBB to restore accreditation.
Additionally, the Arizona Attorney General filed a class-action lawsuit against AHW in May 2021, alleging the company has engaged in fraudulent behaviors. These include fabricating positive consumer reviews, misrepresenting its number of years in operation, and concealing the identity of its chief executive. Our research team reached out to AHW but have yet to receive a comment in response to the lawsuit.
AHW Home Warranty Plans & Coverage
AHW Home Warranty offers a Systems plan, an Appliances plan, and a Combo plan. Its three plans cover the essentials, which allows customers to fully customize their coverage with add-ons.
Here's a detailed view of what's covered in each plan:
Here's a brief summary of each AHW Home Warranty plan:
Appliance Plan: This plan covers your clothes washer and clothes dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator (with ice maker), freezer, microwave ovens, oven, range, stove, cooktop, and trash compactor. The Appliances Plan is inexpensive and covers the essentials, so you'll have extra money to add on coverage if necessary.
System Plan: This coverage protects your hot water heater, ductwork, jetted bathtub, garage door openers, air conditioning system, heating system, plumbing system, and electrical system.
Combo Plan: This plan covers everything in the Systems and Appliances plans, along with your doorbell, kitchen fan, exhaust hood, bathroom exhaust fan, ceiling fan, instant hot water dispenser, attic fan, and garbage disposal. It is the most comprehensive coverage AHW has to offer.
Optional Add-Ons
If there are still items you need covered, you can purchase any of AHW's add-on coverage options up to 30 days after your contract begins. Many homeowners with pools choose to add pool or spa coverage, and coverage for septic systems can also provide peace of mind.
Here's a full list of AHW's additional coverage options, which typically only cost a few extra dollars per month:
Additional dishwasher
Extra oven
Pool and spa
Additional microwave
Additional hot water heater
Water softener
Secondary refrigerator
Wine refrigerator
Well pump
Central vacuum
Additional washer/dryer
Ice maker
Limited roof leak
Sump pump
Whole-house humidifier
Septic system
Lawn sprinkler system
Additional central AC unit
Additional central heating unit
Note: Like other home warranty companies, AHW Home Warranty has a waiting period of 30 days before coverage kicks in.
What's Not Covered By AHW Home Warranty?
While the covered items in your contract are protected against malfunctions of components that are necessary for operation, AHW Home Warranty excludes cosmetic defects, pre-existing conditions, rust or corrosion, and problems caused by improper operation.
If your item is already under manufacturer's warranty, your AHW Home Warranty will not take precedence over the manufacturer's warranty. A full list of exclusions can be found on AHW's sample contract in Section VII.
AHW Home Warranty Cost
Based on the quotes our research team received, AHW Home Warranty plans are reasonably priced for their breadth of coverage. As seen below, homeowners pay $42 to $52 per month for their premiums and $75 for a service call fee every time a repair or replacement is needed.
Here's an outline of AHW plan prices:
Other costs to consider include the following:
Optional Add-Ons: Varies between $4.99 and $14.92
Trade Service Fee: $75
Compared to other top home warranty providers, AHW Home Warranty's service call fee is low, while its premiums are in the middle of the standard industry range of $25 to $60 per month.
AHW Home Warranty Reviews
Positive reviews for AHW Home Warranty on the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile often mention that its contractors do a professional job and that the company's customer service team is helpful. Negative reviews mention delays in service and issues with claims being denied unexpectedly. When reviewing AHW's webpages on third-party review sites, readers should be aware that the pending class-action lawsuit filed against the company alleges that the provider has published fake reviews on some sites.
Here's a sampling of AHW Home Warranty reviews:
"After filing a claim, the next day [AHW] had a company call me to set up a time to come out and look at my hot water heater." — Danny Bond via Trustpilot on July 26, 2020
"I signed up for the combo plan. Fred was able to answer every question in detail and followed it up by asking if there was anything he missed. The whole process was very easy. I feel more at ease knowing I have protection for my home systems and appliances." — Thomas S. via BBB on July 21, 2020
"I have been on hold for over an hour at a time. My contract was canceled without explanation, and I was forced to await a call back (which I never received) to provide an explanation." — Nancy P. via BBB on July 21, 2020
"You have to wait on the phone for hours at a time every time. [The company] makes excuses for everything. [The company] refused to call back after calls have been escalated to managers." — Laura J. via BBB on July 17, 2020
How to Submit a Claim with AHW Home Warranty
Homeowners who have a plan with AHW Home Warranty can submit a claim by calling 844-996-0624 or by using the company's online portal. It offers 24/7 customer service and will contact a service contractor within 48 hours after your claim has been received. Once the contractor is contacted by the company, they will call you to set up a time to repair or replace your covered item.
Verdict & Recommendation
AHW Home Warranty offers a wide variety of plan options and optional add-ons. It's also one of the more inexpensive options on the market and offers coverage for a number of useful add-on items. However, the company is currently involved in a class-action lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General. While other home warranty companies have faced similar litigation, we are awaiting a resolution.
When researching home warranty companies, it's always a good idea to get quotes from multiple providers so you can find the coverage you need at an affordable price. Before you sign up for a plan, we also recommend reading your contract so you're aware of any exclusions.
Compare Home Warranty Companies
Our review team analyzed a variety of home warranty companies on factors like coverage, cost, and customer service to determine which providers offered the best home warranties. Our analysis found that American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, and Select Home Warranty are three of the best home warranty companies available.
Best Overall
bhg BUY IT
Best for Older Homes
bhg BUY IT
Best for Budget Shoppers
bhg BUY IT
Best Service Guarantee
bhg BUY IT
Most Comprehensive Claim Coverage
bhg BUY IT
Most Flexible Plan Options
bhg BUY IT
American Home Shield:
Get a free quote: Call 844-529-9298 or complete this form
Our verdict: Best Overall
Number of plans: 3
Monthly cost: $40.00–$58.00
Service fee: $75–$125
State availability: All states but Alaska
BBB rating: B
Need more information? Read our American Home Shield Review
Choice Home Warranty:
Get a free quote: Call 929-400-6165 or complete this form
Our verdict: Best Basic Plan
Number of plans: 2
Monthly cost: $41.69–$50.00
Service fee: $85
State availability: All states but CA and WA
BBB rating: C
Need more information? Read our Choice Home Warranty Review
Select Home Warranty:
Get a free quote: Call 888-370-3956 or complete this form
Our verdict: Best Discounts
Number of plans: 3
Monthly cost: $41.00–$47.00
Service fee: $75
State availability: All states but NV, NY, WA, and WI
BBB rating: B
Need more information? Read our Select Home Warranty Review
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on home warranty companies and rating the providers on a variety of factors.
Here's what our review process looks like:
We examine each provider's website to determine plan details, coverage, customer service offerings, and other benefits. We also speak with company representatives to get more insight on plan details.
We read sample contracts from each home warranty company to analyze and compare coverage details, limits, and exclusions.
We read at least 100 third-party customer reviews for each home warranty company to determine the real-life benefits and drawbacks of each provider.
We gather cost information for a variety of home warranty plans in different states by completing online quote forms and speaking with sales representatives to simulate the quote process.
We revisit each company's offerings on a seasonal basis, ensuring that we include the most up-to-date information in our reviews.
We also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on objective factors, such as plan options, coverage, and customer service:
Overall, the Home Service Research Team has reviewed over 70 home warranty companies to select the top-rated providers in the industry.
AHW Home Warranty: FAQ
Is AHW Home Warranty affiliated with Amazon?
No, AHW Home Warranty is not affiliated with the e-commerce company, Amazon.
Does AHW Home Warranty replace HVAC systems?
This depends on the type of plan you have. AHW Home Warranty's Systems and Combo plans cover HVAC systems, but its Appliances plan doesn't.
Is AHW Home Warranty really worth it?
A home warranty gives homeowners peace of mind that they won't have to pay expensive, out-of-pocket costs when their home systems or appliances unexpectedly break down or need repairs. Not to mention, a home warranty saves you the time and hassle of searching for a trusted contractor to complete the repairs for you. While AHW Home Warranty may or may not be the right option for you, we recommend getting quotes from multiple companies so you can find the right fit.
Who has the best home warranty?
Our review team named American Home Shield as the best overall home warranty provider, but Choice Home Warranty may be a great option for older homes, and Select Home Warranty has affordable plans for people on a budget.
More on home warranties:
