American Home Shield Review | 2021
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American Home Shield (AHS) has been in business for 49 years, balancing comprehensive service with affordable coverage plans. The company is one of our top picks for home warranties.
In this American Home Shield review, we take an in-depth look at the company's plans, prices, and reputation to help you determine if it's the best home warranty company for you. We'll also examine how AHS' offerings compare to competitors' services and show you a few consumer reviews.
For a free quote from American Home Shield, complete this short form or call 844-529-9298.
Pros and Cons of American Home Shield
Background & State Availability
American Home Shield was founded in 1971, and has both dependable and affordably priced policies. It is also one of the largest home warranty companies, with more than 1,600 employees. AHS has a 24/7 customer support phone number and a live chat feature on its website, making the provider easily accessible.
Years in Business: 50 years
BBB Rating: B
Number of Reviews: 8,500+
State Availability: 49 states*
*AHS is unavailable in Alaska
American Home Shield Plans & Coverage
American Home Shield offers three signature plans—the ShieldSilver™ Plan for systems and the ShieldGold™ and ShieldPlatinum™ plans for coverage on both systems and appliances. The lists below show what each one specifically covers.
Optional Add-Ons
In addition to the packages, American Home Shield offers the following coverage add-ons to expand your plan further:
Electronics Plan (not available in CA)
Guest Unit (under 750-square-feet)
Pools and Inground Spas
Septic Pump
Well Pump
The price of these add-ons, which include an Electronics Plan that covers TVs, laptops, tablets, gaming systems, smart home products, and more, may vary depending on your home and location. We encourage you to get a free quote from AHS for specific prices.
Coverage Limits and Exclusions
American Home Shield does not limit the amount of repairs it will make during the warranty contract. Customers can reach the company for service 24/7 as long as the trade service fee is paid in full upon request. Some items have more specific limits, which means AHS will cover the cost up to a certain dollar amount.
American Home Shield will cover up to these dollar amounts for various items on your plan:
Heating/Cooling: $1,500
Refrigerant: $10 per pound per occurrence (unlimited with ShieldPlatinum)
Ductwork: $1,000
Appliances: $3,000 ($6,000 with ShieldPlatinum)
It's always important to know what is not covered under your warranty. American Home Shield has some general coverage exclusions, such as pest damage, mold and mildew, improper installation, routine maintenance, and cosmetic damage.
Listed below are more specific exclusions from AHS's service contract:
Outside or Underground Piping
Window Units
Water Towers
Chiller Components
Water Lines
Fireplace Grain, Pellet, or Wood-heating Units
Telephone Wiring
Bathtubs, Sinks, and Showers
Toilet Lids/Seats
Free-standing Freezers
Wine Chillers
Garage Doors
Appliances with an Existing Manufacturer Warranty
American Home Shield Cost
Along with a standard $100 trade service request fee*, here's a breakdown of pricing for American Home Shield plans:
*Warranty purchasers can choose to pay $125 per request, which lowers the monthly rate, or $75 per request, which is a cheaper per request option with a slightly higher monthly rate.
American Home Shield Reviews
American Home Shield holds a B rating on the Better Business Bureau. To help you get a feel for what customers have written about AHS, we've pulled a couple of positive and negative reviews that we've found helpful. Many of the complaints mentioned long hold times with the customer service hotline, but our research has found this is an issue consistent with many major providers of warranties.
The American Home Shield reviews below are from the BBB:
"My furnace went out on a Wednesday, submitted a ticket that night. Was contacted by vendor Thursday morning and by Thursday evening unit was fixed and warming the house. I have had the issues listed here with other home warranty companies but so far in 18 months with AHS I have had no complaints or issues."
—Michael D.
"This company has been there for me already in 2 separate circumstances in the 2 years I've had my home. About to have to file another request with them, but I anticipate getting the same exceptional customer service as always. Their contractors have been quick, clean and reliable at every turn. They even asked to borrow my broom and dustpan to sweep up things that dropped from the attic when they had to service my heating unit."
—Kimberly J. T.
"I have had AHS for 4 years now, not sure what is going on with the company but call wait times are unacceptable . Each time I have called I have been on hold for at least 1 hour before they pick up. I am on hold as I write this, now it is 1 hour and 26 minutes."
—John G.
"Wow. All I can say is, whatever you do, don't use this company. EXTREMELY long wait times on phone, no other way to contact them (they do have an online form, nobody ever will get back to you), customer service has been lazy, rude and the quality of service they have sent out has been awful. Just not worth it. I can not tell you enough how horrible this company is."
—Sarah K.
Verdict & Recommendation
American Home Shield is a smart choice for a home warranty because of its comprehensive coverage, payment flexibility, and legacy. With 49 years of experience and the flexibility it offers to customers, our review team rated AHS the best overall provider in the industry.
If you're looking to purchase a home warranty, fill out this simple form or call 844-529-9298 for a free quote from AHS.
Compare Home Warranty Companies
When seeking the right home warranty provider for you, it's always a good idea to compare costs across multiple companies. Our review team has a list of other top home warranty providers, taking into consideration cost, reviews, and total coverage.
While American Home Shield was our top overall pick, Choice Home Warranty scored the best basic plan, and Select Home Warranty is our favorite option for discounts.
Best Overall
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Best Basic Plan
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Best Discounts
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Best Coverage Upgrade
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Best Plan Variety
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Best Membership Perks
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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.
American Home Shield FAQs
Is an American Home Shield Warranty worth it?
If you want to protect your most important appliances and systems, we think a home warranty with American Home Shield is a wise investment. An AHS warranty can provide you with peace of mind as a homeowner; a routine fix won't derail your finances.
Can I use my own contractor for repairs?
The short answer is: sometimes. AHS strives to provide service efficiently and will assign a contractor within 48 hours to reach out to you when you make a request. If you would prefer a contractor you have worked with in the past, make sure you follow AHS's protocol.
From the company's website: "If you choose to use outside authorizations, the service contractor must be licensed where applicable, qualified in the applicable state and trade, adequately insured for worker's compensation and third-party general, and have automobile liability coverage. The chosen contractor must provide a diagnosis and itemized bid to American Home Shield before any work is performed."
Does American Home Shield offer 24/7 service?
Yes. If you need to speak with a customer service representative, American Home Shield can be reached 24/7 at 866-772-3803. Individual contractors' hours may vary, but the service hotline is always available.
How do I pay for my home warranty with American Home Shield?
American Home Shield offers a variety of payment options. You can pay by card or with your bank account. In addition, you can customize your payment schedule. You have the choice of monthly or annual billing, and you can choose which day of the month the billing cycle begins.
Is American Home Shield reputable?
Yes, American Home Shield has one of the strongest reputations in the home warranty industry. With almost 50 years of experience and Better Business Bureau accreditation, you can be assured that it's a dependable home warranty provider.
How do you submit a claim for American Home Shield?
Submitting a claim with American Home Shield is simple. You can request service by filling out a form on the company's website or by calling 866-772-3803. Both options are available 24/7.
