American Home Shield: Home Warranty Reviews

Everything you need to know about American Home Shield

American Home Shield initially launched in 1971 and, since then, over 1.7 million customers have received service. Throughout the company’s history, its mission has been to protect customers from unexpected repair costs. You can find an American Home Shield warranty in every state except for Alaska.

Since 2013, AHS home warranty has paid out more than two billion dollars in service requests. The company stands by its guarantee that, if they cannot repair an appliance or system covered by your warranty, they will provide a replacement. When you read American Home Shield reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, you can see that they have a mix of positive and negative reviews.

American Home Shield at a glance:

• Plan options: Appliances Plan, Systems Plan, and Combo Plan
• Length of contract: 12 months
• Offers services in 49 states
• Prices start at $22 per month
• Service fees: $75 – $125
• Length of work guarantee: 30 days
• BBB Rating: B
• Trustpilot rating: Bad

How American Home Shield compares:

American Home Shield pros and cons:

A deeper look at American Home Shield

American Home Shield offers three plans:

Appliances Plan

What does it cost? 

$22 per month

What does it cover? 

Systems Plan

What does it cost? 

$32 per month

What does it cover? 

Combo Plan

What does it cost? 

$42 per month

What does it cover? 

Additional optional coverage

• Electronic Extended Warranty: $14.99
• Guest Unit: $17.99
• Pool and Spas: $23.75
• Septic Pump and Well Pump: $8.33

Does an AHS home warranty have coverage limits?

There are specific coverage limits for various systems and appliances that receive coverage by American Home Shield. If repairs exceed this coverage cap, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to pay out of pocket for the remainder of the repairs. Common coverage dollar limits include:

• Covered appliances have a maximum allowance of $3,000 per appliance
• There is a $1,500 cap for air conditioning and heating systems
• Ductwork has a $1,000 cap
• There is a $10 cap per pound per occurrence for refrigerant
• Plumbing has a $1,000 cap
• Central vacuum systems have a $3,000 cap
• There is a $1,500 cap for well pumps

American Home Shield reviews

Out of more than 6,000 reviews on the BBB, American Home Shield has three stars and a B rating. The company is also accredited through BBB, and its B rating means that, out of a possible 100 points, American Home Shield reviews land between 84 and 86.99. On BBB, many customers praise the company for its prompt and knowledgeable service team. Others have complaints about negative experiences with customer service.

There are only just over 200 American Home Shield reviews on Trustpilot with an overall average of one star. Many customers have issues with the length of time they have to wait for service, not receiving the coverage they need, and difficulty scheduling service calls.

The bottom line

With coverage in nearly the entire nation, the American Home Shield warranty offers reasonable rates for contracts. Each contract lasts for one year, and, as a bonus, customers can choose between $75 and $125 for their trade service fee (monthly plan rates are lower if you choose a higher service fee). When a service technician performs a repair, the company also offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee. You can reach the customer service team 24/7 but, according to many American Home Shield reviews, there could still be challenges scheduling service calls, and with coverage caps for certain repairs or replacements.

Frequently asked questions

How does an AHS home warranty work? 

If your appliance or system breaks down, contact American Home Shield. If the appliance or system receives coverage under your plan, then the customer service team sets up an appointment. AHS choose the technician and, when they arrive, they assess your coverage and how to address the situation.

Is American Home Shield warranty worth it? 

Because homeowners face unexpected repairs that could wind up being costly, an American Home Shield warranty helps pay for those expenses. That way, it is possible to focus budgets on other things instead of the appliances and systems that you use frequently. It’s especially beneficial if you have an older home and/or appliances. Each time a covered appliance or system breaks down or needs replacement, your warranty provides you with the coverage you need.

What does an AHS home warranty cover? 

An AHS home warranty covers the majority of your home’s major systems. That includes electrical systems, water heaters, HVAC systems, plumbing, and more. You can also get coverage for appliances, including dryers, refrigerators, and washers. If you need optional add-on coverage, you can find that for pumps, a second refrigerator, spas, swimming pools, and more.