American Home Shield home warranty review

About American Home Shield (AHS)

American Home Shield (AHS) is a home warranty carrier. A home warranty is a service contract that covers major home systems and/or appliances. AHS is the first home warranty carrier in the United States. It has been around for almost 49 years. AHS is a subsidiary of Frontdoor, Inc., a publicly-traded company. Frontdoor also owns other home service companies, including HSA Home Warranty, Landmark Home Warranty, OneGuard Home Warranty, Candu Home Solutions, and Streem, Inc. Among all of its brands, Frontdoor, Inc. services more than two million customers across the U.S. and responds to over four million service requests annually.

What types of homes are covered?

AHS covers single-family homes (including manufactured homes), new construction homes, condominiums, townhomes, and mobile homes under 5,000 square feet. Coverage is for occupied, owned, or rented residential property. Properties used for commercial and business purposes are not covered. AHS follows the industry standard for the types of homes it covers. Shared appliances with other home units are not covered.

Available plans

AHS offers four plans you could choose from: the Systems Plan, Appliances Plan, Combo Plan, and Build Your Own Plan.

Systems Plan

Covers 11 home systems, including:

• Air conditioning with ductwork
• Heating with ductwork
• Electrical
• Doorbells
• Smoke detectors
• Ceiling fans
• Plumbing (including stoppages)
• Water heaters
• Garbage disposals
• Instant hot/cool water dispensers
• Central vacuums

Appliances Plan

Covers 10 appliances, including:

• Refrigerators
• Ranges/ovens/cooktops
• Clothes washers
• Clothes dryers
• Dishwashers
• Built-in microwave ovens
• Trash compactors
• Freestanding ice makers
• Garage door openers
• Built-in food centers

Combo Plan

A combination of the Systems Plan and Appliances Plan that provides coverage for both systems and appliances. According to AHS, this is their most popular plan.

Build Your Own Plan

This plan lets you choose the systems and appliances you’d like to cover. For example, you may choose to cover your refrigerator and oven, but not your washer and dryer.

What add-ons are Available?

AHS offers some items that could be added to your plan at an additional cost. These items include:

• Electronic extended warranties
• Pools and spas
• Well pumps
• Septic pumps
• Guest units

Note: commercial grade equipment, systems or appliances are not covered.

How much does American Home Shield cost?

AHS’s pricing varies by zip code, plan type (Systems Plan, Appliances Plan, Combo Plan, Build Your Own Plan), and the service fee amount you choose. AHS offers three service fees to choose from. The service fee options are $75, $100, or $125. The lower the service fee, the higher the plan cost and the higher the service fee, the lower the plan cost. As with most home warranty carriers, you may pay for your plan in monthly installments or all at once.

AHS plan pricing summary

Note: these prices do not include taxes. They are also estimates. Check for actual pricing on AFC’s site.

How’s the service contractor network?

AHS has over 13,000 contractors in its network. The contractors that AHS works with are local, licensed, and insured. It also provides a 30-day workmanship guarantee to repair problems that persist at no additional cost.

You may request service by calling AHS’s customer service or by logging into your online account through the AHS site.

What types of malfunctions are covered?

AHS covers malfunctions due to “normal wear and tear” during the contract term. AHS’s definition of what’s “normal wear and tear” is wider than those of other carriers. AHS covers malfunctions of covered items due to the following situations prior to and during the contract term (most carriers do not cover failures due to these situations):

• Insufficient maintenance, rust, corrosion, or sediment
• Improper installations, repairs, or modifications
• Mismatched systems where the systems were not properly matched to each other in capacity or efficiency for proper operation
• Undetectable pre-existing conditions which are defects or mechanical failures that could not have been detected by a visual inspection and/or simple mechanical test (defined as turning the item on and off to ensure that it is operational)

AHS’s plans also cover the costs to dismantle and remove defective equipment and to recapture, reclaim and dispose of refrigerant. Most carriers do not cover these costs.

What types of malfunctions are not covered?

AHS does not cover malfunctions that are:

• Covered by manufacturer, distributor, builder, or extended warranty
• Due to misuse, abuse, or mistreatment, including removal of parts and damage by people, pests, or pets, accidents, fire, freezing, water damage, electrical failure or surge, or excessive or inadequate water pressure, lightning, mud, earthquake, soil movement, storms, or acts of God
• Due to a manufacturer’s improper design, improper materials or formulations, a defective manufacturing process, or other manufacturing defects

What coverage amount limits are there?

Most home warranty plans have maximum amounts that the carrier will pay out to you for repairs and/or replacements of certain covered systems and appliances per covered item per contract term.

Covered system limits

For covered systems, AHS will only pay up to the following:

• $1,500 for air conditioning and heating, or $1,000 if the air conditioning and heating ductwork is accessible only through a concrete floor, wall, or ceiling
• $1,000 for plumbing if the system is accessible only through a concrete floor, wall, or ceiling

Covered appliance limits

For appliances, AHS’s coverage limit is $3,000 per covered item per contract term. For optional add-ons, AHS has a limit of $1,500 per for a well pump.

Note: the above may not be the full list of what’s not covered by AHS. Review your agreement for the full list.

Available discounts

AHS offers a few discounts and promotions. When you refer a friend to sign up for AHS, you save $25. When you buy coverage for an additional property, you save $50. As an AHS customer, you could also get discounts on appliances and air filters.

When does coverage start?

You may start requesting services 30 days after you buy your warranty. In other words, there is a 30-day waiting period. This is the industry standard. Your coverage start date will also be on your contract.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You may cancel your contract at any time and for any reason. To cancel your plan, you have to call AHS’s customer service line. AHS might also charge you an administrative fee of up to one month's payment. Review your contract for what cancellation fees there might be. If you cancel within the first 30 days after you purchase your plan, you’ll get a full refund. After the 30 days, you’ll receive a pro-rated refund based on the months not used in the plan minus any service or claim costs incurred and any administrative fees.