If you’re a homeowner, then you know there’s always something around the house that needs to be repaired or replaced. A home warranty service like American Home Shield can help take the worry out of those unexpected repairs and the costs of paying for them. In this review, we’ll explain what American Home Shield is, how it works, the plans and pricing, coverage add-ons, exclusions, and more. We’ll also compare American Home Shield to other popular home warranty brands to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your needs.
| Highlights |
|---|
| Plans and pricing to fit every budget |
| Professional network of over 17,000 contractors |
| 30-day guarantee for completed repairs |
| Covers older items regardless of age |
| No inspection or maintenance records needed to purchase a plan |
| Online and mobile system for requesting repairs |
An Overview of American Home Shield
American Home Shield is a home warranty service that provides coverage for the repairs or replacement of essential home systems and appliances. When you purchase a plan, American Home Shield will cover the cost of repairs or replacement of important systems like your furnace, air conditioner, plumbing, electrical, water heater and more. Coverage can also be added for things like pools, electronics and septic pumps.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You have only one monthly or annual bill to pay for all your home warranty coverage | There is a service call fee charged for each repair (typically $75-$125); although keep in mind that the lower end of this range is right around industry standard |
| You have a single point of contact for all your repair needs—no need to try and find a contractor yourself | Not all repairs or replacements will be covered—there are some exclusions in the fine print |
| Coverage is available for items that may be difficult or expensive to repair or replace on your own, like your furnace or air conditioner | Monthly fees may not be the lowest available, depending on where you live |
| Plans can be customized to fit your needs | |
| The basic ShieldSilver plan covers some systems and appliances that other companies’ Basic Plans do not | |
| Coverage for malfunctions associated with conditions that some companies will not cover, like rust, corrosion and lack of maintenance |
How does American Home Shield work?
It’s simple! When you buy a home service plan, if something in your home breaks down or needs repair, you just go online or call the American Home Shield customer service number, pay your Trade Service Call Fee (TSCF) and they find you a qualified contractor to come and fix the problem. American Home Shield will then pay the contractor directly for covered repairs.
You’ll have a choice of three different year-long, renewable plans and the best one for you will largely depend on your coverage needs. With all plans, you’ll have the option to pay a monthly fee or pay on an annual basis. You also have some choices when it comes to your service call fees: Choose a higher fee to lower your monthly payment, or choose a lower fee to pay less when you request service.
What Sets American Home Shield Apart?
There are many home warranty programs available but American Home Shield has a few extra benefits. They offer unlimited service requests 24/7 and the removal of old, defective items is included.
American Home Shield also offers coverage for equipment breakdowns that some other companies won’t cover. While most home warranties cover normal wear and tear for equipment of any age, American Home Shield provides coverage for equipment breakdowns that stem from other causes like:
- Undetectable pre-existing conditions
- Items without maintenance records
- Breakdowns caused by lack of maintenance
- Improper installations, repairs or modifications
- Malfunctions due to sediment, rust or corrosion
- Duplicates of the same item, like a second refrigerator
Coverage under these conditions is a fairly big differentiator in the market. As is their adaptable payment structure that allows you to lower your monthly payments by choosing higher service call fees.
Finally, American Home Shield also has a 30-day workmanship guarantee. If you have an issue with your completed repair within 30-days of service, they will send a contractor back out for free.
What does American Home Shield cover?
American Home Shield coverage is highly comprehensive. There are three different plans to choose from, each with different levels of coverage. The three plans include:
ShieldSilver
Helps protect parts of 14 major systems that power your home.
ShieldGold
Covers everything in ShieldSilver, plus eight additional household appliances.
ShieldPlatinum
Covers everything in the previous plans, plus roof leaks and more.
The ShieldSilver Plan includes appliances and systems like:
- Air Conditioners
- Heating Units
- Ductwork
- Built-in Exhaust, Vent & Attic Fans
- Main Breaker/Fuse Panel Box
- Doorbells & Chimes
- Interior Electrical Lines
- Ceiling Fans
- Garage Door Openers
- Water Heaters
- Interior Plumbing Lines
- Toilets
- Faucets & Valves
- Whirlpool Tub Motor & Components
ShieldGold covers all of the above with additional coverage for:
- Refrigerators
- Ranges / Cooktops
- Ovens
- Dishwashers
- Built-in Microwaves
- Garbage Disposals
- Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispensers
- Washers & Dryers
ShieldPlatinum offers all of the coverage of the previous plans with additional coverage for:
- Roof Leak Repairs
- FREE HVAC Tune-up
- Unlimited A/C refrigerant
- Coverage for Code Violations, permits, and modifications
Coverage Add-Ons
In addition to its range of standard plans, American Home Shield also offers a few coverage add-ons for an additional fee. These include:
- Roof Leak Repairs
- Electronics Protection Plan
- Pool or Spa
- Guest Units
- Septic Pump
- Well Pump
These add-ons are available for any plan level.
Fine Print
As with any home warranty service, there are some things that American Home Shield doesn’t cover. These include:
- Routine maintenance (without an add-on)
- Misuse, abuse, or mistreatment
- Malfunctions covered by a manufacturer, distributor, builder or an extended warranty
- Flues, venting, chimneys and exhaust lines
- Free-standing freezers, wine chillers and multi-media centers
- Accidents, fire, freezing (except roof leaks), water damage, electrical failure or surge, or excessive or inadequate water pressure
- Cosmetic defects
What is the American Home Shield cancellation policy?
If you decide that you no longer want your American Home Shield coverage, you can cancel at any time. However, there may be some costs associated with canceling depending on where in your contract you are and any services already provided in that contract year.
How much does American Home Shield cost?
Prices for American Home Shield plans start at $36 per month . However, the exact price will depend on the plan you choose, any add-ons you’d like, your preferred service call fee, and the state you live in. You can get a free quote in seconds on the American Home Shield website.
What is the American Home Shield service call fee?
The service call fee is the fee that you pay to have a contractor come to your home to repair an item that is covered under your home warranty plan. The service call fee is typically $75 to $125 depending on the plan you choose and your monthly payment. A higher monthly payment will result in a lower service call fee and vice versa.
American Home Shield’s Reputation
American Home Shield has been in business for more than 50 years and is accredited by the National Home Service Contract Association. They also have more than two million members and a nationwide network of more than 17,000 experienced contractor firms. Online, they have earned earned 4.2 stars and over 11,000 reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com. In the last five years, they have also paid out more than $2 billion in claims.
How does American Home Shield compare to other home warranty services?
Now that we’ve gone over all the details of American Home Shield, let’s compare it to some other popular home warranty services:
American Home Shield vs Choice Home Warranty
First, we’ll look at Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty offers coverage of systems and appliances similar to American Home Shield. However, the Choice Home Warranty basic plan does not cover air conditioning, while American Home Shield’s comparable plan ShieldSilver, does.
Choice Home Warranty has a flat service call fee of $85 which is different than American Home Shield, which has service call fee tiers (that also affect your monthly payment) that range from $75 to $125. Monthly payments for each company are within a few dollars of each other but vary based on where you live.
While both companies cover normal wear and tear, the Choice Home Warranty sample contract excludes coverage of “known or unknown” pre-existing conditions while American Home Shield will cover “undetectable pre-existing conditions”. Choice Home Warranty also excludes coverage for malfunctions due to “neglect” while American Home Shield stipulates they will cover “breakdowns caused by lack of maintenance.”
American Home Shield vs Select Home Warranty
Next, we’ll compare American Home Shield to Select Home Warranty. Select Home Warranty has a similar pricing structure to American Home Shield, but its coverage is not as comprehensive. For example, Select Home Warranty’s basic plan does not cover plumbing stoppages or garage door openers while American Home Shield will cover those items in their most accessible ShieldSilver plan.
Select Home Warranty has service call fees ranging from $75 to $100, depending on the length of your contract. On the high end, that’s lower than American Home Shield, but on the low end, they are about the same. Monthly payments may be slightly lower for Select Home Warranty than for American Home Shield depending on where you live and, under certain promotions, Select Home Warranty may also offer free roof leak coverage.
As far as exclusions, Select Home Warranty excludes coverage for “failure to properly maintain, failure to properly clean” and “neglect” and also excludes repairs associated with “corrosion, rust, sediment.” American Home Shield will cover malfunctions that result from any of those conditions. Choice Home Warranty also does not cover pre-existing conditions while American Home Shield does cover undetected pre-existing conditions.
The Verdict
So, which home warranty service is the best? It depends on what you want to have covered, where you live, and how much you want to pay per month versus how much you want to pay per service call. However, we think American Home Shield is a great option for most homeowners. They have multiple plan options, reasonable prices and a good reputation. Plus, their payment structure gives you some flexibility. Also, their wide availability and willingness to cover equipment malfunctions that some other companies won’t, may make them the strongest option for some.
If you’re looking for a home warranty service, we recommend getting a free quote from American Home Shield to see if they’re a good fit for you.
FAQ
What is American Home Shield?
American Home Shield is a company that has been selling home warranty coverage since 1971. A home warranty is an insurance policy that covers repairs or replacement of many of the major systems in your home, including your heating and cooling system, plumbing and electrical. Coverage can also include appliances such as your refrigerator, washer and dryer.
Is American Home Shield worth it?
For most homeowners, American Home Shield is worth it. They are a reliable company with years of experience in the home warranty industry. They offer a variety of plans to choose from, so you can find one that best suits your needs even if you’re a little behind on maintenance. And with 24/7 customer service, you can reach them any time of day if something goes wrong with your home systems or appliances.
Is American Home Shield a ripoff?
No, American Home Shield is not a ripoff. It offers protection against expensive unexpected home repairs. They cover some malfunctions that other companies won’t and offer the ability to budget for a monthly payment and limit your out-of-pocket expenses when a breakdown occurs. It may seem like an added expense when you don’t need it, but when you do, it can save you money.
What does American Home Shield cover?
American Home Shield is one of the largest home warranty companies in the United States. The household systems and appliances covered will vary depending on the level of plan you purchase, but typically includes items such as plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical wiring, with the ShieldSilver Plan while the ShieldGold and ShieldPlatium plan add kitchen and laundry equipment.
Does American Home Shield cover roofs?
Yes, under their ShieldPlatinum Plan or as an add-on to any plan, American Home Shield does cover roofs. The company offers coverage for roof leak repairs up to $1,500 a year. Keep in mind that there are some exclusions to the type of roof they cover and they do not cover attachments like gutters or downspouts, so be sure to read through American Home Shield’s contract thoroughly before purchasing this add-on.
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