American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the leading home warranty companies. AHS plans cover repairs and replacement with limits of up to $5,000, exceeding the industry standard of $2,000.
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Written by Dana Getz + 2 others
Fact-checked Updated 04/23/2024
Dana Getz is an experienced content manager with more than a decade of publishing experience across various industries. She has spent the last several years covering home services, specializing in home warranty recommendations and helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
Mike Qiu has been in the home business for eight years. He founded Good As Sold Home Buyers in 2015 to buy, renovate, build, and sell homes in the Greater Seattle area. He specializes in taking apart old, neglected homes and putting them back together with care and detail at every stage.
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the leading home warranty companies due to its comprehensive protection and high coverage caps. It’s one of the oldest home warranty companies on the market, holding over 50 years of experience. AHS plans cover repairs and replacement with limits of up to $5,000, far exceeding the industry standard of $2,000. However, AHS plans are somewhat pricey and come with a limited add-on catalog.
Despite these limitations, AHS remains a favorite among U.S. homeowners. When we surveyed 1,000 homeowners about their home warranty provider, AHS was the most popular choice at 37.5%.
Editor’s Note: This review was updated in March 2024 with our latest consumer survey data, competitor comparison details, and added insights from industry experts.
Our Top Pick Best for Comprehensive Coverage Flexible service fees Nationwide availability 50+ years of experience Labor Day Sale: 50% OFF Select Plans Best Overall Best Overall 35+ unique add-ons Workmanship guarantee No contract commitment $200 Off + 2 Months free + Free Roof Leak Coverage Best Value Best Value
American Home Shield is our top pick for comprehensive coverage
LIMITED TIME OFFER: $150 OFF All Home Warranty Plans Pros and Cons Fast Facts Plans and Coverage Pros and ConsThe company is known for its comprehensive plans and generous coverage caps. AHS offers up to $4,000 for appliances and $5,000 for systems, exceeding most home warranty providers. It’s also one of the few home warranty companies to cover items with physical damage or preexisting conditions. However, AHS is priced higher than many home warranty providers and offers little coverage customization with only six add-ons.
In American Home Shield reviews, policyholders appreciate the ease of submitting claims, the company’s timely responses, and knowledgeable technicians. However, negative experiences included denied claims for covered items and lower-than-expected claim payouts.
AHS offers rare coverage for rust, corrosion, and sediment damage along with flexible service call fee options and generous coverage limits. However, its comprehensive coverage plans are pricey and the company offers fewer coverage add-ons than its competitors.
Here are the pros and cons of American Home Shield:
Includes rare coverage for rust, corrosion, and sediment damage
Offers two flexible service call fees for pricing customization
Provides generous coverage limits that exceed many competitors
Charges more than other companies for comprehensive coverage
Doesn’t offer an appliance-only coverage plan
Only offers six additional coverage options
We rated AHS using our detailed review standards based on the criteria that homeowners find most important. Its final rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars was set by points earned in each category. Below is a breakdown of AHS’s performance across each category:
We review each company’s standard plan protections for essential home systems and appliances and supplemental coverage for unique items and services. We also verify standard plan coverage caps and award more points for providers that meet or exceed the $2,000 industry standard.
We award more points to providers offering affordable premiums and service fees. We also consider cost flexibility, which includes offering options for multiple service fees, annual upfront premiums, and discounts for multiple-year plans.
Trustworthiness and transparencyWe score providers based in this category on several factors, such as policy change flexibility, workmanship guarantee length, and company reputation across customer review sites. We also check if sample contracts are available and clearly outline plan terms and conditions.
Availability and serviceCompanies offering multiple claim submission options and processing timelines of 24 hours or less score well in this category. We also award additional points for flexible servicing policies, such as emergency services and the ability to choose your service technician.
We consulted the following home warranty experts to learn more about the home warranty industry, the typical shopping experience, and common consumer pain points.
Arthur Chartrand: Chartrand served as legal counsel and former executive director for the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA).
Seamus Nally: Nally is the CEO of TurboTenant.
American Home Shield offers three home warranty plans in every state other than Alaska and Hawaii. It also doesn’t offer service in New York City. The company offers the ShieldSilver systems-only plan along with two comprehensive options in ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum.
Our team analyzed American Home Shield sample contracts to get full details on available coverage. We learned that the company offers generous coverage limits for both systems and appliances. AHS also covers items with rust, corrosion, sediment damage, and preexisting conditions. All plans include a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which is pretty standard.
Air conditioning, heating, and plumbing systems receive a $5,000 coverage cap, higher than from most providers. In addition, ductwork receives coverage up to $15,000. AHS pairs major appliances with a $2,000 limit, matching industry-standard coverage levels.
AHS’s most comprehensive plan, ShieldPlatinum, doubles the appliance coverage limit to $4,000 per covered item. This option also includes perks such as up to $250 of coverage for code violations and permits, one free HVAC tuneup, and up to $1,000 in roof-leak protection.
Here’s an overview of the three AHS plans:
This plan offers system-only coverage including air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. You can find information on the monthly cost, service fee, and coverage cap for the ShieldSilver plan below:
This plan includes everything in ShieldSilver and adds appliances such as cooktops, kitchen appliances, laundry machines, and refrigerators. You can find information on the monthly cost, service fee, and coverage cap for the ShieldGold plan below:
This plan covers everything in ShieldGold and adds code violations, permits, modification coverage, free HVAC tuneups, roof-leak repairs, and unlimited AC refrigerant. You can find information on the monthly cost, service fee, and coverage cap for the ShieldPlatinum plan below:
Here’s the list of items covered by each American Home Shield plan.
| Coverage | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in exhaust/vent/attic fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in microwave ovens | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes dryers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes washers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwashers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doorbells and chimes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Faucets and valves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage-door openers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposals | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heating units | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instant hot/cold water dispensers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ranges/cooktops | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerators | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roof-leak repairs | – | – | ✓ |
| Ovens | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heaters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
AHS only has six additional items that can be included with plans, far less than from most providers. Pricing varied from $5 to $18 per item in our quote, which aligns with competitors.
During secret shopping, we created a sample quote with add-ons in less than two minutes. Your monthly premium with AHS adjusts automatically based on coverage selections.
We’ve listed the available AHS add-ons below:
American Home Shield, like all home warranty companies, has coverage exclusions that could lead to denied claims. It’s worth noting that AHS doesn’t cover standard maintenance services such as air filter changes for your air conditioner. Additionally, AHS won’t cover construction costs, manufacturing defects, or mold and mildew removal. Other exclusions include items used for commercial use, breakdowns caused by misuse, vandalism, or a natural disaster, and cosmetic issues not due to normal wear and tear.
Upon reviewing the sample contract, we were impressed with how AHS clearly outlined its exclusions. Each covered system or appliance has distinct columns detailing “what is covered” and “what is not covered.” AHS also includes a frequently asked questions section covering its policies as well as pertinent definitions.
Note that service contract terms vary from state to state. The company provides contracts specific to each state, so it’s important to review the correct one for your location. Contact American Home Shield for more information on state-specific clauses.
American Home Shield costs between $29.99 and $89.99 per month, based on our sample quote for a home in Mesa, Arizona. Pricing also varies based on your selected service call fee. ShieldSilver, the cheapest plan, ranges from $29.99 to $39.99. The other plans are costlier, with ShieldGold priced from $49.99 to $59.99 and ShieldPlatinum from $79.99 to $89.99.
AHS’s home warranty costs are higher than the industry average. Plan pricing depends on where you live, the type of plan you choose, and how many add-ons are included in your coverage. For example, a plan may cost more if you live in a state with regular severe weather or if your home is larger than 5,000 square feet.
American Home Shield only offers monthly premiums. One of our team members owns an AHS plan and confirmed that the company automatically withdraws monthly premiums from the credit card on file. You can make payments via PayPal, a credit card, or your bank account.
We’ve outlined AHS pricing and coverage caps below:
Once you’ve selected items, you’re taken to the next screen that lets you describe the problem. The “Symptom” drop-down box offers several common issues to choose from. It also provides an “Other” option if you can’t find an applicable problem. This screen also displays your agreed-upon service fee.
Next, you’ll receive details about your claim’s service professional. AHS mentions when to expect a phone call and provides information about the business. You can choose your own technician if AHS can’t find one within its broad network of licensed service providers. Obtain approval from AHS before your technician begins work and keep itemized receipts of the repair or replacement.
After our team member submitted his claim, AHS sent a confirmation email and text stating that it had been received. Within an hour, our team member got a call from a local service provider and scheduled a next-day appointment. Our team member recalled that the service contractor arrived before the appointment time and repaired the issue in two hours.
We recommend reviewing your service agreement to understand specific terms and conditions. According to Chartrand, AHS exists to fix issues that arise within a commercially reasonable time frame. Because of this, expect longer wait times for large breakdowns like HVAC failures.
To better understand the AHS customer experience, we analyzed dozens of third-party reviews from sources such as the BBB, Reddit, Trustpilot, and BestCompany. Many customers were pleased with quick fixes and easy claims processes, while others had issues with denied claims and negative experiences with on-site technicians.
Here’s a breakdown of our review findings:
American Home Shield is accredited and holds a B rating on the BBB, which is typical for most home warranty providers. AHS’s customer review scores are mixed across third-party sites, with 2.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot but 4.0 out of 5 stars on BestCompany.
Despite inconsistent scoring, we found that AHS takes customer service seriously. During our secret-shopping process, we experienced wait times of under three minutes each time we called. Every representative we spoke with answered our questions fully without pressuring us to sign up.
Below is a sample of both positive and negative reviews for AHS:
