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American Home Shield

CompareHomeWarrantyQuotes.com is pleased to offer our readers a profile of one of the home warranty industry's longest lived name brands.

Our American Home Shield review is editorial and may at times contain pricing or coverage details which are outdated or incorrect. If you spot an error, please take a moment to email us and let us know about our mistake.

If you need to request service, please call American Home Shield's toll free line at (888) 682-1043.

About American Home Shield (AHS)

American Home Shield, also called AHS, founded the home warranty industry in 1971 and now services more than 2 million customers in 48 states.

American Home Shield operates five customer service centers, employs approximately 1,700 employees and has a national contractor network made up of over 13,000 independent home service contractors who employ more than 45,000 service technicians.

Why Choose a Home Warranty Plan from American Home Shield?

  • American Home Shield is among the most established and largest home warranty companies in the United States, and provides a one-year service agreement that protects customers from expensive repairs or replacements to many major home systems and appliances that over time breakdown through normal wear and tear.
  • A home warranty with American Home Shield means access to over 50 years of expertise. Below are some key features of an American Home Shield warranty.
  • American Home Shield plans begin with monthly fees as low as $39.99.
  • Home Shield has a vast network of over 13,000 reputable home repair professionals.
  • Consider the ability to submit service requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
  • American Home Shield offers discount prices on brand-name appliances for the kitchen, bathroom and more!

American Home Shield Plans

American Home Shield offers various plans that cater to different homeowner needs. The plans available are:

1.  ShieldSilver Plan:

This plan includes everything covered by the Appliances Plan and Systems Plan, plus coverage for additional items like ceiling fans, garage door openers, and plumbing stoppages.

2.   ShieldGold Plan:

This plan provides coverage for items like air conditioning refrigerant, plumbing faucets, and shower heads, in addition to the coverage provided by the ShieldSilver Plan.

3.   ShieldPlatinum Plan:

The highest level of coverage offered by American Home Shield, this plan includes everything covered by the ShieldSilver and ShieldGold Plans, as well as coverage for items like garage door motors, instant hot water dispensers, and even items like the roof, chimney, and septic system.

One of the key benefits of this plan is its flexibility. Homeowners can customize the coverage to meet their specific needs. For example, they can choose to add coverage for a swimming pool or spa, or add coverage for additional appliances such as a second refrigerator or freezer. This allows homeowners to tailor their coverage to fit their specific circumstances and protect against the most common issues they may encounter.

In addition to their range of coverage options, AHS also offers additional benefits such as a service recall period, where if the same issue happens within a certain amount of time after the repair, it will be covered, and 24/7 customer service and online claim system. The cost of each plan varies depending on the level of coverage and location of the homeowner.

What Does American Home Shield Cover?

American Home Shield offers a wide range of coverage options for homeowners looking to protect their budget from unexpected repairs.

American Home Shield offers coverage for six primary areas:

Appliances:

American Home Shield covers a comprehensive range of appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, dishwashers, built-in microwaves, trash compactors, clothes washers, and dryers. Homeowners can enjoy peace of mind knowing that if any of these appliances malfunction due to normal wear and tear, AHS will arrange for a qualified technician to come and repair or replace them.

Heating and Cooling Systems:

American Home Shield covers a wide range of heating and cooling systems, including air conditioning units, furnaces, and heat pumps. If the HVAC system stops functioning correctly, AHS will send a licensed technician to diagnose and fix the issue.

Plumbing and Electrical Systems:

American Home Shield provides coverage for plumbing and electrical systems, including pipes, wiring, and outlets. If homeowners experience a leaky pipe or an electrical issue, AHS will dispatch a qualified technician to assess and fix the problem.

Water Heaters:

American Home Shield also covers water heaters, including tankless and traditional models. If the water heater breaks down, AHS will send a technician to repair or replace the unit.

Garage Door Openers:

American Home Shield provides coverage for garage door openers, including the motor, track, and door itself. If the garage door opener fails to function properly, AHS will arrange for a technician to diagnose and repair the issue.

Pool and Spa Equipment:

For homeowners with a pool or spa, American Home Shield provides coverage for the pump, motor, and filter. If any of these items break down, AHS will arrange for a qualified technician to repair or replace them.

Roof leak coverage

American Home Shield recognizes the monumental expense homeowners face when homeowners insurance does not cover roof leak repairs. If roof leaks occur due to normal wear and tear then typically homeowners insurance will not cover the roof leak repairs needed. In that instance American Home Shield stands apart from other home warranty companies which do not offer such coverage in their home warranties.

Laundry appliances

If your current home warranty company does not cover your laundry appliances, AHS might be worth shortlisting the next time you decide on the right home warranty company. Technicians qualified to repair most high efficiency washer and dryer machines can charge over $400 for some repairs.

These appliances have the potential to stay in good working order for over 10 years if well maintained, so it is cost effective to fix and maintain them, instead of making frequent replacements. American Home Shield covers laundry appliances, and considering their service fee and covered repairs, this particular area of their home warranties has the potential to be a boost to a homeowner's bottom line annual and monthly cost of owning a home.

Interior electrical lines:

Though homeowners rarely see them, interior electrical lines are a core part of a house and occasionally need maintenance, upgrades, or replacement. Home systems, the fuse panel box, major appliances, heating units, the built in microwave, and built in exhaust hoods are all examples of locations where a malfunction may sometimes be caused by faults in wiring. American Home Shield offers their ShieldSilver plan with included coverage for wiring repair and replacement costs.

Interior plumbing lines:

One of the most invisible and most important parts of any home is the system of interior plumbing lines and plumbing systems within the walls, between floors, in attics, inside foundations, and in other areas in and outside the house.

The plumbing systems in a home work day after day, mostly unnoticed, and it's that kind of invisibility that oftentimes leads to neglect. Pipes can build up all sorts of things that slow down the normal functioning of the plumbing.

Homeowners with aging homes that are well maintained should consider coverage for plumbing as a part of a home warranty purchase, and American Home Shield is among the companies that can be considered for that kind of coverage.

Major systems:

American Home Shield's major systems coverage will not impose such low coverage limits per covered item as some home warranty companies will. In particular, their ShieldGold plan allows up to $3,000 for each item in the covered major systems list. Customers who wish to elect for even more per-item coverage can look at American Home Shield's ShieldPlatinum plan, which increases coverage cap and the per-item coverage limit to $6,000.

Attic fans:

Though not present in all homes today, attic fans are, for some houses, a core part of the heating and cooling systems. These fans can have very long service lives, if well maintained. The real value of a home warranty that covers such fans and their related parts is to avoid replacement costs and keep the unit running for as many years as possible.

Heating and cooling systems:

In warmer and in colder climates, effective heating and cooling are not just a convenience for homeowners, but are instead a vital part of a safe, clean, healthy living space.

Though heating and cooling units are found everywhere in modern homes in the United States, there are areas of the country where an air conditioning or heating failure can actually pose a threat to the survival of those inside the house.

American Home Shield offers coverage for these systems, as do most other home warranty providers and companies. There are matters to consider with regard to this type of coverage, including the coverage cap, requirements for maintenance records, options to use the homeowner's own contractor, instances of improper installation, the trade service call fee, and the speed with which American Home Shield might be able to fulfill a service request under extreme conditions, when dozens or even hundreds of homeowners in a single zip code might be requesting the same type of service.

Because heating units and cooling systems can be matters of life or death, it is very important for homeowners to be realistic about expectations for speed of service in the midst of very cold winter weather conditions or very hot summer weather conditions.

The most important aspect of HVAC and other heating and cooling service requests to consider ahead of time is how many trained, licensed professional technicians are present in the immediate area and how many of them will service a home warranty customer of American Home Shield.

Garage door openers:

American Home Shield provides coverage for garage door openers as part of its home warranty services. The coverage includes repair or replacement of the entire unit and its parts, excluding the garage door itself. This coverage is designed to provide peace of mind for homeowners who rely on these devices for convenient and safe access to their homes.

American Home Shield’s coverage for garage door openers is comprehensive and includes repair or replacement of parts such as the motor, circuit board, gear assembly, remote control, and safety sensors. Homeowners can take advantage of this coverage in the event of a malfunction or failure, without the need to pay out of pocket. The coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the home warranty contract, which specifies the limitations and exclusions of the coverage.

American Home Shield's Contractor Network

In addition to providing comprehensive coverage options for homeowners, American Home Shield (AHS) has also established a network of qualified contractors across the United States. When a homeowner files a claim with AHS, they will dispatch a contractor from their network to diagnose and repair the issue.

AHS has a rigorous screening process for contractors in their network. They perform background checks, review licenses and insurance coverage, and conduct ongoing evaluations to ensure that contractors maintain high standards of service. This ensures that homeowners receive high-quality service from reputable contractors.

When a contractor is dispatched to a homeowner's residence, they will diagnose the issue and provide a recommended course of action. If a repair is necessary, they will either repair the item or, if necessary, replace it. AHS also ensures that the contractor follows proper safety protocols to ensure that the homeowner and their property are protected.

If a homeowner is not satisfied with the work performed by the contractor, they can contact AHS's customer service team to discuss the issue. AHS will then work with the contractor to resolve the issue and ensure that the homeowner is satisfied with the result.

AHS's contractor network is a valuable asset for homeowners who do not have a trusted contractor or service provider in their area. The network ensures that homeowners receive high-quality service from qualified contractors, regardless of their location.

American Home Shield's contractor network is a critical component of their service offering. The network ensures that homeowners receive high-quality service from qualified contractors, which gives them peace of mind knowing that their home repairs are in good hands

Free HVAC tune-up

American Home Shield offers a free HVAC tune-up service as part of its home warranty services. The free tune-up service is designed to help homeowners keep their heating and cooling systems running efficiently and effectively. Regular maintenance is important to ensure that HVAC systems are working at peak performance, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns and improving energy efficiency.

This free service provided by American Home Shield is performed by a qualified and experienced technician. The technician will inspect the HVAC system and perform a thorough cleaning, checking for any potential issues that may impact performance. The technician will also check and adjust the system's settings to ensure that it is running at optimal efficiency. This tune-up service helps to extend the life of the HVAC system, reduces the likelihood of breakdowns, and can help lower energy bills by improving efficiency.

Appliance Discount Program

American Home Shield customers enjoy access to discounts on best brand name appliances. Check out the list of features below!

American Home Shield offers savings compared to manufacturers' suggested retail prices.

For homeowners focused on energy efficiency, AHS features Energy Star certified options.

American Home Shield warranty customers will have access to the newest appliances with the latest technology.

Customers of AHS can expect discounts that offset the cost of an American Home Shield Home Warranty Plan.

There is no limit to how many or how often customers of American Home Shield may buy appliances.

Better Business Bureau

Before the internet, consumers in the United States looked to Better Business Bureau for guidance when approaching major purchases, home warranties being no exception.

Even with all of the other options consumers have today, when seeking reviews and ratings for companies, the organization remains a trusted source of both professional and customer information about thousands of businesses, including home warranty companies.

American Home Shield can be found on Better Business Bureau's websites, including customer testimonials.

Industry Awards & Recognition

Compare American Home Shield

Learn more about home service contracts by comparing home warranty providers and service contract companies. This comparison article explores how American Home Shield compares to:

  • Old Republic Home Warranty
  • American Residential Warranty

How to cancel an American Home Shield warranty

Cancelling an American Home Shield home warranty can be done in a few simple steps. The first step is to contact American Home Shield's customer service department, which can be reached by phone or email. The customer service representative will need the homeowner's name and the policy number to initiate the cancellation process. It is important to have all relevant information on hand when making the cancellation request.

Once the customer service representative has all the necessary information, they will provide the homeowner with the necessary steps to cancel the policy. This may include filling out a cancellation form and returning it to American Home Shield. If there are any fees associated with cancelling the policy, the customer service representative will also provide information on these fees. It is important to note that the cancellation process and fees may vary depending on the terms of the policy and the cancellation date. Homeowners should carefully review their policy and the cancellation process before making a final decision to cancel their American Home Shield and home warranty coverage.

American Home Shield's Site

We hope that our American Home Shield review helped you today, but we encourage you to read more about American Home Shield and their coverage options, as well as their American Home Shield FAQ on their website, https://www.ahs.com.

AHS Customer Service:

If you need customer service from American Home Shield, please dial their toll free number listed below.

(888) 682-1043

AHS Mailing Address:

889 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38120