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American Home Shield Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)
4,124 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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American Home Shield is a Tennessee-based company founded in 1971 to provide coverage on home appliances and systems in the United States through its network of home service professionals.

The company offers service contracts that cover the repair or replacement of major components of home systems and appliances. Customers can also purchase optional coverage for pools and spas, guest houses, home electronic systems, roof leaks, maintenance services, and more.
 
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How is American Home Shield rated?

Breakdown

4.8/5
Transparency
4.8/5
Claims Processing
4.7/5
Coverage Options
4.7/5
Additional Benefits
4.7/5
Customer Experience

Overall Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)

American Home Shield's coverage is among the most comprehensive we've seen in the industry. The company covers considerably more appliances and systems than its competitors and has fewer coverage limitations.

The company recently updated its plans—they now have three to simplify choosing the right one for your home. American Home Shield focuses on the repairs that offer the most value to consumers, removing items that are inexpensive to replace, increasing its coverage limits on appliances in its most expensive plan to reflect today's higher-priced, "gourmet" appliances, and adding roof leak coverage.

Coverage

Key Facts

Plan Types
Systems
Appliances
Combo Plan
Benefit Limit Type
Per Item
Typical Appliance Benefit Limit
$3,000
Typical Systems Benefit Limit
$0

Coverage Options - 4.7 / 5

American Home Shield offers consumers a choice of three plans, following a good-better-best model. Its ShieldSilver plan warrants systems only, but can be amended with certain add-ons, including pools, electronics, and guest houses. Its ShieldGold plan covers a range of systems and appliances, again with add-on options. Its ShieldPlatinum plan covers everything in the ShieldGold plan, plus roof leaks up to $1500 and some routine maintenance services. These include free HVAC tune-ups, unlimited top ups on your AC refrigerant, coverage for code violations including permits.

All told, American Home Shield covers 23 systems and appliances, considerably more than most of their competitors, and fully covers 11 of those items. There is no limit on the number of claims a customer can file over the year’s contract, either.

What does American Home Shield cover?

Covered Built-In Systems

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Water Heater
  • Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispenser
  • Doorbells
  • Ceiling Fans

Covered Appliances

  • Refrigerators
  • Dishwashers
  • Clothes Dryers
  • Clothes Washers
  • Ranges/Ovens/Cooktops
  • Built-in Microwaves
  • Freestanding Ice Makers
  • Built-In Trash Compactors
  • Garage Door Openers
  • Built-in Food Centers

Exclusions

For a full list of American Home Shield exclusions, check out this page.

Specialty Items

  • Guest Unit
  • Pool/Spa
  • Well Pump
  • Septic
  • Roof Leaks

Contract & Price

Contract Details

Annual Premium
Starting at $0
Minimum Contract Length
12 month(s)
Home Inspection Required for Contract?
No
Online Quote/Application

Contract & Price - 5 / 5

American Home Shield has a flexible pricing policy and offers three different coverage plans and two trade service call fee levels: $100 and $125.

This allows consumers to have input into the annual price based on their budgetary needs.

We requested a quote for a single family home under 5,000 square feet located in a medium-sized midwestern city. The minimum annual premium (Shield Silver Plan) was $59.99 per month. The maximum premium (Shield Platinum Plan) was $109.99. So AHS prices are somewhat higher than many competitive plans. Consumers should note that their final price will vary by plan, service call charge selected, and location.

Sample Contract

American Home Shield provides a sample contract for potential customers on its website: American Home Shield Sample Contract

Cancellation Policy

Customers can cancel anytime within their 30 day wait period and receive a full refund, and can cancel anytime during the contract term, as this is a non-binding contract.

Claims & Service

Claims

Service Fee
$100 and $125
Maintenance Records Required for Service?
No
24/7 Claims Department?
Waiting Period
30 days

Contractors & Service

Contractor Selection
In-Network Only
Contractor Network Size
14,000+ contractors
Number of Technicians
45,000 technicians
Service Recall Period
30 days

Claims Processing - 4.8 / 5

Consumers can submit a service request online 24/7/365. American Home Security does not require an inspection prior to purchase.

The company has a large network of service professionals and offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee on their services.

American Home Shield Reputation

Company Details

Year Founded
1971
NHSCA Membership
Number of Customers
1.7 million
Number of Employees
1,700
TrustPilot Rating
2.1 out of 5
BBB Rating
B
BBB Positive Reviews
392
BBB Neutral Reviews
50
BBB Negative Reviews
1,874
Date Collected
2023-07-24

Reputation - 5 / 5

American Home Shield has been in business since 1971, making it the oldest player in the industry. It has over 1.7 million customers.

In 1989, the company was acquired by ServiceMaster, an established firm that also owns Terminix and Merry Maids.

American Home Shield is accredited by the BBB and has a B rating. In this industry, negative customer reviews far outnumber positive ones.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
https://www.ahs.com/
Company Phone
(888) 429-8247
Headquarters Address
150 Peabody Place, Memphis, TN, 38103
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 849, Carroll, IA, 51401
Year Founded
1971

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4124 Customer Comments & Reviews

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lissa.anderson052313
6/21/2022
Always good service and response time to any call that I have to put in. Always worth the money. I’ve used several warranty companies but AHS is the best. Been with them over 4 years and will continue to be a customer.

114cag
6/17/2022
Hear Pump went bad. I called AHS explained what happened and they had a man out here the next day. Service man was great. He explained what needed to be done. AHS ordered the new Heat Pump and it was installed a few days later. All 3 service men were.great. so glad I had AHS.

loiscdw3
6/17/2022
Terrible customer service - have to wait sometimes over 30 minutes to speak to a Customer Rep located in the Philippines. Why can't you use American Labor - you call yourself American Home Shield. Buyer Beware Read the contract - they only pay up to $1500 for an air conditioner or furnace. My contract was close to $1000 a yr. Also when I tried to cancel, I spent over 1 hr on the phone , as they tried to convince me to stay and sent me to multiple departments. You can't cancel on the web site. Also, I asked about if they were accredited with the BBB - one customer rep said yes then hung the phone up when I said I don't think you are. Not trustworthy - and too much money for... Read More

uk.wildcats.ky
6/17/2022
100 degrees and the AC goes out. Submitted my claim and had the repair done in less than two days. Contractors showed up before scheduled time and had the repair completed within an hour. No hassles, no excuses, just solid, timely repair work.

soniafabbri0720
6/16/2022
This is exactly what I expect from a home warranty. No excuses about how long it takes to get a contractor out to do the work and why certain parts of the repair aren't covered. Paid my deductible on submission of the claim, contractor came and looked at the problem and made a diagnosis, submitted it to AHS, equipment was ordered and received by contractor, then repair was made with no additional out of pocket $. . . all in a timely, professional and considerate manner. So thankful . . . The heatwave hit the next day and I don't know if we would have survived without air conditioning.

ej444j
6/15/2022
I was very satisfied with the service and the tech service

carlette131
6/15/2022
Service tech was professional, and efficient. He quickly assessed and completed tasks. I was very please.

folsetonya2
6/15/2022
The service tech was friendly and on time. He got right to it and offered great advice.

sroston88
6/14/2022
I will not continue my business with AHS. I live in Arizona and we are currently experiencing a heat wave. I woke up to my AC not cooling (of all days) and my home thermostat is currently at 96 degrees (and we are definitely feeling it), the current weather is 104 degrees. I immediately went online scheduled an appointment, called the contractors explained my family's needs, and was told that I would have to wait another 2 days for my AC to be serviced and they could not give me a time. Today is Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the appointment is for June 16, 2022, time - unknown. I looked up the temperatures for June 15th & 16th, and it's showing 105 & 111 degrees. I called AHS and explained to... Read More

kaybee1961
6/13/2022
AHS always sends competent contractors and I’ve been very pleased. They’re knowledgeable and always go the extra mile. I had a different home warranty before I sought out AHS, and their contractors were awful. I’m very happy and glad I switched to AHS.

Top Rated
Our Partner
  • Plans & pricing to fit every budget
  • No age limit on systems & appliances
  • No inspection or maintenance records required
  • If a covered item can’t be repaired, they replace it
  • 30-day workmanship guarantee
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