American Home Shield

• Time in Business
• Discount Programs
• Three Flexible Plans
• Electronics Plan
• Multiple Fee Options
• Upfront Contract Information
• No Home Inspection
• Discounted Air Filters
• Sample Service Contract
• American Home Shield Reviews

Time in Business

American Home Shield has more than 45 years of experience and became the industry founder when it created home warranties back in 1971. American Home Shield now has more than 1.7 million customers and is one of the largest warranty companies in the industry. Being in business for so long is a good indicator that American Home Shield is equipped to give its customers what they want in a home warranty company.

Discount Programs

In addition to its decades of home warranty experience, American Home Shield offers its customers many money-saving incentives, including its Appliance Discount Program. With this discount program, customers save money over MSRP and have Energy Star certified options. Customers can also benefit from American Home Shield's "Refer a Friend" program, which rewards customers with a $25 Amazon gift card for each friend referred. In addition, the company offers discounts on air filters.

Three Flexible Plans

American Home Shield offers a home systems plan, appliances plan, and a combo plan — these plans are known as the following: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. A detailed of what each plan covers is as follows:

ShieldSilver™ Plan
Covers 14 major home systems:

• Air conditioner
• Heating units
• Ductwork
• Exhaust, vent, and attic fans
• Breaker and fuse panel box
• Doorbell and chimes
• Interior electrical system
• Ceiling fans
• Garage door openers
• Interior plumbing system
• Toilets
• Faucets and valves
• Whirlpool tub motor and components
• Water heaters

ShieldGold™ Plan
Covers all the systems included in the ShieldSilver™ Plan, as well as the following appliances:

• Refrigerators
• Ranges/cooktops
• Ovens
• Dishwashers
• Built-in microwaves
• Garbage disposal
• Instant hot/cold water dispensers
• WashersDryers

ShieldPlatinum™ Plan
Covers all systems included in the ShieldSilver™ and ShieldGold™ plans, as well as the following roof leak coverage:

• Shingles, tiles, and shakes
• Flat, non-metal roofing
• Flashing
• Underlayment

These plans will cover the majority of homeowner needs, but American Home Shield offers add-on coverage for household electronics, as well as pools and spas.

Electronics Plan

A unique coverage option provided by American Home Shield, offered by Allstate Protection Plans, is its electronics coverage plan, protecting any electronics in your home. Any new products that your purchase will be automatically covered, if eligible. Some eligible products include the following:

• TVs
• Home theater systems
• Desktop/laptops
• Tablets
• Printers
• Smart Home products
• Headphones
• Video game consoles (including controllers)

Electronics will be covered for mechanical and electrical failures due to normal wear and tear, as well as unprecedented events, such as a power surge.

Real Estate Plans

American Home Shield provides flexible coverage options for home buyers and sellers, allowing you to shop or sell confidently. The company provides the following plans:

ShieldEssential℠
Covers major home systems:

• Heating and cooling
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Rekey service

ShieldPlus℠
Covers all systems included in the ShieldEssential℠, as well as the following major appliances:

• Kitchen appliances
• Laundry appliances

ShieldComplete℠
Covers all systems included in the ShieldEssential℠ and ShieldPlus℠ plans, as well as some added services:

• Roof leak repair
• One free rekey with no service fee
• Unlimited refrigerant
• Coverage for code violations, permits, and modifications

Each plan is backed by a 30-day workmanship guarantee and each includes special member offers. Real estate agents have the added benefit of the American Home Shield Partner Portal to easily track and manage client home warranty plans.

Multiple Fee Options

With American Home Shield, customers pay a trade service call fee for a professional to help them with their problem, then fix the system or appliance or replace it. The three options for this service fee are $75, $100, and $125, which gives customers flexibility in how much they pay each month for their plan coverage. The higher the trade service call fee, the lower the amount the customer will pay each month.

Upfront Contract Information

American Home Shield offers a sample contract on its website, making it easy for customers to get an idea of what the company offers. American Home Shield also states upfront that the company does not require a home inspection in order to purchase a warranty plan and will not limit coverage based on the age of any of your home systems or appliances, making it easier for customers to get warranty coverage.

This upfront contract information helps the customer decide early on if American Home Shield is a home warranty company that will work for their needs.

No Home Inspection

Unlike some home warranty providers, American Home Shield does not require a home inspection or maintenance records before using its services. The company also does not decline coverage based on the age of your systems and appliances. This is convenient for customers who want a simple home warranty process and don't want to worry about a home inspection process to discover what systems and appliances are covered and what ones aren't.

Discounted Air Filters

As part of your AHS customer perks, you can get up to 50 percent off retail prices on air conditioning and furnace filters. American Home Shield will also deliver the filters directly to your home. However, it is unclear whether or not you have to pay extra for delivery, so check with the company to be sure.

Sample Service Contract

American Home Shield has a sample contract available online. According to our research, a majority of 1-star reviews for the home warranty industry involve claim denials that are typically outlined in the contract, such as damage that is beyond the scope of normal wear and tear, damages covered by another warranty such as a manufacturer's warranty, and damages from not following building codes.

American Home Shield ensures that you can see the terms outlined in a sample contract and be aware of the offered coverage.

American Home Shield Reviews

Of the 19,000+ American Home Shield customer reviews on BestCompany.com, 71 percent of reviews are 4 or 5 stars. Satisfied customers frequently highlight the following from their experience with the company:

• Timely responses and repairs
• Extensive coverage for all home systems and appliances under on warranty
• Amiable and knowledgable customer service representatives

• Customer Complaints
• Lack of Monthly Pricing Information

Customer Complaints

Common customer complaints for American Home Shield range from rising warranty prices to bad customer service processes. There have also been complaints regarding the company's network of service technicians handling repairs, with some customers waiting days for a local technician only to have multiple faulty repairs. You can read American Home Shield reviews below to find out what else customers have to say about how they think American Home Shield warranty compares to other service providers. 

Lack of Monthly Pricing Information

American Home Shield does not provide any information about monthly pricing on its website. Interested consumers are encouraged to obtain a quote from the company for more information on pricing.