ABOUT AMERICAN HOME SHIELD
American Home Shield is a home warranty provider that offers service plans throughout the contiguous United States. It has three home warranty plan options, which range in price from $29.99 to $89.99 per month with either a $100 or $125 service fee. Its plans cover items like rust, insufficient maintenance and faulty repairs, which are often excluded from this type of coverage. All plans require a contract.
Our Top 6 Best Home Warranty Companies:
Select Home Warranty -For excellent coverage at the lowest price
Monthly premium cost: $57 to $63
Service call fee: Starts at $75
Labor guarantee: Contact for info
Available plans: 47 states
First Premier Home Warranty
Monthly premium cost :Starts at $39.99
Service call fee
: $75
Labor guarantee 90 days
Available plans: 44 states
American Home Shield
Monthly premium cost :$29.99 to $89.99
Service call fee
: $100 or $125
Labor guarantee 30 days
Available plans: 48 states (not Alaska, Hawaii or New York City)
Choice Home Warranty -Award-winning provider
Monthly premium cost: $46.83 to $54.75
Service call fee: $85
Labor guarantee: 30 days
Available plans: 49 states (not Washington)
Monthly premium cost : $49.99 to $69.99
Service call fee
: $65 to $125
Labor guarantee: 60-day workmanship warranty
Available plans: 50 states
HomeServe
Monthly premium cost :$7.99 to $58.33
Service call fee
: $100
Labor guarantee One year
Available plans: 50 states
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American Home Shield coverage and plans
American Home Shield sells three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. Each plan offers two different trade service call fees, either $100 or $125, that dictate the total cost per month. Compared with fees from other companies, these service fees are a bit high, but the monthly costs are more affordable — so the costs may even out.
ShieldSilver ShieldGold ShieldPlatinum
Air conditioners
Heating units
Ductwork
Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans
Main breaker and fuse panel box
Doorbells and chimes
Interior electrical lines
Ceiling fans
Garage door openers
Water heaters
Interior plumbing lines
Toilets
Faucets and valves
Whirlpool tub motor and components
Refrigerators
Ranges/cooktops
Ovens
Dishwashers
Built-in microwaves
Garbage disposals
Instant hot/cold water dispensers
Washers
Dryers
Roof leak repair Add-on Add-on $1,500 per year
Pool or spa Add-on Add-on Add-on
Guest unit Add-on Add-on Add-on
Septic pump Add-on Add-on Add-on
Well pump Add-on Add-on Add-on
Re-key $100 $100 $100
Discounted heat or AC tuneup $75 $75 One included
Air filter discounts Starting at $5.25 each Starting at $5.25 each Starting at $5.25 each
American Home Shield cost
American Home Shield lets you choose your service fee. By choosing the higher service fee ($125), you can save $10 per month.
ShieldSilver ShieldGold ShieldPlatinum
$100 service fee $39.99 per month $59.99 per month $89.99 per month
$125 service fee $29.99 per month $49.99 per month $79.99 per month
Discounts
American Home Shield offers discounts for AARP members and a $50 discount for protecting multiple residences. Current members can also earn a $25 Amazon gift card when they refer a friend. There are a few other discounts available for AHS customers, like on appliances and air filters, which you can access through your account.
American Home Shield coverage exclusions
American Home Shield’s exclusions list is pretty standard for the industry. The company does not cover:
Routine maintenance
Flues, venting, chimneys or exhaust lines
Repair or remediation of cosmetic defects
Electronic, computerized or home management systems
Radon monitoring systems, fire sprinkler systems or solar energy systems and components
Repair, replacement, installation or modification of recalled or defective items
Remediation of or damage caused by hazardous materials
Costs of construction, carpentry or other modifications necessary to remove, relocate or install equipment
Restoration of any wall or floor coverings, cabinets, countertops, tiling or paint
Damage caused by “acts of God”
American Home Shield claims and coverage limits
American Home Shield makes it easy to submit a claim:
Log in to your account or go to the service request page and enter your contract details at any time.
Select the covered items that need service and submit.
Pay your trade service call fee and make sure your contact info is up to date.
Get confirmation, which will typically include your assigned contractor’s information.
AHS will initiate services under normal circumstances by contacting a technician from its nationwide network of thousands of local, qualified contractors within 48 hours of your service request.
Coverage limits
The company doesn’t cap coverage for heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical items — so for any system service request, American Home Shield will not deny coverage based on the total service cost. For appliances, the coverage limit varies based on the plan.
You can also add coverage, like pool and spa or sump pump protection, for as low as $4.99 per month.
ShieldSilver: American Home Shield’s base plan, ShieldSilver, is the most affordable option available. It’s a systems plan that covers plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling systems. It does not cover any appliances or roof leaks.
ShieldGold: ShieldGold covers both systems and appliances, but it doesn’t cover roof leaks. Appliance coverage is capped at $2,000 per appliance, which is a decently high limit compared with industry averages.
ShieldPlatinum: ShieldPlatinum covers everything in ShieldGold, plus roof leaks up to $1,500 per year. This plan caps appliance coverage at $4,000, which may cover the cost of some higher-end appliances. It also covers code violations, permits and modifications up to $1,000 per year, plus an unlimited amount of air conditioner refrigerant.
American Home Shield FAQ
