We may receive a fee if you click on the links below. Compensation does not influence rankings. Not all brands are featured. Learn more

American Home Shield Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)
4,138 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
Our content is free because we may earn a commission when you click or make a purchase using our site. Learn more.
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.

How Do We Rate American Home Shield?

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

Our 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
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

Leave a comment for American Home Shield
Minimum 12 words.
 No maximum length.
* What's Your Rating?
To make this comment as helpful as possible for our community, please provide at least 2 sentences.

4138 Customer Comments & Reviews

Loading Reviews ...
dlh2017
8/15/2019
Cash in Lieu. My water heater went out in April 2019, as it was covered by my AHS warranty I filed a claim. But because my water heater was a discontinued model AHS offered to reimburse me (cash in lieu) for the water heater and I would be responsible for getting another water heater and getting it installed. I did that in May 2019. They required that I send them the receipt which I also did in May 2019. As of today I have yet to see this "reimbursement". They claimed to have sent a check out in June...never saw it! They did an investigation and sent another check in July...still haven't seen it! Now they're saying that it may take up to 21 business days and then if I haven't received it... Read More


R
RAchelrajput
8/15/2019
This company definitely has FAKE REVIEWS!!! BE WARNED!! I bought a home a year ago and EVERY time I call home shield they say "oh we don't cover that part on that item!" They are a big SCAM! I'm reporting to the Better Business Bureau as well. It costs $75.00 EVERY time someone comes out, even if its the same plus monthly payments to this company, then they tell you conveniently enough for them, that part is not covered! So basically this company is costing me more money, than if I didn't have a warranty at all!


S
SANDI
8/15/2019
AMERICAN HOME SHIELD CALLED WILCOX PLUMBING AND THEY CAME OUT FOR MY ELDERLY PARENTS. THEY TREATED THEM WITH RESPECT AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AND HOW THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED. WE WILL DEFINITELY CALL ON THEM AGAIN. THANKS TYLER!


G
Greg
8/14/2019
I've owned properties since 1989, many with a home warranty. In the past, I've had AHS, as well as others. If you have 5 minutes, I recommend reading what I have written - it will save you money. I was convinced that I should transfer my warranties (three policies) to AHS, which I did back in March of this year (it's August now). I haven't made one claim, but I had a hot water heater issue and I wanted to know what the insurance would cover. The rep came on the phone and she had a pretty thick accent (from out of the country). She was nice, but she made numerous errors trying to enter my information. When she finally pulled my account up, she told me that the house did not have... Read More


mmkc31028
8/14/2019
Poor communication with your underwriter. Language barrier. Contractor and amount paid out off pocket and the amount we paid for a Year cost more than if we had it done ourselves, and less headache.


L
Landy
8/12/2019
Save your money. They will do and lie about anything to get out of paying a dime. Over a month in and an AC compressor goes out in the middle of the summer in Texas and they claim it was preexisting so that they wouldn't have to cover it. 3 other companies including the one that replaced it said it just froze up and there is no way to have a preexisting situation unless you're standing right there a few seconds before it freezes up. Crooks, along with the puppet they sent out to "evaluate" the situation. Save your hard earned money.


Theresa F
8/12/2019
Do Not Purchase! They will deny your claim as a pre-existing condition! I placed a claim for service for my air conditioning unit. I was told the unit had coverage. I paid a $100 service fee and the technician told me he tested the system for leaks. He said that the leak test came back inconclusive. He said that the Freon most likely leaked out of the evaporative coil and I would need another one. I waited 6 days, hadn’t heard anything so I called American Home Shield. They told me my claim was denied because this was a “pre-existing condition” that I knew nothing about. She told me that this fell under “undetectable pre-existing co dictions which are defects or mechanical failures” that... Read More


Rex R
8/10/2019
Stay away this company is a scam. They will muscle up contractor to change their diagnosis to avoid them to replace your appliance


Sunshine B
8/10/2019
I am a customer of American Home Shield I wished I never heard or had to deal with this company. I called to have repairs done for my plumbing, and I payed the $75 fee. They sent out plumbers that walked around my yard, and never looked into my pipes to understand my stoppage. Called the company back, and said it was tree roots. So they told us they will do the work , but not through American Home Shield. I called Atlantis Plumbing for a 2nd opinion, they looked into our pipes, and said they needed to be replaced due to the age of the pipes no tree roots was the cause of the stoppage. They did the work, and now American Home Shield will not return the money I paid after the told me to send... Read More


Lena S
8/9/2019
The biggest ripoff Company I have been waiting over 2 months to get get my E Vac swamp cooler fixed



Top Rated
Our Partner

Limited Time Offer: $150 OFF All Plans*

  • Home Warranty Plans Starting at $29.99 a Mo.
  • Covering 2 Million Plus Members for 50+ Years
  • No Age Limits on Covered Systems & Appliances
  • No Inspections or Records Required