American Home Shield (AHS) Review 2024

The organization that owns American Home Shield is Frontdoor, Inc. Frontdoor is a publicly-traded company that owns OneGuard, Landmark, HSA Home Warranty, Streem, Terminix, and AHS.

American Home Shield’s multiple service fee options, a free cancellation period, and nationwide availability can make them a good investment for homeowners. Now that they also cover rust damage, improper installation, and other things that their competition often does not, the AHS home warranty may be worth considering.

American Home Shield warranty covers air conditioning units and may offer to replace yours if they deem it irreparable. If they don’t provide the replacement themselves, they will offer a pro-rated refund of the depreciated cost of the AC unit. It’s up to their discretion.

Buying an AHS home warranty is a good idea for homes older than four years, especially after the original warranties on home systems and appliances expire. Sellers and buyers of old properties can also benefit from home warranty coverage. Having many older systems and appliances will save you money on covering frequent breakdowns due to age and wear.

An American Home Shield warranty plan is not the same as homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance provides liability coverage in damage or loss due to floods, fires, disasters, etc.

On the other hand, an AHS home warranty plan can be considered home repair insurance, providing discounted repairs and replacements. American Home Shield insurance is not homeowners insurance per se, but a home warranty plan, which is legally different.

American Home Shield does not require a home inspection before purchasing its home warranty plans. They also do not require service records. However, it would be advisable to get one as proof that your appliances had no undetectable pre-existing defects.

American Home Shield provides home systems and appliance coverage regardless of age, make, and model. As long as your systems and appliances fulfill the criteria mentioned in the home warranty contract, they will not be denied coverage merely for being old

After purchasing your AHS home warranty plan, there is a waiting period of 30 days to ensure that claims are due to natural wear and tear, not pre-existing damage. It ensures that homeowners are not buying a home warranty for broken-down appliances. The waiting period does not apply to real estate plans.

You can make unlimited service calls to American Home Shield during your contract term. You can also request any number of repairs, but you will have to pay a deductible for each service visit for separate issues. However, as mentioned in your contract, the number of repairs will be subject to the upper limit on dollar repair liability amounts.

If your covered item is not repairable, AHS may replace it or pay cash instead of providing a replacement. The American Home Shield cash-out option will be equivalent to the value of your item’s same make, model, or specs. If the damage is excluded, you may have to replace it as per the contract.

The American Home Shield cash-out option may be available under some circumstances. According to your contract, they may agree to pay cash instead of providing a replacement for systems and appliances subject to the dollar limits of maximum liability. You may also have to provide proof of actual itemized costs incurred. AHS may provide the cash-out option if a covered item is not repairable, but a replacement item can not be found.

In cases where the item may not comply with regulations, American Home Shield’s cost may exceed the dollar limit of contract liability, and only the difference amount may be refunded.

Yes, AHS provides coverage for roof leak repairs  under the ShieldPlatinum plan. The coverage includes shingles, tiles, shakes, flat roofing (non-metal), flashing, and underlayment repair services. If you choose to buy ShieldSilver or ShieldGold American Home Shield Plans, you can add roof leak repairs at $10 per month as an optional add-on.

Yes, American Home Shield has plumbing system coverage. Some inclusions are water, drain, gas, waste, or vent line leaks and breaks, faucets, built-in bathtub whirlpool motors, pumps, air switch assemblies, clearing stoppages, shower heads, shower arms, valves, toilet mechanisms, etc.

However, stoppages caused by damaged vents or sewer lines outside the home’s main foundation will not be covered. There may be other exclusions to the plumbing coverage, for which we recommend going through the contract.

American Home Shield plans cover all components of ducted central electric split and package AC units, geothermal units, wall air conditioners, and mini-split ACs, including compressors.

While AHS does not have a pest control service, its parent company Frontdoor, Inc., owns Terminix, a reputable pest control service provider. The real estate add-ons do include subterranean termite treatment.

American Home shield coverage includes malfunctions due to undetectable pre-existing conditions. They are defects or mechanical failures that a visual inspection or a simple mechanical test could not have detected.

A covered item is visually inspected to verify its structural integrity without any sign to hint at interoperability. When turned on in a mechanical test, the item should operate without visible damage, odd sounds, smoke, or other abnormal outcomes.

To cancel your American Home Shield contract, you need to call 800.858.1922. You will receive a full refund if you cancel it within 30 days of signing up and have not made a service call request. If you cancel your policy after 30 days, you will receive a refund for the remaining term, minus the administrative fees and the charges for any services or claims made.

ProConnect is a platform AHS offers where you can book a repair service online and pay after work. A network of independent service professionals provides services for the following categories: plumbing handyman services, appliance repair, electrical carpet cleaning, garage door repair, heating, plumbing, and air conditioning repairs. However, these services vary by area and are currently operational in some selected cities.

American Home Shield is a legitimate home warranty company. They are registered as a public company and are transparent about the reports of their revenues, number of clients, and claims paid. One can find plenty of information about their financial status; to date, they have been profitable.

To file a complaint with AHS, you can take the following measures:

• Email a complaint letter to customercare@ahslink.com,
• Call the American Home Shield customer service number as mentioned on their website
• Fill out a form online on its website.

American Home Shield currently services in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. The company is also unavailable in New York City. 

Currently, the company is offering 40% Off on ShieldGold Plan. Moreover, for its members, AHS offers a variety of discounts. A $25 Amazon Gift Card is available for referrals, an Appliance Discount Program, and $50 OFF on Multiple Properties.