What is the difference between American Home Shield and AHW Home Warranty?
American Home Shield and AHW Home Warranty both offer coverage for homeowners who want protection against mechanical and system breakdowns and failures from age or wear and tear. Both companies have several plan options to cover your home’s systems, appliances and more. In this article, we’ll examine the companies side by side to help make your choice easier.
All prices are based on a quote for a house of less than 5,000 square feet in Austin, Texas. All information is accurate as of publishing.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield helps pay for repairs if your home systems or appliances break down. It also has several add-ons available. The company will cover your appliances and systems regardless of age, preexisting conditions, lack of maintenance or improper installations.
American Home Shield plans
Homeowners with American Home Shield coverage can choose a service fee of $75, $100 or $125. The higher your service fee, the lower your monthly fee will be. There are three plans you can choose from:
ShieldSilver: This plan covers 14 of the home’s major systems. These include heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing systems. The plan costs between $29.99 and $44.99 a month, not including add-on services. ShieldSilver covers:
Air conditioners
Heating units
Ductwork
Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans
Main breakers and fuse panel box
Doorbells and chimes
Interior electrical lines
Ceiling fans
Garage door openers
Interior plumbing lines
Toilets
Faucets and valves
Whirlpool tub motor and components
Water heaters
ShieldGold: This plan covers everything in ShieldSilver, plus nine more appliances. For $39.99 to $54.99 a month, ShieldGold coverage includes:
Refrigerators
Ranges and cooktops
Ovens
Dishwashers
Built-in microwaves
Garbage disposals
Instant hot/cold water dispensers
Washers
Dryers
ShieldPlatinum: This plan offers the most thorough coverage. You get the coverage of ShieldSilver and ShieldGold, plus several other services, for $54.99 to $69.99 a month. ShieldPlatinum coverage includes:
Roof leak repair
One free HVAC tune-up
Unlimited air conditioning refrigerant
Coverage for code violations, permits and modifications
What American Home Shield customers say
Customers on our site frequently note the knowledgeable and capable technicians and the excellent coverage despite system age or quality. Some customers mention delays in service with AHS-approved technicians. Overall, the majority of reviewers share positive experiences with American Home Shield.
This is my second house covered by AHS since 1996. All my service calls met my expectations and questions I had were very well answered; especially for the 1st house that was REALLY old and had all kinds of crazy problems that were taken care of. Thank you.”
AHW Home Warranty claims to have more than 40,000 available technicians. The company covers systems and appliances of any age, as long as they’re in good working condition at the start of your plan. It’s not available in California, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma or Washington.
AHW Home Warranty plans
There are three plans to choose from, plus over 20 add-ons. There’s also a set service fee of $75. Here are the options:
System Plan: For $48 a month, this plan covers:
Central air conditioning
Central heating systems
Plumbing (including stoppages)
Electrical system
Hot water heater
Ductwork
Jetted bathtubs
Garage door openers
Appliance Plan: This plan also costs $48 a month and covers:
Dishwashers
Refrigerators (including ice makers)
Clothes dryers
Stand-alone freezers
Trash compactors
Oven/range/cooktop
Clothes washer
Microwave ovens
Combo: This plan covers everything in the System and Appliance plans, plus adds coverage for several other appliances. The Combo plan costs $58 a month and adds coverage for:
Instant hot water dispenser
Garbage disposal
Attic fan
Ceiling fan
Bathroom exhaust fan
Doorbell
Kitchen fan/exhaust hood
What AHW Home Warranty customers say
Positive customer reviews mention quick service and thorough, helpful representatives. Negative reviews point out that it’s very easy for your claim to be denied. The majority of AHW Home Warranty reviews are from customers who have had their claims denied for one reason or another.
Our garbage disposal stopped working and we called in to see if it could be fixed. Amazons was fast and very professional. They got hold on one of their vendors who came out and replaced it. Then they called afterwards to make sure everything was done and we were happy. I will recommend them to my friends and family that are looking for a great homeowner's plan.”
Bottom line: American Home Shield or AHW Home Warranty?
Both American Home Shield and AHW Home Warranty offer homeowners coverage for many home systems and appliances. Both companies also offer optional add-ons for more complete coverage. American Home Shield offers more thorough tiers of coverage, and AHW Home Warranty offers more streamlined plans.
American Home Shield is best for homeowners who want comprehensive coverage with add-on options. Each plan from American Home Shield covers major appliances and systems, and the company won’t deny claims based on age, condition or previous care.
AHW Home Warranty is best for homeowners who are looking for a simplified plan. With AHW Home Warranty you can cover systems, appliances or both; anything not covered by one of these plans can be added to your coverage.
