Home Warranty Terms Explained

Home warranty plans

Home warranty plans summarize the levels of protection you can choose from. Our plans include three tiers of coverage: 

• ShieldSilver Plan™: This is our most basic plan, which covers parts of 14 major systems in the heating and cooling, electrical, and plumbing categories. 
  

• ShieldGold Plan™: This is our everyday plan, which offers all the benefits of the ShieldSilver™ plan but adds coverage for parts of 9 different laundry and kitchen appliances. 
  
• ShieldPlatinum Plan™: This plan offers the ultimate protection. You get coverage for parts of 23 systems and appliances, as well as perks like roof leak repair, a complimentary HVAC tune-up per contract term, unlimited refrigerant, double the appliance limits, and coverage for modifications, code requirements, and permits. It’s the best investment we offer to protect your home.  
  

Members

We use the term “members” because we think of our customers as a community. When you have a home warranty from American Home Shield, you are part of the AHS family. We’ve provided stellar service to our members for more than 50 years. 

Modifications

Sometimes, modifications must be made to repair or replace the defective home system or appliance effectively. For ShieldPlatinum™ members, modifications (like gas or plumbing line extensions) will be covered, up to $250 per contract term. Non-ShieldPlatinum™ members will be responsible for the cost of any required modifications.

Permits

If modifications or upgrades to meet codes are needed when repairing or replacing a covered system or appliance, American Home Shield will cover the cost of the permits for ShieldPlatinum™ members up to $250 per contract term. For ShieldGold™ or ShieldSilver™ members, the cost of permits will rely on your pocketbooks. 

Proper operating condition

This home warranty term refers to repairs or replacements. If you have recently purchased your home, you may have no idea about the state of the existing appliances and home systems, how they were installed, and if they are working properly; this is especially true if you had to forego a home inspection. 

When covered items in your home experience a mechanical failure or general breakdowns due to normal wear and tear, we will help cover the cost to repair them, even if they’ve been improperly installed or previously repaired. And if we can’t repair them, we’ll replace them, subject to the limitations and exclusions of your contract. Our top priority is getting your hardworking home systems and appliances back in proper operating condition. 

Real estate plans

If you are in the homebuying process, ask your real estate agent about including an American Home Shield® home warranty. They may be able to help negotiate a home warranty plan when you purchase the house. That means the seller would pay for a one-year real estate home warranty plan, which can help your household budget as you get settled into your new home. Consult your real estate agent to learn more.

Service request

When an item malfunctions in your home, you’ll submit a service request online through MyAccount, pay your Service Fee, and we’ll help schedule a Pro to come to your home and diagnose the issue.

Shield Assurances

American Home Shield members can enjoy our Shield Assurances, no matter which plan they choose: 

• Older items, no matter their age—because we realize that every item’s lifetime is different
  
• Undetectable pre-existing conditions, no visual inspection required
  
• Items without maintenance records
  
• Breakdowns caused by lack of maintenance
  
• Improper installations, repairs, or modifications
  
• Malfunctions due to sediment, rust, or corrosion
  
• Removal of old, defective items—we’ll haul them away at no extra cost!
  
• Duplicates of the same item, like that additional A/C unit or fridge
  

Service Fee

The Service Fee is the amount you pay when you submit a service request; then, we send a Pro out. (This type of fee is standard with most home service plans in the industry.) The Service Fee is what you’ll pay per trade (e.g., plumbing or electrical) for a professional to diagnose your household problem, then fix or replace it subject to the limitations and exclusions of your contract.

Because we understand that every homeowner has a different budget, we let you choose the amount of your Service Fee from three options when you purchase your plan. Choose a higher fee to lower your monthly payment, or choose a lower fee to pay less when you request service. (Applicable fee applies per the terms of the contract for covered service requests. Plus, sales tax, where applicable.)

Waiting period

When you purchase your plan, there is a 30-day waiting period before you can submit a service request. Once the waiting period is complete, there is no limit to the number of service requests you can place during your contract term. 

Wear and tear

Unlike traditional homeowners insurance, a home warranty is designed to help cover the cost of the inevitable—when your home systems and appliances succumb to normal wear and tear. Your home warranty plan won’t cover issues caused by storm damage, fire damage, or floods—that’s what homeowners insurance is for. Instead, we cover malfunctions that occur due to everyday wear and tear. You use your home systems and appliances daily, so it only makes sense to have home warranty coverage to help protect your budget.

Learn more about a home warranty vs. home insurance.

Workmanship guarantee

With our workmanship guarantee, you have 30 days to contact us regarding an issue with a completed repair. We’ll send a Pro back out at no cost to you.