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On this American Dwelling Defend overview, we on the In the present day’s Home-owner group checked out all the things you might consider to find out if shopping for a house guarantee with AHS was price your cash or not.
One discovering I cherished was that AHS covers rust or corrosion while not having to offer upkeep information methods whereas most different residence guarantee firms don’t cowl rust in any respect.
American Dwelling Defend has been round for 50+ years and at the moment serves over 2 million householders within the U.S. They’ve three totally different plan choices, so most owners will be capable to discover one thing that matches their finances and their specific residence state of affairs.
I plan to get into all of that with this overview, so if you happen to’re out there for a house guarantee, sit again and luxuriate in this in-depth overview of American Dwelling Defend.
Most well-liked Dwelling Guarantee Corporations
This overview focuses on American Dwelling Defend, however right here at In the present day’s Home-owner, we are likely to suggest a couple of residence guarantee firms to our readers. These often will change based mostly on our newest critiques (we re-review firms typically). Under you’ll see our newest most well-liked residence guarantee suppliers in addition to their present ‘deal’ to assist prevent cash.
Our Evaluate of American Dwelling Defend
American Dwelling Defend has been round for 50+ years, so I had excessive hopes when diving into this write-up.
You’ll discover I first cowl the high-level professionals and cons for American Dwelling Defend, then dive into what we like and don’t like concerning the firm, briefly contact on the state availability so you recognize if AHS covers your state, and I wrap up the overview with a recap of our assigned scores.
For every residence guarantee firm we overview (AHS included), we take an goal and unbiased strategy. This begins with a qualitative overview after which a quantitative overview.
Our Evaluate Scores For AHS
Under is our quantitative scoring breakdown for American Dwelling Defend. You may see there may be an ‘common’ represented by the grey line and what AHS scored represented by the inexperienced line. For essentially the most half American Dwelling Defend scored above common in comparison with different residence guarantee firms we’ve reviewed.
Firm Execs and Cons
Total in our overview of American Dwelling Defend, we discovered there was much more to love than dislike. We discovered fairly a couple of optimistic buyer success tales, and though we discovered some not-so-good tales, the final sentiment towards AHS was higher than most residence guarantee firms.
What We Favored and Don’t Like
On this part, we dive into what we like and don’t like about American Dwelling Defend. Particularly within the context of various areas of their enterprise. We discover this to be extraordinarily essential when deciding if a house guarantee, like AHS, is price it or a waste of your cash.
As a result of American Dwelling Defend gives three totally different plans and quite a lot of further advantages, the corporate is well-positioned with a spread of protection. The corporate additionally earned factors in our scores for overlaying distinctive methods and home equipment like your roof, electronics, and even a visitor home.
The corporate’s primary plan — ShieldSilver™ — is likely one of the most reasonably priced of all our residence guarantee suppliers. Extra so, American Dwelling Defend’s dearer plans — together with ShieldPlatinum™ and ShieldGold™ — provide complete residence system and equipment protection.
American Dwelling Defend’s most elementary protection solely consists of your property’s main methods, however you possibly can add different home equipment or methods as wanted.
The corporate’s ShieldPlatinum™ plan can be one of the crucial costly of all our residence guarantee suppliers, however its inclusion of roof leak safety is a serious profit.
American Dwelling Defend gives three plans with prices to suit many alternative budgets. Its primary ShieldSilver™ plan is likely one of the most reasonably priced at lower than $50 per 30 days if you happen to select the very best service payment.
It’s also possible to go to the American Dwelling Defend web site for a pattern contract that outlines your potential residence guarantee protection. The corporate tries to make sure the samples accessible on-line for every state are as shut as potential to your closing service contract, though the 2 could not match precisely.
In contrast to a few of its rivals, American Dwelling Defend doesn’t cost a cancellation payment if you happen to determine to finish your guarantee contract. As an alternative, you could have 30 days to determine if a plan is best for you and if you happen to select to cancel, you get a full refund. You may nonetheless get a prorated refund after 30 days if you happen to didn’t use your guarantee plan, however if you happen to did file a declare throughout that point, you’d probably should pay a payment.
The corporate’s premium ShieldPlatinum™ plan is likely one of the costliest choices of all our residence guarantee suppliers, however not like different firms, it consists of roof leak safety at no further value.
Many householders are happy with their American Dwelling Defend guarantee and have used their protection to restore damaged residence methods and home equipment. Clients additionally report quick and environment friendly service with educated technicians despatched to their houses.
American Dwelling Defend additionally has a simple quote course of, providing clients an prompt quote on-line in minutes. Your quote ought to embody an in depth overview of plan charges, any further prices, and the power to see how totally different service charges would have an effect on general prices. Every plan can be introduced side-by-side in a comparability chart so you possibly can simply examine protection and decide which is finest in your residence.
American Dwelling Defend has a number of buyer complaints on-line about customer support, together with lengthy wait occasions, refund points, e mail unsubscribes, and issues with sending third-party technicians to your property. Though many shoppers report a decision of their complaints, others report ongoing points with buyer assist.
American Dwelling Defend’s decrease rating on this class is as a result of intrusiveness of its gross sales course of. In our reviewer’s expertise, American Dwelling Defend contacts clients repeatedly by way of cellphone and e mail after a quote is requested — the corporate contacted our reviewer 11 occasions by cellphone or e mail throughout the first day of requesting a quote. Inside 24 hours, representatives even texted our reviewer and repeatedly known as all through the week.
Total, American Dwelling Defend’s fame is common — the corporate boasts a B ranking with the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) and a 3.3-star common from Glassdoor. Whereas some staff talk about truthful pay and the power to work as many hours as they need, others talk about poor administration and poor relations with their supervisors.
Though American Dwelling Defend actively addresses buyer complaints on-line, it misplaced factors on this class on account of class motion lawsuits. In some circumstances, the corporate has been sued for misrepresentation, fraud, and breach of contract. American Dwelling Defend resolved its circumstances in 2003 and 2009, however a present case as of 2021 continues to be in course of.
American Dwelling Defend gives 24/7 buyer assist, and you’ll name for emergency service in case your methods and units fail with out warning. There are a number of methods to get in contact with customer support, specifically by calling buyer care or submitting an internet declare.
The corporate additionally has a 30-day ready interval, so that you solely have to attend a month earlier than you possibly can declare your guarantee.
Whereas American Dwelling Defend gives a number of methods to file a declare, clients have reported lengthy response occasions of as much as 48 hours. The corporate additionally misplaced factors on this class on account of destructive on-line critiques surrounding the claims course of.
American Dwelling Defend has a strong service space. The corporate covers practically all 50 states, from the coast of California to its principal headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, and most states in between. The one areas American Dwelling Defend doesn’t cowl are Alaska, Hawaii, and New York Metropolis.
Due to this intensive availability, American Dwelling Defend obtained all factors on this class.
As a consequence of service exclusions, householders in Alaska, New York Metropolis, and sure components of Hawaii cannot buy an American Dwelling Defend guarantee.
Availability of AHS By State
Under we offer a map visible to indicate you the place American Dwelling Defend has protection and the place it doesn’t. Given AHS has been round for 50+ years, it covers a lot of the U.S.
American Dwelling Defend vs. Its Rivals
Under is an summary of the highest residence guarantee suppliers, what they provide and the way every compares to American Dwelling Defend.
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47 states, ex. NV, WA, & WI |
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47 states, ex. CA, AK, & HI |
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42 states, ex. AK, HI, MT, NH, ND, OK, SD, & WY |
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34 states, ex. AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, & WI |
Video Overview of American Dwelling Defend
Under we pulled out a video we thought would assist provide you with an summary of American Dwelling Defend. AHS recorded this video, but it surely isn’t overly ‘salesy,’ offering you with a stable overview of what the corporate does and doesn’t provide.
What Plans Does American Dwelling Defend Supply?
American Dwelling Defend gives householders three totally different guarantee plans and protection choices. Every of those plans can present wonderful protection in your residence methods or home equipment, and you’ll select which choice works finest based mostly in your wants and finances. In case your plan doesn’t cowl a needed merchandise, you possibly can simply add it to your guarantee protection.
The corporate’s three guarantee plans are ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™, which we describe in additional element beneath.
| Service Price Price | ShieldSilver™ Month-to-month Price | ShieldGold™ Month-to-month Price | ShieldPlatinum™ Month-to-month Price |
| $75 Service Price | $69.99 | $89.99 | $119.99 |
| $100 Service Price | $59.99 | $79.99 | $109.99 |
| $125 Service Price | $49.99 | $69.99 | $99.99 |
American Dwelling Defend ShieldSilver™: This plan is American Dwelling Defend’s most reasonably priced plan choice. It covers 14 main methods — together with heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing. You’ll stand up to $5,000 in protection for HVAC methods and full protection for lined electrical and plumbing parts. Though this plan doesn’t embody residence home equipment, you possibly can add safety for electronics, swimming pools and spas, roof leaks, and extra.
American Dwelling Defend ShieldGold™: This plan gives complete protection, together with 23 main family methods and home equipment. This plan has a $5,000 protection restrict for HVAC methods, and householders have a restrict of $2,000 per equipment.
American Dwelling Defend ShieldPlatinum™: This plan is the costliest plan choice, providing complete protection of all 23 main family methods and home equipment plus roof leak protection. Should you select this plan, you’ll stand up to $5,000 in HVAC protection, $1,000 in roof leak restore, and a $4,000 protection restrict per equipment. You’ll additionally get $250 in protection for residence code violations, permits, and alterations.
The desk beneath outlines the foremost residence methods and home equipment included in every American Dwelling Defend plan.
| Dwelling System or Equipment | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constructed-in exhaust, vent, and attic fan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling fan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Doorbell and chimes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Storage door opener | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inside electrical strains | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Essential breaker and fuse panel field | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air con methods | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heating methods | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Constructed-in microwave | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dishwasher | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rubbish disposal | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Immediate cold and hot water dispenser | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Oven, vary, and cooktop | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fridge | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dryer | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Washer | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Taps and valves | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inside plumbing strains | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bogs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool bathtub motor and parts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Restricted Time:
$150 Off All Plans
What Elective Add-ons Does American Dwelling Defend Supply?
In case your American Dwelling Defend plan doesn’t cowl any of your property methods or home equipment, you possibly can embody them as add-ons for an additional month-to-month value. Add-ons embody additional methods, upkeep companies and sure ranges of protection.
The desk beneath reveals the sort and price of American Dwelling Defend’s accessible add-ons.
| Add-on | Price per Month |
| Pool | $24.99 |
| Spa | $24.99 |
| Roof Leak | $10 |
| Electronics Limitless | $14 |
| Visitor Unit | $19.99 |
| Septic Pump System | $5 |
| Nicely Pump | $8 |
| Sump Pump | $5 |
| Home Rekey | $100 |
| Discounted A/C Unit and HVAC Tune-up | $75 (included in ShieldPlatinum™) |
| Air Filter Low cost | Beginning at $5.25 every |
Keep in mind, roof leak safety is already included within the ShieldPlatinum™ plan. Nevertheless, if you happen to select the ShieldSilver™ or ShieldGold™ plans, you possibly can add roof leak safety for $10 per 30 days.
The limitless electronics plan is comparatively new to American Dwelling Defend and covers all your residence electronics as much as $2,000 per declare. Presently, this safety plan consists of the next digital units:
- TVs
- Desktop computer systems and laptops
- Tablets
- Printers
- Dwelling theater methods
- Good residence merchandise
- Headphones
- Online game consoles
When your electronics fail on account of mechanical and electrical defects attributable to regular put on and tear, American Dwelling Defend offers world-class technical assist that will help you get your methods again up and working. The plan additionally covers surge safety and workmanship defects.
Does American Dwelling Defend Have Any Exclusions?
Much like different residence guarantee firms, American Dwelling Defend has some exclusions to its contract protection, principally on account of a scarcity of upkeep and therapy. Your own home guarantee plan doesn’t cowl the next:
- Routine upkeep
- Restore and alternative of beauty defects
- Repairs wanted on account of misuse or abuse
- Radon monitoring system, hearth sprinklers and photo voltaic tools
- System or equipment upgrades when the difficulty is lacking parts or components
- Flues, venting, chimneys and exhaust strains
- Digital or computerized residence administration methods
- Repairs of methods which have hazardous or poisonous materials
- Repairs wanted on account of mildew
- Prices of development or carpentry
- Restoration of partitions, ground coverings, cupboards, counter tops, tiling, paint or comparable gadgets
- Pure disasters, fires, freezing, water injury, electrical failure, pests or pets
To ensure you are eligible for residence guarantee protection, it’s a good suggestion to maintain a upkeep log. The log will present your supplier that you simply usually preserve your methods and that the repairs wanted are on account of regular put on and tear. One other good tip is to maintain receipts from anybody doing work on your property methods. You’ll additionally present these to your property guarantee supplier (AHS or not) to allow them to see proof you’ve been maintaining together with your upkeep.
The above checklist broadly covers all of AHS’s exclusions. If you would like a extra detailed description, learn by way of American Dwelling Defend’s pattern contract.
Does American Dwelling Defend Have Any Protection Limits?
All three guarantee plans from AHS embody protection of as much as $5,000 for every HVAC system and full protection for lined plumbing and electrical parts.
The largest distinction lies in how ShieldPlatinum and ShieldGold cowl your family home equipment. With the ShieldPlatinum plan, you obtain as much as $4,000 per equipment; with the ShieldGold plan, the cap is $2,000 per equipment.
American Dwelling Defend has wonderful protection limits on its add-ons, which vary from $500 to $3,000 per lined merchandise. Whereas most firms have a protection restrict of $1,000 for swimming pools, for instance, AHS has a protection cap of $3,000.
The desk beneath highlights the protection limits for every lined merchandise.
| Lined Merchandise | Protection Limits |
| Electrical methods | No particular limits for lined gadgets |
| HVAC methods | $5,000 |
| Kitchen home equipment | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| Laundry home equipment | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| Plumbing methods | No particular limits for lined gadgets |
| Pool and built-in spa | $3,000 |
| Roof leak restore | $1,000 |
| Septic ejector pump | $500 |
| Nicely pump | $1,500 |
Restricted Time:
$150 Off All Plans
Tips on how to File a Declare With American Dwelling Defend?
You may file a declare with American Dwelling Defend by submitting a service ticket on-line or you possibly can name the corporate’s 24/7 customer support line. It’s also possible to observe your property restore historical past and observe up on earlier residence service claims.
The corporate’s declare submitting portal accepts requests 24/7. The beneath steps may also help you recognize what to anticipate when submitting your declare.
FAQs about American Dwelling Defend
Is American Dwelling Defend professional?
American Dwelling Defend is a good firm that gives warranties to householders who wish to shield their main residence methods and home equipment. If one thing breaks or malfunctions in your house, AHS will ship technicians comparable to plumbers and electricians to repair the difficulty.
Does American Dwelling Defend cowl pre-existing situations?
American Dwelling Defend will cowl repairs for pre-existing situations as long as you don’t detect the difficulty earlier than buying your guarantee. Much like the method for different guarantee repairs, you submit a service request after your 30-day ready interval has ended.
Does American Dwelling Defend cowl roof leaks?
American Dwelling Defend covers roof leaks with its ShieldPlatinum™ plan. If in case you have the Defend Silver™ or ShieldGold™ plan, you possibly can add roof leak protection for an extra month-to-month payment. Should you select roof leak protection, it turns into a part of your lined repairs.
Does American Dwelling Defend require a house inspection?
American Dwelling Defend doesn’t require a house inspection to buy a house guarantee. All it’s important to do is get a free quote from the corporate then you should buy your most well-liked guarantee plan. After the 30-day ready interval, you can begin to submit service requests underneath guarantee protection.
How do American Dwelling Defend residence warranties work?
After you obtain your free quote from American Dwelling Defend, you should buy your property guarantee plan. Upon getting a house upkeep contract, you need to wait not less than 30 days earlier than submitting a declare. These claims will immediate a consultant from ASH to ship a technician to your property to examine your property methods and home equipment.
Do I would like an American Dwelling Defend residence guarantee if I’ve householders insurance coverage?
An AHS residence guarantee is separate from householders insurance coverage. Whereas householders insurance coverage is required to personal your property, a house guarantee is elective and protects your property’s methods and home equipment in the event that they fail. A house guarantee covers your property methods and home equipment, whereas householders insurance coverage covers injury and lack of property.
How do you cancel an American Dwelling Defend coverage?
To cancel your American Dwelling Defend residence guarantee coverage, you need to name the 24/7 customer support line. You can’t cancel your property guarantee coverage on-line.
Methodology: How We Reviewed American Dwelling Defend
To assist customers such as you select the very best residence guarantee firms in your residence, we dive deep into each top-rated residence guarantee firm and charge them based mostly on six elements. As soon as we analysis an organization and have gathered all our knowledge, we use the next scoring system to grade every residence guarantee firm on a 100-point scale. We then convert the rating to a 5-star ranking.
- Plans + Protection Choices (24 Doable Factors): Since each buyer has totally different wants and a unique finances, we award extra factors to suppliers that supply extra plans and higher flexibility. American Dwelling Defend has good protection choices and gives a number of distinctive further advantages, so it scores effectively on this class.
- Affordability (22.5 Doable Factors): Affordability is a vital issue as a result of many owners select residence warranties to keep away from excessive funds for residence equipment repairs. We consider every firm based mostly on the price of its plans and extra companies, service name charges and cancellation phrases. American Dwelling Defend gives a number of plans and aggressive pricing and subsequently scores effectively on this class.
- Buyer Expertise (18.5 Doable Factors): Your expertise as a buyer is essential, together with the assist you obtain when contacting your property guarantee supplier. We gauge general assist by buyer critiques, conducting home-owner surveys and analyzing the quotes course of. American Dwelling Defend scores effectively on this class, however its customer support appears to differ by service request and agent.
- Firm Popularity (17.5 Doable Factors): An organization’s fame is a mix of critiques from clients and respected organizations just like the BBB. We additionally bear in mind the years of expertise an organization has, how happy its staff are and any previous or pending lawsuits. Whereas American Dwelling Defend has a B ranking with the BBB, which we contemplate common, the corporate misplaced factors on this class on account of previous and current lawsuits.
- Claims Course of (12.5 Doable Factors): On this class, we take a look at the general claims course of, together with how simple it’s to file a declare and an organization’s response time. Whereas American Dwelling Defend gives a number of methods to file a declare, clients report lengthy response occasions and destructive critiques relating to claims decision in some circumstances.
- Availability (5 Doable Factors): Availability refers to what number of states and areas an organization serves. American Dwelling Defend scores effectively on this class, serving a complete of 48 U.S. states.
Change Log For This AHS Evaluate
June 20
Up to date structure and construction. Reworked the professionals and cons sections and mixed the ‘what we appreciated’ part into one so it is simpler for readers to see our overview notes in a single view.
June 16
Up to date some plan pricing data round American Dwelling Defend’s ShieldSilver plan.
June 10
Added a brand new video part.
New Jersey Residents: The product being provided by the featured model is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any services or products guarantee which can be supplied by the house builder or producer.
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