My American Home Shield Experience
What happens when advertising promises don't match reality
TL;DR
- •American Home Shield advertises they cover systems "of all ages" with "no maintenance records required" and explicitly promise to cover "normal wear-and-tear"
- •My AC system failed - compressor overcharging and evaporator coil leaking
- •I went through 3 service dispatches over multiple days, paying fees each time
- •They denied ALL coverage citing "normal wear & tear" - the exact thing they advertise covering
- •The heat has now stopped working - the system is completely non-functional
- •The unit has developed a gas leak - creating a dangerous safety hazard for my family
- •Once again, I'm being told the entire HVAC system must be replaced at a cost of $10,000.
- •Stuck with out-of-pocket costs to replace a full HVAC system for $10,000
- •They're STILL advertising these same promises today (October 24, 2025)
Their Promise (Today)
This is their current advertising as of October 24, 2025 - they're still making these promises across their entire website.
Main Advertising
What They Promise to Cover
Their FAQ Section
Notice: "Normal wear-and-tear, no matter the age of a covered item" ✓
This is the EXACT reason they denied my claim. They explicitly promise to cover it, then deny claims for it.
✓ "Normal wear-and-tear, no matter the age of a covered item"
"No system or appliance is too old for AHS home warranty coverage and all of our plans include our 30-day workmanship guarantee."
"We cover important parts of systems and appliances of all ages – no maintenance records required."
The Promise vs. The Reality
American Home Shield advertises that "No system or appliance is too old for AHS home warranty coverage" and that "all of our plans include our 30-day workmanship guarantee."
They also prominently state: "We cover important parts of systems and appliances of all ages – no maintenance records required."
They're still advertising these promises today, even as they deny claims for the exact scenarios they claim to cover.
When my air conditioning system failed, I filed a claim expecting the coverage they advertised.
The Runaround
Multiple service calls, multiple fees paid, and still no resolution.
Over the course of several days, I had to deal with multiple service dispatches. Each attempt meant paying service fees and taking time off work, only to be passed from one contractor to another:
- June 22, 2025: First dispatch scheduled with UNITED AIR TEMP - Service Cancelled
- June 23, 2025: Second dispatch with Yazd Mechanical Inc - Service Complete (but issue not resolved)
- June 25, 2025: Third dispatch with COMFORT ZONE HVAC - Finally got an estimate, but marked as "Partially Approved" with non-covered costs
After all these attempts and fees paid, they ultimately denied coverage for the actual repair.
The Final Denial
After all the runaround, the contractor finally diagnosed the issues with my AC system. Multiple critical components had failed:
- Condensing Unit: Compressor overcharging with too many amps, causing the unit not to cool - $950
- Evaporator Coil: Leaking and causing the unit not to cool - $1,200
Total estimated repair cost: $2,150.00
American Home Shield denied coverage for ALL of these repairs, citing "Normal wear & tear" as the reason for each component.
This is the exact contradiction their advertising claims doesn't exist. They advertise coverage for appliances "of all ages" with "no maintenance records required," yet deny claims for the very thing that happens to aging appliances: normal wear and tear.
The Denial Document:
Notice the "Failure Reason: Normal wear & tear" - the exact thing they advertise covering.
Full Cost Breakdown:
It Gets Worse
After being denied coverage for the AC repairs, the situation has escalated into a dangerous safety hazard.
- The heat has now stopped working - the system is completely non-functional
- The unit has developed a gas leak - creating a dangerous safety hazard for my family
Once again, I'm being told the entire HVAC system must be replaced at a cost of $10,000.
What started as a denied claim for "normal wear and tear" has now become a complete system failure with a dangerous gas leak. American Home Shield's refusal to honor their advertised coverage has left me facing a massive out-of-pocket expense and a safety hazard in my own home.
This is what happens when a warranty company advertises comprehensive coverage but denies claims for the exact scenarios they promise to cover.
This page documents my personal experience with American Home Shield. All information presented is factual and based on actual documentation.