Homeowners have a lot to worry about when it comes to keeping their largest investment in good shape. From plumbing to air conditioning, refrigerators to washing machines, systems and appliances can break down — and inevitably, they will. The reviews team has evaluated American Residential Home Warranty’s plans, add-on options, prices, customer ratings and more to give you an in-depth look at the company.
American Residential Warranty (ARW) stands out in the home warranty space for its competitively-priced suite of customizable plan options, which are available to homeowners in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Despite its nationwide availability, ARW distributes its coverage through a few smaller insurance underwriters in select states, which has made the service request process complicated for past customers. Read on to learn if American Residential Warranty is the best home warranty company for you.
To get a free quote from this top provider, you can call 844-529-9298 or fill out the simple form.
Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based research that helps our readers make informed decisions.
The reviews are always independent. For transparency, we may be compensated if you purchase through a link.
American Residential Warranty Overview
American Residential Warranty is a national company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. They specialize in home warranty plans, electronics protection plans and home security systems.
Our in-house research team has analyzed over 60 of the top home warranty companies in the United States, including American Residential Warranty, using an unbiased and actionable editorial process per our methodology. Because ARW’s coverage is administered through a handful of smaller warrantors in select states, we’ve also factored each partner’s financial reputation and customer service accessibility into American Residential Warranty’s cumulative score.
What to Know About American Residential Warranty Plans
American Residential Warranty offers three base plan options: Kitchen Plus, Platinum Premier, and the comprehensive 4-in-1 Bundle. ARW’s most basic coverage level, Kitchen Plus, includes six kitchen appliances, interior electrical systems, and hot water heaters. Platinum Premier includes all items featured in Kitchen Plus and eight other built-in systems. ARW’s comprehensive yet expensive plan option, the 4-in-1 Bundle, wraps all items in Platinum Premier, the Deluxe Advantage package, and an electronics protection plan.
If you’re considering a policy with ARW, we recommend the Platinum Premier plan as it offers adequate coverage at half the price of the 4-in-1 Bundle. You will, however, be sacrificing a few major inclusions as coverage for laundry appliances and sewer lines is only included in the 4-in-1.
If you’re considering a policy with ARW, we recommend the Platinum Premier plan as it offers adequate coverage at half the price of the 4-in-1 Bundle. You will, however, be sacrificing a few major inclusions as coverage for laundry appliances and sewer lines is only included in the 4-in-1.
American Residential Warranty Plans
| Item | Kitchen Plus | Platinum Premier | 4-in-1 Bundle |
| Interior Electrical Systems | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ranges/Ovens/Cooktops | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerators | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in Microwaves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage Disposals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen Exhaust Fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Heaters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central A/C | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating Systems | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Humidifier | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ceiling Fans | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing Systems (fixtures not included) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing Stoppages(fixtures not included) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in Ice Maker | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes Washers and Dryers | ✓ | ||
| Sewer and Water Lines | ✓ | ||
| Deluxe Advantage | ✓ | ||
| Ultimate Electronic Protection | ✓ |
Add-Ons from American Residential Warranty
American Residential Warranty has 16 optional coverage add-ons for homeowners to choose from. Add-ons can be a great way for homeowners to fill any gaps in their standard policy without paying for more than what they need through a higher plan level.
When enrolling with ARW, if you find yourself gravitating toward more than two optional add-ons, you’ll save more money per month by opting for the next-most comprehensive policy.
Packages specific to the 4-in-1 Bundle, like Deluxe Advantage and Ultimate Electronics Protection, also unfold into a series of specific add-ons that would be otherwise excluded in Kitchen Plus or Platinum Premier. By default, investing in the most comprehensive plan available drastically reduces your likelihood of a claim denial.
Optional add-ons available for coverage:
- A/C Advantage — includes up to $500 per year for refrigerant and coils
- Plumbing Advantage — includes up to $500 per year for faucets, fixtures, toilets, wax seals, flange, and internal components
- Deluxe Advantage (only available to Platinum Premier policyholders) —
- A/C refrigerant and coils
- Refrigerant recapture
- Plumbing faucets and fixtures
- Mismatched systems
- Garage door openers/springs/tracks
- Permits/modifications/code violations
- Toilets and internal mechanisms
- Improper installation
- Ultimate Electronics Protection — covers new and used electronics and devices
- Flatscreen TVs
- Laptops/desktops
- Tablets
- Hand-held gaming devices and gaming consoles
- Printers
- Routers
- At-home theaters
- Food spoilage — covers up to $250 per year in foods lost to an outage greater than 12 hours for refrigerated items and 24 hours for frozen items
- Well pump — covers up to $1,000 per year for all components and parts
- External water or sewer lines — Covers up to $2,500 per year for stoppages, excavation fees, and restoration fees (reseeding the lawn, repaving driveways, etc.)
- Second refrigerator or freezer
- Second range/oven/cooktop
- Second air conditioning unit
- Pool and spa — covers all above-ground setups, specifically for heating and pumping systems, gaskets, moros, relays, impellers and check valves
- Clothes washer and dryer (to supplement Kitchen Plus and Platinum Premier plans)
- Built-in ice maker (to supplement Kitchen Plus and Platinum Premier plans)
- Ceiling fans (to supplement Kitchen Plus and Platinum Premier plans)
Bundles
In addition, the company offers two bundle options. The components of these are listed and explained below:
| Coverage | 4-in-1 Bundle | 3-in-1 Bundle |
| Platinum Premier Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deluxe Advantage Add-On | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ultimate Electronics Protection Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sewer and Water Lines | ✓ |
The Ultimate Electronics Protection Plan, included in both bundles, covers:
- Flat-screen TVs
- Home theater system
- Desktops/laptops
- Tablets
- Gaming consoles
The sewer and water lines coverage, included in the 4-in-1 Bundle, covers:
- Repairs and blockages
- Excavation costs
- Reseeding the grass
- Repaving the driveway
Coverage Exclusions
Although American Residential Warranty has an extensive list of plans, add-ons and bundles, minor roofing leaks and septic systems aren’t covered.
American Residential Warranty Costs
Though ARW’s policy premiums start fairly low at $39.99 per month, its coverage gets expensive quickly across its two more comprehensive options. Monthly rates increase by $25 between Kitchen Plus and Platinum Premier and $65 between Platinum Premier and the 4-in-1 Bundle. Should you ever decide to sell your home, ARW charges a $39 fee to transfer your coverage to the next homeowner.
Monthly Premiums
Given that the cost of a home warranty in the U.S. typically ranges between $35-$55 per month, ARW’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average. Still, as its most comprehensive policy option, the 4-in-1 Bundle offers far more inclusive coverage than competing home protection plans.
Like most home warranty providers, ARW allows its customers to pay either monthly or annually. Opting to pay for one year of coverage up front instead of on a month-to-month basis can save you:
- $85 on Kitchen Plus
- $180 on Platinum Premier
- $135 on the 4-in-1 Bundle
| Plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
| Kitchen Plus | $39.99 | $394.88 / 12 months |
| Platinum Premier | $64.99 | $599.90 / 12 months |
| 4-in-1 Bundle | $129.99 | $1,424.99 / 12 months |
Add-on Costs
American Residential Warranty’s add-ons vary widely in price, with some as low as $9.99 per month and others as high as $70. All service requests made under an optional coverage rider will still be subject to a service fee, except for ARW’s food spoilage add-on.
Service Fees
American Residential Warranty charges a fixed trade service fee of $55, which falls well below the home warranty industry average of $75-$150. Once your coverage benefits are active, you’ll be required to pay this $55 out-of-pocket payment each time you request service for a new issue. A service call fee is essentially a deductible that goes toward labor costs and any extraneous travel expenses incurred by your technician on their way out to your home.
Coverage Limits
Standard HVAC inclusions and any items in the Deluxe Advantage are covered under a $1,000 annual coverage limit. For HVAC units over the age of ten, payouts are capped at $600 for your first year of coverage. This maximum increases by increments of $50 for each year you renew with ARW until the limit hits $1,000.
All other appliances and home systems covered by ARW are protected under a $500 annual per-item limit. Items over the age of ten are limited to a $300 payout maximum, which will increase up to $500 year over year. Though ARW doesn’t stipulate the number of claims you can file, it has an aggregate payout cap of $5,000 per year.
How to Get a Quote from American Residential Warranty
Getting a quote is easy with American Residential Warranty. First, visit the website to view your options. Then, you can get a quote for that plan by calling 888-840-0005.
How to Make a Claim With American Residential Warranty
The claims process changes depending on the state you live in. Visit this website to select your state from a map and fill out a claims form. You can also call one of the following numbers to make a claim:
- Claims phone number for all states except CA, FL, IA, TX, VA and WA: 877-637-7890
- For CA, FL, IA, TX, VA and WA: 800-863-8600
- Claims for the Electronics Protection Plan: 844-885-8621
Reviews of American Residential Warranty
We read through 40+ reviews posted by current ARW policyholders within the past two years on popular online review platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, and TrustPilot, and pulled excerpts that we felt accurately highlighted both the positive and negative sides of the customer experience.
Here are a few of the public reviews from ARW customers that stood out to us:
“This is the best thing ever for new homeowners. Our garage door spring snapped 2 months after purchasing our home. We called ARW and 2 days later someone came out to replace the spring. The only thing we paid was our deductible. We opened our pool and had to get an electrician to come out to rewire our pool pump and just days later an electrician came out and all we paid was our deductible.”
– Irene R., 08/30/2021
“American Residential Warranty has beat my expectations by a long shot; I was working with another warranty company that charges $100 per month/$100 per call. ARW charges me $70 and only $50 per call. The other company took 3 weeks to find a contractor to fix my furnace; my 2 calls to ARW have been handled within 3 days, with a reputable true “appliance” repair firm, whom I’ve also been pleased with. As soon as my warranty program on my other house is over the one-year contract, I’m changing it to ARW, too. Strongly recommend!”
– Nicolette D., 5/29/2021
“Overall my experience is good. I do have concerns that the electricians and plumbers recommended for service are not licensed to work in the town. It would be nice if ARW would have a list of the licensed professionals. I had to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement.”
– Cynthia A., 01/23/2021
Assessment of American Residential Warranty
American Residential Warranty has an A+ rating from the BBB for its 24/7 customer service, coverage in all 50 states, cheap service fee and fast repairs. Non-emergency repairs will be completed within 48 hours, while emergency repairs will be made within 24 hours, all by pre-screened, licensed technicians.
With American Residential Warranty, you can use your own contractor if you’d prefer; you’ll just need to request it. American Residential Warranty includes a variety of unique services, such as an electronics protection plan, bundles and customer perks, like appliance and refer-a-friend discounts.
Despite its higher than average cost compared to other companies with similar plans, it still lacks roofing and septic system coverage. It also has limitations on the amount it is willing to spend on repairing or replacing items based on their age.
Although American Residential Warranty provides quality service, it is still expensive and has holes in its home coverage, which is why the reviews team recommends American Home Shield for Best Overall home warranty provider.
Preferred Provider: American Home Shield
American Home Shield has been in the business since 1971 and has wide national reach, offering services in every state except for Alaska. The reviews team ranks American Home Shield as the Best Overall home warranty provider for its combination of specialized, comprehensive and customizable plans.
American Home Shield offers three home warranty plans. Its ShieldSilver Plan covers 14 major systems, including heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing systems. The ShieldGold Plan covers the systems covered by the ShieldSilver Plan and adds coverage for major kitchen and laundry appliances up to $2,000. The ShieldPlatinum Plan covers all 23 systems and appliances in the ShieldGold Plan and adds $1,500 of roof-leak coverage. It also increases the coverage limit on appliances to $4,000.
Other American Home Shield pros include its flexible service fee. Customers can choose between $75, $100 and $125. A higher service fee means a lower monthly premium.
Finally, the company also responds to customer service requests within the first 24 hours 98% of the time.
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
To help you find the best home warranty, our reviews team researched numerous home warranty companies, analyzing their coverage plans, pricing and customer service, among other factors:
- Coverage: Home warranty companies that provide extensive coverage and protect important systems and appliances, including your air conditioning, refrigerator and heating, scored higher than companies with minimal coverage.
- Plan variety: A provider with more coverage plans allows for more flexibility among customers. In general, most home warranty companies provide an appliances-only plan, systems-only plan and combination plan.
- Pricing: We scored providers based on their monthly plan prices and service call fees compared to the industry average pricing. Companies with more affordable coverage received more points than companies with more expensive plans.
- State availability: Where you live will determine what companies are available in your area. Home warranty companies that covered more states received more points than companies with a limited state availability.
- Trustworthiness: There are some home warranty companies that are scams and don’t follow through on their service agreements. We rated companies based on their years of experience, ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer reviews.
To keep our data current, our team regularly updates the data points for each company to ensure their coverage offerings, pricing and availability are accurate.
