A home warranty can provide peace of mind by offering coverage for major home systems and appliances — from an HVAC system to your washing machine.

This type of warranty can offset part of the cost whenever a covered item needs replacement or repairs due to failures or normal wear and tear.

Home warranty provider American Residential Warranty (ARW Home) gives homeowners multiple plan options, including systems and appliance-only plans and plans tailored to electronic devices and sewer lines.

Below we review ARW Home plans and coverage, limitations, optional add-ons and availability. We also include common customer complaints and a side-by-side comparison with other home warranty companies.

Table of Contents

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American Residential Warranty Overview
Available in all 50 statesStandard service fee of $100Offers coverage options for electronic devicesLets you choose your own contractorLimited information about coverage limits

American Residential Warranty Services
American Residential Warranty plans and coverage

American Residential Warranty offers three main coverage plans:

ApplianceMax SystemsMax TotalMax

All plans have a standard service call fee of $100.

ARW Home’s main plans offers coverage for the following systems and appliances:

ApplianceMax
(Starts around $45.99/mo.*)

SystemsMax
(Starts around $59.99/mo.*)

TotalMax
(Starts around $84.99/mo.*)

Refrigerator
(including ice maker)
Range
Oven
Cooktop
Dishwasher
Built-in microwave
Garbage disposal
Kitchen exhaust fan.
Washer
Dryer
Central air conditioning 
Central home heating
Ductwork
Plumbing system
Plumbing stoppages
Water heater
Interior electrical system

All items covered in ApplianceMax and SystemsMax, plus:

Humidifier
Garage door opener
Ceiling fans

In addition to these plans, ARW offers tailored coverage for water and sewer lines and electronic devices.

The water and sewer plan covers repair expenses and excavation costs for damages caused by wear and tear, corrosion, ground shifting, pressure failures and hidden defects.

The electronics plan covers electrical or mechanical failures due to normal wear and tear, power surges, defects in workmanship, and cracked screens. It includes coverage for laptops, desktops, tablets, gaming consoles (including hand held), routers, and TVs.

Optional add ons

ARW Home also offers optional coverage for the following items:

Pools Water lines Sewer lines Ultimate electronics protection (Laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, etc.) Coverage limits

Unlike most of its competitors, American Residential Warranty doesn’t provide information about its coverage limits on its website. Although we found a sample contract online, it didn’t include information on coverage limits, which many competitors typically disclose.

Our team made multiple attempts to obtain an updated sample contract directly from ARW, however, one was not provided. We spoke to a customer service representative and according to the agent, the company has a total limit of $7,000 per contract term. However, they did not provide information regarding maximum payouts per appliance or system.

What American Residential Warranty doesn’t cover

Like all home warranty companies, American Residential Warranty has exclusions and limitations for its coverage.

American Residential Warranty plans don’t cover the following events or parts:

Damage caused by natural events like fire, flood, lighting, earthquake or snow Damage caused by pets, animals or pest infestation Pre-existing conditions, defects, deficiencies or other conditions that are not normal wear and tear Breakdowns, failures or stoppages due to sedimentary or chemical build-up Broken or collapsed sewer lines outside the property’s foundation Wi-Fi enabled thermostat, circuit breakers, condenser casings Fireplaces, gasoline tanks, improperly sized heating systems Range clocks, rotisseries, racks, handles, knobs Cosmetic issues such as scratches, chipping or dents
American Residential Warranty Availability
State availability

American Residential Warranty is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida and its services are available in all 50 states.

Contact information

American Residential Warranty offers a 24/7 claim support line at 1-877-637-7890 or 800-863-8600 for residents of California, Iowa, Texas and Virginia. Customers can also submit a claim online.

For general customer support you can reach a representative at 1-800-910-8538 Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 5:30pm EST, Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm EST, and Saturday from 8:30am to 5:00pm EST.

For billing inquiries you can call at 1-877-752-6796 or 1-888-508-8886 Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 6:00pm or Friday and Saturday until 5:00pm EST.

User experience

ARW Home’s website is easy to navigate, with a readily accessible free quote generator. Plan pricing is also available online, however the company doesn’t provide information on payout limits.

Unlike some competitors, American Residential Warranty doesn’t offer much in the way of educational or support resources.

American Residential Warranty Credentials
Regulatory or legal actions

As of this writing, we didn’t find any recent regulatory or legal actions filed against American Residential Warranty.

However, it’s worth noting that in 2015 American Residential Warranty was sued in a class action alongside The Warranty Group for allegedly violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, including making unsolicited calls to consumers despite their phone numbers being on the Do Not Call registry.

Although our team of writers and editors try to include accurate and up-to-date information on regulatory and legal actions, this information may not be complete or fully up to date. We recommend you do your own research for the latest information.

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American Residential Warranty’s Satisfaction
Third-party ratings
Better Business Bureau (BBB): 1.6 out of 5 star rating average based on 220 customer reviews. Customer complaints

American Residential Warranty has an A rating from the BBB, although it isn’t currently accredited by the organization. According to ARW’s profile, the company has 161 complaints filed against it, and 109 of these have been closed within the last 12 months.

While we didn’t find a pattern of complaints or significant negative reviews against ARW, there were some common complaints regarding:

Difficulty with billing and cancellation Slow or unresponsive service technicians Persistent emails and phone calls despite asking to be removed from customer contact lists

The information provided in this section is based on data available at the time of writing.

American Residential Warranty Comparison

There are many home companies that offer similar coverage options to American Residential Warranty. Here’s how it compares to two major competitors.

American Residential Warranty vs. American Home Shield

American Home Shield (AHS) offers three home warranty plans, which cover a combination of systems and appliances. Unlike American Residential Warranty, AHS doesn’t offer system or appliance-only plans.

Compared to American Residential Warranty, American Home Shield stands out for its high coverage caps, especially for HVAC systems and appliances.

American Home Shield plans cover up to $5,000 for air conditioning and heating systems, and up to $2,000 per covered appliance. Customers enrolled on its premium plan, ShieldPlatinum, get a maximum coverage of up to $4,000 for all covered appliances.

In addition, American Home Shield plans include coverage for items American Residential Warranty doesn’t cover, such as attic fans, jetted tub motors, well pumps, roof leak and water dispensers.

Service Fee
(or deductible)

American Residential Warranty

Read the full American Home Shield review.

American Residential Warranty vs. Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty offers two home warranty options that cover a mix of both home systems and appliances, with prices starting at around $46.

Choice’s Basic Plan covers all major appliances and home systems, except for air conditioning, refrigerators, and clothes dryers and washers which are only covered under its most comprehensive plans, Total Plan.

However, Choice Home Warranty has been subject to multiple customer complaints claiming the company didn’t honor their contracts, and a pattern of complaints regarding unauthorized transactions after consumers cancel their service contract. Choice also has a pending government action from the Arizona Attorney General involving allegations of fraud making false promises and bad-faith claim refusals.

It’s worth noting, though, that while American Residential Warranty has a better customer rating and fewer negative reviews, the company is not completely transparent with its coverage limitations.

Service Call Fee
(or deductible)

American Residential Warranty

Read the full Choice Home Warranty review

Explore other home warranty options

Check our reviews for other home warranty companies you can consider:

American Residential Warranty FAQs

What does American Residential Warranty cover?

American Residential Warranty covers major home appliances and systems, including kitchen appliances, cooling and heating equipment, plumbing and electrical systems.

How much does American Residential Warranty cost?

American Residential Warranty offers a systems-only, appliances-only and a comprehensive plan with pricing starting at around $45.99 up to $84.99.

How much is the service fee for American Residential Warranty?

American Residential Warranty charges a $100 standard service call fee. The service fee is the deductible you have to pay every time you request a service or a visit from a technician.

What are the benefits of American Residential Warranty?

A home warranty can help offset the cost of repairs and replacements when your home’s appliances and systems break down. With American Residential Warranty you can get coverage for your systems and appliances regardless of their age at a relatively low monthly premium and with a low standard service call (or deductible).

How We Evaluated American Residential Warranty

Our team has reviewed home warranty companies since 2020 and has spent thousands of hours researching the top providers in the industry.

We evaluated American Residential Warranty based on the following factors:

Services offered: We considered warranty coverage, plan options, limitations and contrasted them to that of other home warranty providers. Cost: We compared plan costs and coverage to determine cost-effectiveness. Availability: We preferred companies with nationwide coverage or that are available in at least 30 states. Legal actions: We conducted searches of recent media to find any reports of legal or regulatory actions against the company. Customer service: We checked the company’s standing with BBB and evaluated customer reviews to gauge customers experience and common complaints.

For our full methodology, check out our complete guide for the Best Home Warranty Companies.

Summary of Money’s American Residential Warranty Review

American Residential Warranty is available in all 50 states and offers three different home warranty plans, including systems and appliance-only plans. In addition to these plans, ARW offers individual plans for water and sewer lines and for electronic devices.

American Residential Warranty plans have a set service call fee of $100, which is pretty standard among many home warranty companies. However, ARW isn’t necessarily transparent about its policy payout caps.

As usual, we recommend doing your own research and comparing offers between home warranty companies before deciding whether they offer the coverage you need.

Original: Money.com: American Residential Warranty Review | Money