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America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) uses a contractor-choice, reimbursement-first model: you select any licensed contractor, get approval, pay the vendor, and APHW reimburses covered costs up to contract limits. The standard trade service call fee is $50 per covered visit, and typical premiums for a single-family home run about $45–$75 per month (≈$540–$900/year), varying by state, home details, and add-ons (APHW Terms & Conditions; Forbes Home; U.S. News 360 Reviews; This Old House). Coverage, limits, and sublimits are defined in state-specific contracts and can be affected by regulatory rules and HVAC refrigerant transitions, so your exact benefits will depend on your address and plan choices (Texas TDLR; California BHGS; EPA AIM Act).
America’s Preferred Home Warranty Overview
- Plan types: homeowner and real-estate plans with optional add-ons; you choose a licensed contractor and APHW reimburses approved repairs (see coverage overview).
- Pricing: commonly about $540–$900 per year (≈$45–$75/month), varying by ZIP, home, and options (U.S. News; Forbes Home).
- Service fees: $50 per covered service visit (trade service call fee) (APHW terms).
- Workmanship guarantee: not applicable (you hire the provider; workmanship recourse is with your chosen contractor).
- Contract length: 12 months.
- BBB rating (Letter): verify APHW’s current BBB business profile for the letter grade, star rating, and complaint counts; note that BBB letter grades reflect complaint-response practices rather than review stars (BBB rating system).
- Home inspection required? No.
- States served: widely available in most states but not available in California; plan details and riders vary by state (U.S. News; Forbes Home).
- Available appliance and system coverage: Yes—major systems and appliances are covered, but per-item caps and sublimits (e.g., refrigerant, access, code upgrades) are defined in your state contract; always review the current terms (APHW terms; TDLR guidance; BHGS consumer info).
Plan Type:
Basic plan
Price: Typically about $45–$75/month (roughly $540–$900/year), varying by state, home, and options; standard $50 trade service call fee per covered visit (see APHW terms; This Old House).
Systems Covered
- HVAC system
- Septic system
- Electrical system
- Plumbing
- Roof leak coverage (where offered)
- Duct work
Appliances Covered
- Built-in dishwasher, microwave, or oven
- Refrigerator
- range/cooktop
- Garbage disposal
- Attic and exhaust fans
- Garage door opener
- Sump pump
- Humidifier
- Water heater
Optional Add-on plans
Preferred Upgrade
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan (see APHW coverage & pricing).
Coverage: Adds components and allowances on top of the base plan; availability, caps, and sublimits are state-specific (review the Terms & Conditions). Refrigerant-related items may be impacted by current HFC transition rules and costs (EPA AIM Act).
Systems Covered:
- Central air: refrigerant recovery, crane/access allowances, registers and grills (contract-dependent)
- Central heat: registers, grills and heat lamps (availability varies)
- Special electrical package: items such as alarms, lighting fixtures, and doorbells where offered
- Toilets: replacement allowances may apply; limits are defined in your state contract
- Water heater: sediment-related coverage may be included in some states
- Allowances toward code upgrades/violations may apply; exact amounts are contract-specific
Appliances Covered:
- Racks, baskets, and rollers of built-in dishwashers (where offered)
- Interior lining, glass door, clocks and shelves of built-in microwave (state-specific)
- Ceiling fans (if included in your plan)
- Garage door opener: hinges, springs, keypads and remote transmitters (contract-specific)
- Refrigerator: refrigerant recovery, control board, ice maker and beverage dispenser (limits apply)
- Trash compactor: lock and key assembly, buckets (where offered)
- Oven/range: interior lining, clocks, and similar components (contract-dependent)
Pool/spa
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan.
Coverage: Typically covers component parts of the heating, pumping, and filtration system. Common exclusions include skimmers, pool sweeps, lights, liners, jets, underground electrical, gas or plumbing lines, cleaning or solar equipment, structural defects, and above-ground pools—confirm your state contract for specifics (APHW terms).
Premium salt water pool/spa
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan.
Jetted bathtub
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan.
Coverage: Accessible electrical controls, accessible plumbing lines, air pumps, drains, gaskets, and primary circulation pump motor (see your state contract for limits and exclusions).
Clothes washer and dryer
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan.
Coverage: All parts and components except soap dispensers, filter screens, plastic mini-tub, dials and knobs, lint screen, venting, and damage to clothing (see contract for full details).
Water softener
Price: Quote-based; varies by state/plan.
Coverage: Domestic water softener, brine tank, and connecting water lines (availability and limits vary by state; confirm in the Terms & Conditions). Current third-party reviews consistently list optional riders such as pool/spa (including saltwater), well pump, septic, water softener, and additional refrigeration units (U.S. News; Forbes Home).
Who is this best for?
Homeowners who want predictable repair costs and prefer choosing their own licensed contractors may value APHW’s $50 service-call model and reimbursement approach. It’s also common in real-estate transactions to bolster buyer confidence. Keep in mind that coverage caps and sublimits vary by state contract, and cancellation after the initial window may include up to a $50 administrative fee in many cases (APHW terms; U.S. News; ConsumerAffairs).
Pros:
- $50 per-visit service fee and contractor choice can keep per-claim out-of-pocket predictable compared to competitors with higher fees (terms).
- Flexibility to use a trusted local pro and get rapid approval/reimbursement (coverage overview).
- Optional riders (e.g., pool/spa, well, septic, water softener, extra refrigeration) enable tailoring to your home configuration (availability varies by state; see U.S. News).
Cons:
- Per-item caps and sublimits (e.g., refrigerant, access/leak detection, code upgrades) may leave gaps on high-cost repairs; always check your state-specific contract (APHW terms; TDLR).
- HVAC economics are shifting as high‑GWP refrigerants phase down, which can raise legacy system repair costs relative to caps (EPA AIM Act).
The Competition
| America’s Preferred Home Warranty | Complete Protection | American Residential Warranty | |
| States served | Most states; not available in CA | Availability varies by state | Nationwide availability (plan availability may vary by state) |
| Service fee | $50 per covered visit | None | Trade service fee applies |
| Workmanship guarantee | NA | NA | 30 day guarantee |
| Customizable? | no | no | no |
| Other |
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*All information current as of 2025
America’s Preferred Home Warranty compared to Complete Protection
APHW emphasizes contractor choice and reimbursements, with a standard $50 trade service fee per covered visit, while Complete Protection’s key differentiator is no per-visit service fee. CP also markets inclusive coverage on some issues (such as unknown pre‑existing conditions). At claim time, CP can mean lower out-of-pocket because there’s no trade fee, whereas APHW’s fee applies per covered visit (APHW terms; CP plans).
Both brands use plan- and state-specific caps and sublimits. If you want to pick your own contractor and don’t mind a $50 fee at service time, APHW fits. If you want to avoid per‑call fees entirely, CP’s no‑deductible model is the standout—just verify per-item and aggregate limits in the latest plan matrices (CP plans).
America’s Preferred Home Warranty compared to American Residential Warranty
ARW follows a network-dispatch model and charges a trade service fee per claim (amount varies by plan), whereas APHW’s fee is a flat $50 per covered visit. ARW is notable for bundle-friendly plans and optional electronics protection, which APHW does not market as a core add-on (ARW plans).
Another difference is assignment of workers: ARW typically dispatches its own network contractors and advertises a workmanship guarantee (often 30 days), while APHW has you select and hire a licensed contractor and then reimburses covered costs—workmanship recourse is between you and your chosen provider (ARW plans; APHW coverage).
The Bottom Line
There’s no lack of good home warranty companies in the U.S., and APHW stands out for contractor choice and a predictable $50 service-call fee. Typical APHW premiums land around $45–$75/month (≈$540–$900/year), but final pricing, caps, and sublimits are state- and plan-specific—always read your current contract carefully, especially for refrigerant, access, code upgrades, and permit allowances (APHW terms; U.S. News). Availability excludes California, and broader consumer rules (pricing transparency, robocall consent, right-to-repair, and refrigerant transitions) help explain why terms and processes can vary by state and over time (CA pricing transparency; FCC consent rules; CA right to repair; EPA AIM Act). If you prefer no per‑visit fees, look at competitors like Complete Protection; if you want electronics coverage bundled with home systems, ARW is a notable alternative.
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