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What to Expect from American Home Shield® HVAC Coverage
AHS Editorial Team
December 09, 2025
With American Home Shield HVAC coverage, your heating and air conditioning systems and HVAC upgrades are covered up to your plan’s limits. Plus, enjoy options like HVAC upgrades and refrigerant coverage.
Key takeaways
- All American Home Shield plans include protection for major HVAC components, helping you manage costly repairs and replacements.
- If your system can’t be repaired, the AHS New HVAC Program
helps you save on your upgrade to a replacement unit.
- With the ShieldPlatinum™ plan, members receive one free HVAC tune-up per year to help keep systems running efficiently. Tune-ups are available in the spring and fall for just $100 per unit with our ShieldSilver™ and ShieldGold™.
An HVAC breakdown can be stressful and expensive, especially when you rely on your system to keep your home comfortable year-round. With American Home Shield AC coverage and heating protection, you’ll know what to expect if something goes wrong. This guide will walk through what’s included, what’s not, and how your American Home Shield plan helps protect your budget when HVAC issues arise.
What does my HVAC warranty coverage include?
If your heating or air conditioning system breaks down, it helps to know exactly what your American Home Shield HVAC coverage includes. With all three of our home warranty plans, you’ll get both air conditioning and heating warranty protection. When something goes wrong, simply submit a service request, pay your service fee, and we’ll send a Pro to diagnose the issue.
You choose your own service fee amount when purchasing your plan, which gives you flexibility: pay less monthly for your plan or less when a service request is needed. Your service fee amount can always be found in your plan agreement in MyAccount.
What’s covered (and for how much)
American Home Shield AC covers up to $5,000 for most permanently installed air conditioner systems up to a 5-ton capacity, including:
- Ducted central electric split and package units
- Geothermal units
- Evaporative coolers
- Wall air conditioners
- Mini-splits
Heating systems up to a 5-ton capacity are also covered up to $5,000, including:
- Geothermal units
- Package units
- Heat pumps
- Mini-splits
- Hot water or steam circulating heat
- Electric baseboard systems
As with AC, certain system types—glycol, hot water, or steam circulating systems; water heaters that supply those systems; and geothermal or water-source heat pumps—have a $1,500 covered item limit.
AHS also provides up to $1,000 for concrete cutting if needed to access heating or AC system components, along with coverage for necessary upgrades to keep your system in compliance with SEER, HSPF, or refrigerant standards.
What’s not covered
While American Home Shield offers a home warranty that covers HVAC, there are a few common exclusions to note. The items that fall outside of coverage include:
- Portable or window air conditioners
- Systems over 5 tons
- Air filters and routine maintenance tasks
- Pre-existing issues identified before coverage began
For a complete list of limitations and exclusions, refer to your plan agreement.
Do I need maintenance records?
Some home warranty providers require proof of regular maintenance before approving a service request. With American Home Shield AC coverage, that’s not the case. You do not need to provide maintenance records for your system to qualify for repair or replacement.
Will AHS tune up my HVAC system?
Yes. Regular maintenance matters, which is why the ShieldPlatinum™ plan includes one free HVAC tune-up during each plan agreement term. With ShieldGold™ and ShieldSilver™ plans, you’ll receive tune-ups in the spring and fall for just $100 a unit. A tune-up can help extend the life of your system, improve efficiency, and prevent costly issues down the line.
*HVAC Tune-ups are offered by Frontdoor Pro and performed by a Frontdoor Pro independent service contractor. For Frontdoor Pro license numbers, please visit Frontdoor Pro Licensing Information.
What if my HVAC isn’t repairable?
At American Home Shield, we cover the major components of your home systems and appliances that break down over time due to normal wear and tear, undetectable, pre-existing conditions or breakdowns caused by a lack of maintenance, and malfunctions due to rust or corrosion—all without needing to provide maintenance records. If we can’t repair your covered item, we’ll replace it subject to the limitations and exclusions of your plan agreement.
An AC replacement with American Home Shield allows you to replace your item with a similar model up to your plan’s coverage limits and subject to your plan agreement terms. That means up to $5,000 in coverage per HVAC system to help reduce out-of-pocket costs when repair isn’t possible.
Without coverage, a new HVAC system can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $11,000, depending on size, efficiency, and location.* That’s why homeowners often ask, “How much does American Home Shield pay for AC replacement?”—because those savings can make a big difference.
If you already know your system is due for an upgrade, American Home Shield also offers a New HVAC Program.** This program gives members access to exclusive savings on new, energy-efficient units. Through our national buying power, you could potentially save thousands off retail pricing—while lowering annual energy costs by up to 35% and upgrading to an eco-friendly refrigerant.***
Choosing a home warranty that covers the major parts and components of your HVAC system means you’re not left wondering what to do if your system fails. Instead, you can rely on American Home Shield for professional repair service or, if needed, a replacement through our New HVAC Program.
*Repair/replacement cost is the eightieth percentile reported in a nationwide survey of homeowners conducted in 2022 by ClearVantage for American Home Shield."
**HVAC Tune-ups are offered by Frontdoor Pro and performed by a Frontdoor Pro independent service contractor. For Frontdoor Pro license numbers, please visit Frontdoor Pro Licensing Information.
***Pricing and amount of savings will vary based on location and equipment availability. Not available in all areas. Energy savings are from blended AHS markets and were obtained via a third-party cost calculator (SEER Energy Savings Calculator for Air Conditioners). Savings vary based on location, system tonnage and SEER.
Don’t Worry. Be Warranty.
Your HVAC system is one of the most important parts of your home, and one of the costliest to repair or replace. With American Home Shield HVAC coverage, you don’t have to face those unexpected breakdowns alone. From tune-ups to replacements, AHS offers plans that help protect your comfort, your budget, and your peace of mind.
Explore American Home Shield home warranty plans today and see how much your home could benefit from a home warranty that covers HVAC.
Sources:
* Pricing and amount of savings will vary based on location and equipment availability. Not available in all areas. Energy savings are from blended AHS markets and were obtained via a third-party cost calculator (SEER Energy Savings Calculator for Air Conditioners ). Savings vary based on location, system tonnage and SEER.
1 https://homeguide.com/costs/hvac-cost
AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.
