ARW Home (formerly American Residential Warranty) is a home warranty company that stands out as one of the few home warranty providers serving all 50 states. It offers solid protection plans, covering common household items such as air conditioning systems and refrigerators.
Our team analyzed ARW Home’s coverage plans, costs, customer service and extra features using our in-depth review standards to see how it ranks against our list of best home warranty companies. Its limited customization and lack of standard features led us to recommend other companies.
Our thoughts on ARW Home
We gave ARW Home 4 out of 5 stars based on our rating system. To do so, we examined its plan options, coverage limits, workmanship guarantee and more.
ARW Home scored well in multiple categories, such as the coverage limits and state availability sections. However, it lost points in the extra features and price categories.
What we like
ARW Home has a generous 90-day workmanship guarantee for all completed repairs. This means that if a previously repaired item breaks down within 90 days of its initial repair, ARW Home will reservice it for free. While most home warranty companies will only reservice the item if it breaks down, the ARW Home representative who disclosed its workmanship guarantee added that ARW Home will also reservice a repaired item if you are simply unsatisfied with the work.
Another coverage feature we like from ARW Home is its Ultimate Electronics Protection add-on. This add-on covers 11 common household electronics, including laptops and TVs. I read ARW Home’s sample electronics contract and found that the company will pay up to $5,000 annually for electronics repairs. However, ARW Home’s electronics add-on has a separate claims department with different hours of operation. Unlike the standard home warranty plans department, it doesn’t accept claims 24/7.
ARW Home also offers solid coverage limits. Its online sample contract doesn’t list specific coverage limits, so I called ARW Home to get them. The representative said the company pays up to $7,500 yearly for all covered systems and appliances. When I asked for clarification, the representative said, “We will cover all repairs or replacements for each item up to the $7,500 amount. This means you can file a claim for your dishwasher multiple times per year, and we’ll cover the costs up to $7,500.”
What we don’t like
ARW Home lacks coverage options that many home warranty companies we’ve reviewed include in standard plans or as add-ons. For example, it doesn’t offer roof-leak repair coverage. If you live in an area where it rains frequently, ARW Home may not be the best choice.
The company’s online quote tool doesn’t display all its additional coverage options. The online quote I pulled displayed four add-ons: pool protection, water and sewer line coverage, and Ultimate Electronics Protection. However, by calling ARW Home, you can purchase six additional add-ons, including well pump coverage.
Finally, ARW Home charges a higher monthly premium for its comprehensive plan. At $84.99 per month, ARW Home’s comprehensive plan is more than 20% pricier than our national average calculation of $69.76 per month.
Compare top home warranty companies
ARW Home offers a comprehensive electronics protection add-on that few home warranty companies can match. If you need more coverage variety or prefer a plan-length workmanship guarantee, consider Liberty Home Guard or 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
See how the best home warranty companies compare based on key factors:
Monthly premiums shown are national averages based on quotes we pulled for 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes in each state serviced by the provider.
Coverage plans
ARW Home offers three coverage plans. Below is a brief overview of each ARW Home plan:
- ApplianceMax: This plan covers home appliances, such as cooktops and garbage disposals.
- SystemsMax: This plan covers home systems, including interior electrical and central air conditioning.
- TotalMax: This plan covers everything listed in the ApplianceMax and SystemsMax plans, plus humidifiers, ceiling fans and garage door openers.
Below, we highlight other factors that influence ARW Home’s protection plans:
- Workmanship guarantee: 90 days
- Appliance coverage cap: $7,500 annual limit per appliance
- System coverage cap: $7,500 annual limit per system
The tables below display all of ARW Home’s coverage options per plan:
| Appliance Coverage | ApplianceMax | SystemsMax | TotalMax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cooktop | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kitchen exhaust fan | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Oven | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Range | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| HVAC Coverage | ApplianceMax | SystemsMax | TotalMax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioning | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central home heating | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Humidifier | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electrical Coverage | ApplianceMax | SystemsMax | TotalMax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling fans | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Garage door openers | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interior electrical system | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing Coverage | ApplianceMax | SystemsMax | TotalMax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing system | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heater | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Additional coverage options
Online, ARW Home lists only four of its 10 additional coverage options. But by contacting an ARW Home representative, you can access the remaining add-ons.
ARW Home’s optional add-ons include the following:
- Additional clothes dryer
- Additional clothes washer
- Additional refrigerator
- Additional stand-alone freezer
- Pool
- Septic tank
- Sewer line
- Ultimate Electronics Protection
- Water line
- Well pump
Coverage exclusions
ARW Home has notable coverage exclusions in the “Standard Exclusions” section of its sample contract. Like most home warranty companies, ARW Home excludes items with preexisting conditions. It also excludes damage caused by negligence, improper maintenance and service, corrosion, and acts of nature.
Review ARW Home’s sample contract for more information.
Quotes and pricing
To obtain a quote with ARW Home, you can use its online quote tool or call its sales department. Its quote tool is simple; you must fill out several pieces of personal information, such as your name, phone number and ZIP code, and ARW Home generates a custom quote.
After requesting a quote, I noticed that ARW Home didn’t display its service call fee in its pricing window. I called ARW Home, and a representative said that its service fee is $100 per claim.
The table below shows the various ARW Home monthly plan costs. We used a 2,078-square-foot, single-family home in Boca Raton, Florida, for our online quote.
| Plan Name | $100 Service Call Fee |
|---|---|
| ApplianceMax | $45.99 per month |
| SystemsMax | $59.99 per month |
| TotalMax | $84.99 per month |
Customer thoughts
ARW Home holds a solid A rating with Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, the company holds less favorable customer ratings on its BBB profile — its average customer rating is 1.66 out of 5 stars.
Across other third-party review sites, such as Best Company and Trustpilot, I found several recent customer reviews that centered around a negative claims experience. For example, this Trustpilot review from Kevin G. highlights delays in receiving service from an in-network technician.
Still, there are recent positive customer reviews on BBB. Ervin M. commends the customer service provided by ARW Home’s representatives, noting how well they cleared up his initial confusion about his coverage plan.
How do I use my American Residential coverage plan?
Before buying an ARW Home plan, we suggest understanding how a home warranty works. For example, you should review each ARW Home service contract section to know its exclusions and limitations. Below, we highlight several tips to help you maximize the value of your ARW Home plan.
Read your service contract
Reading your plan’s service contract again after purchasing it can help you avoid a denied claim. The main sections you should focus on in ARW Home’s fine print are the following:
- Coverage period: This section explains ARW Home’s initial waiting period before coverage begins.
- Payment obligations: This section highlights ARW Home’s stipulations for paying your plan premium.
- What your service plan covers: This section provides an overview of each covered item, as well as its components and additional coverage provisions. ARW Home also lists the components it excludes per item.
- Standard exclusions: This section lists the general exclusions ARW Home stipulates in its coverage plans. Review this section carefully to know what it considers to be an exclusion.
- Limit of liability and conditions: This section highlights ARW Home’s provisions on what it covers and the conditions under which it’ll provide repair services.
- Cancellation/refund: This section outlines ARW Home’s cancellation policy.
File a claim
ARW Home accepts claims through two filing methods: a 24/7 claims hotline and an online form. After approving your claim, ARW Home will send an in-network service provider to your home. It also allows you to choose your preferred service technician, though its sample contract stipulates that you must obtain authorization from ARW Home before your technician performs a repair.
Additionally, ARW Home’s sample contract specifies that it’ll generally respond to service requests within 48 hours of receiving them. For emergency requests, expect a response within 24 hours.
How long does my coverage plan last?
ARW Home’s typical policy duration is 12 months unless you purchase a multiyear plan. After signing up, ARW Home won’t accept claims for the first 30 days. The representative I spoke with warned that you should wait until the waiting period ends before notifying ARW Home of your breakdown — otherwise, the company would consider your issue a preexisting condition and deny your claim.
In addition, ARW Home has a free cancellation period if you cancel within the first 30 days of purchase. The “Cancellation/Refund” section of its sample contract states, “If we have not provided any services, the customer will receive a full refund of all service plan fees paid.”
Canceling after 30 days is a different story. The same section states that if you haven’t used your coverage plan, you’ll receive a prorated refund of the plan premium.
How should I handle a dispute with American Residential Warranty?
If you have a dispute with ARW Home regarding your most recent claim, you can take several actions to expedite the resolution process:
- Confirm your coverage details: If ARW Home denies your claim, we suggest reviewing your service contract to confirm that your issue is a covered malfunction.
- Contact ARW Home: Once you’ve reviewed your service contract and confirmed your issue is a covered breakdown, contact ARW Home.
- Document everything: Write down the name of the customer service representative you speak with in each instance you contact ARW Home. This proves that you attempted to resolve the issue with the company first in case you need to escalate to a higher authority.
- Contact a consumer protection agency: If ARW Home refuses to cooperate after three resolution attempts, we suggest contacting your state’s consumer protection agency. Your state’s insurance commissioner or attorney general’s office has a complaint form on its website.
Final take: ARW Home has solid protection plans but limited coverage flexibility
ARW Home has several benefits that make it a provider worth considering, such as its $7,500 annual per-item coverage cap, generous workmanship guarantee and comprehensive electronics protection. That said, ARW Home’s limited plan customization, expensive comprehensive plan and lack of roof-leak coverage lead us to recommend more well-rounded companies, such as 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
For your custom quote, fill out the ARW Home quote form. Our team recommends requesting quotes from three companies to compare costs, coverage options and workmanship guarantees.
Our rating methodology for home warranty companies
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and home. Our research includes gathering customer insights via consumer surveys, interviewing industry experts, secret shopping all of the companies we review and analyzing customer reviews from third-party review sites such as Trustpilot and BBB.
We compare home warranty providers across the following five categories:
- Coverage plans and extra features
- Coverage limits
- Price
- Reputation
- Customer service
Read our full home warranty company methodology for more information.
BBB, Best Company and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of January 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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