I am a new homeowner, had my own learning experience about home warranties. My water heater was acting up and I called a freind who is a plumber, he told me I should replace my water heater after inspecting it. I didnt really have the money, and it was still working. Within 2 days of his visit I noticed steam in a kitchen window and realized it was coming from a wall just on the other side of my water heater.
I called AHS once one of my neighbors said it was the water heater pressure release. They setup an appt for the next day, although the situation became worse because my spewing hot water heater was blowing this hot water into a alley shared with an elementary school where kids wait to be picked up. Still could not get the appt moved up, not considered an emergency.
The contracted company who showed up gave me an estimate for items not covered "code violations of $700."
I called my friend while the service man was here, and read the list of code violations to him. Only 1 item he agreed with, but said he had a hard time even agreeing with that. He told me to send the plumber packing.
I made sure to get the plumbers name, and checked with a freind at the CA state contractors board who said this guy was not a licensed plumber.
All this information in hand I called AHS and read them the riot act. They offered me a cash buy out, and the problem could be fixed from someone I hired. The buyout was for $275 and it took about 2 months to get that check.
I should mention although hot water was spewing into an area where kids wait to be picked up the contracted company that AHS sent out on Thursday could not come replace the water heater until monday, total negligance on my part if someone would have been burned as the winds were blowing this scalding hot water way into the alley.
Having my friend replace my water heater cost me $375 parts (remember AHS settled for what they would pay thier contracted plumber $275) and $200 labor, most importantly the repair was done Friday afternoon instead of Monday.
AHS does not pay the contracted repair providers enough to cover parts, and I believe they expect these repair places to turn it into a money making job. However later I added up what the AHS plumber left for CODE VIOLATIONS he stated was $700 but did not add up. They totaled $925, and I cant help but think if I had agreed they would have held me to $925 since it was only verbally they told me $700.
If at all possible take the cash buy out from ahs and find someone to repair your problem on your own. Its going to cost you money out of your pocket, but save you valuable time.
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