Investing in a home warranty plan that covers plumbing issues is a wise choice for any homeowner. Your home’s plumbing system can experience common issues, such as a sewer line break or water damage. A home warranty makes repairing or replacing any part of your home’s plumbing system easier. Additionally, it gives you peace of mind when something goes wrong.
The This Old House Reviews Team has researched the best home warranty companies in the industry to help you find a provider that offers reliable and extensive plumbing system coverage. In this review, we compare coverage plans and pricing for our top-rated home warranty companies.
The Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing Coverage
The This Old House Reviews Team has named the following five companies as the best for plumbing protection:
- American Home Shield: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Ratings
- Select Home Warranty: Best Value
- First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage
- America’s First Choice Home Club: Best for Customization
Annual Home Warranty Cost Calculator
Our team created a calculator to break down the estimated annual cost of owning a home warranty. Enter your monthly premium, service call fee, and estimated number of claims to see your projected annual cost. It’s best to request a quote directly from one of our recommended providers, as annual costs and service fees vary between them.
Lifespan and repair cost data sourced from InterNACHI and Home Depot
What’s Covered?
A home warranty typically covers a plumbing system’s core components, which consist of the following:
- Drain lines
- Pipes
- Sewer lines
- Toilet components
- Valves
- Water lines
Home warranties also cover damage to plumbing components, including the following:
- Pipe breaks and leaks
- Plumbing line stoppages
- Sewer line and mainline clearing within your home’s foundation
Providers offer certain types of coverage, such as septic tank pumping, as an add-on to supplement your plumbing system protection. Additionally, home warranties cover home systems and major appliances.
What’s Not Covered?
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), if a provider doesn’t list an item or component within its service contract, it likely doesn’t cover it.
There are several conditions or damages a home warranty provider won’t cover regarding your plumbing system. These include the following:
- Broken or leaking pipes caused by freezing
- Miscellaneous plumbing system components such as toilet lids
- Plumbing line stoppages caused by foreign objects or tree roots
- Sewer line and mainline clogs outside your home’s foundation
We recommend reading a provider’s fine print to understand its exact terms of coverage and exclusions.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield
Best for Comprehensive CoverageIntroduction
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the industry’s most experienced home warranty companies. It serves every state except for Alaska and Hawaii. It provides comprehensive coverage for major systems and appliances, including your plumbing system, and it allows customers to select a service call fee between $100 and $125.
American Home Shield holds a 4 out of 5-star rating with Best Company. Several customers appreciated AHS’s customer service and coverage.
Pros and Cons
- Covers rust, corrosion, and sediment damage
- Offers a $1,000 coverage limit on plumbing systems
- Includes coverage for improperly installed systems and appliances
- Provides a limited selection of add-on coverage
- Prices plans higher than competitors
Plumbing Info
American Home Shield covers plumbing repairs, leaks and breaks in water, drain, gas, waste, and vent lines, toilets and related mechanisms, shower heads, permanently installed sump pumps, and other plumbing system components. It also covers damage due to rust, corrosion, sediment, unknown pre-existing conditions, improper installation, and insufficient maintenance. American Home Shield covers up to $5,000 per covered plumbing repair.
Plans and Prices
AHS provides three protection plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS customers can choose a $100 or $125 service fee for all three plans. The higher the service fee, the lower the monthly premium.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this simple online form or call 844-529-9298.
You can review the American Home Shield’s sample contract for exact coverage details.
Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard
Best Customer RatingsIntroduction
Liberty Home Guard is a new home warranty company, but it has made a name for itself in terms of customer satisfaction and quality of service. Liberty Home Guard holds a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Google Reviews. It provides a 60-day workmanship guarantee and a solid $2,000 coverage cap per plumbing system component. Liberty is available in all 50 states.
Pros and Cons
- Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee on all completed repairs
- Includes a live-chat feature for convenient customer service
- Provides plumbing stoppage coverage
- Lacks transparency with service call fee pricing
- Doesn’t let you choose your service provider
Plumbing Info
Liberty Home Guard covers leaks and breaks in your water, drain, and waste lines, toilets, showers, tubs. In addition, Liberty covers plumbing stoppages and clogs in drains and sewer lines up to 100 feet. Additionally, it provides optional coverage for lawn sprinkler systems, pool and spa, septic system pumping, well pumps, and sump pumps.
Plans and Prices
Liberty Home Guard provides three plans: System Guard, Appliance Guard, and Total Guard. System Guard protects essential systems, including your plumbing, air conditioning, and heating systems. Appliance Guard covers appliances such as your dishwasher, garbage disposal, and refrigerator. The Total Guard plan covers both systems and appliances.
Liberty Home Guard pairs your plan with a service call fee that ranges from $65 to $125. Your service call fee varies based on your home’s size, type, and location and your plan selections.
To request a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this short form or call 866-452-9107.
Liberty Home Guard’s service contract provides additional coverage information for each plan.
Select Home Warranty
Select Home Warranty
Best ValueIntroduction
Select Home Warranty is a solid option for those on a budget. Select provides a low deductible, ranging between $60 and $75. It offers plans for less than $50 a month and includes roof-leak repair coverage with all protection plans.
Regarding customer service, Select holds a solid 3.9 out of 5-star rating on Google Reviews. Many customers felt Select’s sign-up process was smooth. However, several customers lamented Select’s claims processing.
Select boasts a 30-day repair guarantee and discounts on multi-year coverage plans.
Pros and Cons
- Includes $400 roof-leak repair coverage in each plan
- Offers low service call fees
- Provides two extra months of coverage when you purchase an annual plan
- Limits plumbing systems to a $500 coverage cap
- Excludes coverage for unknown preexisting conditions
Plumbing Info
Although Select’s Gold Care and Platinum Care plans cover major plumbing problems, such as plumbing stoppages and water heater issues, it only provides up to $500 per covered plumbing item. That said, Select covers the following plumbing system components: leaks in water, drain, waste, and vent lines, toilet bowls, toilet tanks, toilet flushing mechanisms, angle stops, risers, and more. Select offers additional coverage for plumbing fixtures, such as faucets and shower heads. If your plumbing system is fairly new and you are on a budget, Select is worth considering.
Plans and Prices
Select Home Warranty offers three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. The Gold Care and Platinum Care plans cover plumbing systems, but the Bronze Care plan only covers home appliances. Select charges customers a service fee of $60–$75.
To get a free estimate from Select Home Warranty, fill out this simple form or call 888-370-3956.
First American Home Warranty
First American Home Warranty
Best Appliance CoverageIntroduction
First American Home Warranty is a veteran provider—it has served homeowners nationwide since 1984. First American provides comprehensive coverage for your home and plan flexibility via three plans and three service call fees. First American is available in 34 states but not in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Wisconsin.
Pros and Cons
- Provides an unlimited coverage cap on plumbing systems
- Covers working plumbing components regardless of age
- Includes access to select appliance discounts
- Lacks coverage in 15 states
- Charges slightly higher premiums compared to other providers
Plumbing Info
First American does not include coverage caps for plumbing system repairs, which most providers do. All three coverage plans cover plumbing system components, including pressure regulators, circulating hot water pumps, bathtub motors, permanently installed sump pumps, valves, water line leaks/breaks, toilet tanks, and plumbing stoppages up to 125 feet from an access point located in your home’s main foundation. The Premium Plan adds additional coverage for faucets, hose bibbs, and shower heads. First American also offers septic system coverage, water softeners, and well-pump coverage as an add-on.
Plans and Prices
First American offers three plans: the Starter Plan, the Essential Plan, and the Premium Plan. The Standard Plan and Essential Plan protect a mix of home appliances and systems. The Premium Plan includes the items covered in the plans above, plus additional coverage cap increases. First American allows you to choose from a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee.
To request your free quote, fill out First American Home Warranty’s quote form or call 800-891-9778.
Check out First American Home Warranty’s sample contract for exact coverage details.
AFC Home Club
AFC Home Club
Best for CustomizationIntroduction
America’s First Choice Home Club (AFC Home Club) is a solid choice for plumbing system protection. Although it has a $500 coverage limit on plumbing systems, it extends an unlimited workmanship guarantee per completed repair, giving you peace of mind. In addition, AFC Home Club includes membership perks, such as free credit monitoring. AFC Home Club holds a 3.7 out of 5-star rating on Google Reviews.
Pros and Cons
- Extends an unlimited workmanship guarantee on completed repairs
- Allows you to choose your service provider
- Offers three service call options
- Covers plumbing stoppages only in the Platinum Plan
- Provides a low $500 coverage limit for plumbing systems
Plumbing Info
Three of AFC Home Club’s four plans cover major plumbing components such as drain, vent, and waste lines, flush valves, water supply pipes, and toilet tanks and bowls. AFC Home Club’s most comprehensive plan, Platinum, adds plumbing stoppage coverage. It also covers up to $250 for access to unobstructed walls, ceilings, or floors. Note that the $250 applies to AFC Home Club’s total plumbing coverage limit of $500.
Plans and Prices
AFC Home Club offers four plans: Silver, Systems, Gold, and Platinum. The Silver Plan covers major appliances, such as garage-door openers. The Systems Plan covers major systems, including HVAC. Its Gold and Platinum plans bundle systems and appliance coverage. The Platinum includes coverage for built-in microwaves, faucets, and plumbing stoppages. In addition, AFC Home Club lets you choose from a $75, $100, and $125 service call fee.
To request your free quote, fill out First American Home Warranty’s quote form or call 800-891-9778.
AFC Home Club’s fine print gives more details if you want to learn more.
Why You Should Cover Your Plumbing System With a Home Warranty
Not only can a home warranty protect your plumbing system, but it can also protect other important systems and appliances, such as your electrical system, heating, clothes washer, dryer, oven, well pump, pool, and spa.
According to our 2021 survey of 1,000 homeowners, over 51% of respondents said their most expensive home costs outside of their mortgage involved repairing or maintaining a system or appliance. Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers damage to your home from natural disasters, fire, or theft, a home warranty protects your most important home items.
Additionally, purchasing home warranty coverage prevents you from paying expensive out-of-pocket costs for unexpected repairs and replacements on home items caused by normal wear and tear. Having a home warranty also saves you from searching for a technician whenever you need a repair. Most home warranty companies have a network of experienced professionals who can repair or replace your broken system or appliance within two to three business days of receiving your claim.
Before deciding on a home warranty, we recommend requesting quotes from the providers listed in this review to help you compare pricing and coverage in your area. Read provider sample contracts to understand contract terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.