6 Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing (2022)

Whether it be a running toilet or a major mainline leak, plumbing issues of any size can quickly hike up your utility bill and even manifest into more severe secondary water damage the longer they go unresolved. With a home warranty, you’ll be guaranteed priority plumbing services from a licensed, local professional for a fraction of the cost.

Keep reading for more information on how a home warranty can safeguard your interior plumbing system, plus House Method’s research-backed recommendations for the best home warranties with premier plumbing protection.

The Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing in 2022

House Method analyzed 60+ leading home warranty companies nationwide, specifically in search of service providers with comprehensive plumbing coverage, high payout limits for related systems, plus add-on options for septic tanks, sump pumps, and exterior sewer lines.

1. Choice Home Warranty — Best overall
2. Select Home Warranty — Most cost-effective plans
3. American Home Shield — Best customizable plans
4. The Home Service Club — Quickest service
5. Liberty Home Guard — Most trustworthy

1. Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty (CHW) is the best overall home warranty option for plumbing. As one of the most prominent names on the home warranty market, Choice Home Warranty has provided robust plumbing coverage to over 1.65 million homes nationwide since 2008. CHW offers two base plan options, both featuring combo coverage for a wide range of appliances and systems, including plumbing. All plumbing access, diagnosis, repair, and replacement expenses are capped at $3,000 per year. 

Leak detection fees and costs related to locating, accessing, or installing inaccessible drain cleanouts are not included. Stoppages, leaks, and breaks beyond the home’s main foundation are also not included. 

Choice Home Warranty is not available in WA.

Key Highlights

• Has a workmanship guarantee of 90 days on all plumbing parts and 60 days on professional plumbing labor 
• Coverage for septic tanks and systems is available as an add-on for $120 per year.*
• Coverage for sump pumps is available as an add-on for $40 per year.*
• New joiners who opt to pay annually get one bonus month of free coverage

*Rates are according to a Choice Home Warranty agent as of July 12, 2022 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

• The Basic Plan ($45 per month / $560 per year): Covers 14 home appliances and systems including plumbing systems, plumbing stoppages, toilets, hot water heaters, whirlpool bathtubs, dishwashers, garbage disposals, electrical systems, heating systems, ductwork, oven/range/stove, cooktops, built-in microwaves, garage door openers, ceiling fans, and exhaust fans. 

• The Total Plan ($53.33 per month / $660 per year): Covers 18 items, including all systems and appliances in the Basic Plan, plus clothes washers, clothes dryers, refrigerators, and air conditioning systems.

• Optional Add-Ons ($40-$180 per year): Offers nine coverage riders for septic tanks and systems, sump pumps, well pumps, pool/spa, roof leaks, central vacuums, second refrigerators, and stand-alone freezers.

• Service Fee: $85

Fill out this form or call 929-400-6164 to get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty.

Read our full Choice Home Warranty review for more.

2. Select Home Warranty

Ideal for homeowners on a budget or anyone else who appreciates a good discount, Select Home Warranty (SHW) offers the most cost-effective plumbing coverage industry-wide. Select splits its standard coverage into an appliance-only, systems-only, and two-in-one combo plan. Gold Care, the systems-only plan, is a great way for homeowners to prioritize plumbing system coverage, though stoppages are only covered under Platinum Care. All plumbing access, diagnosis, repair, and replacement costs are limited to $500 per year.

SHW’s standard plans don’t include plumbing fixtures like faucets, showerheads, tub spouts, etc., but coverage for these items is available at an additional $50 per year.* Plumbing system coverage through Select does not include slab leaks, water softeners, or polybutylene pipes.

Select Home Warranty is not available in WA, NV, WY, or NM. 

Key Highlights

• All three base plans come with free roof leak repairs  (a $99 value), $150 off your premium, and two months of complimentary bonus coverage. 
• Coverage for septic tanks and systems is available as an add-on for $70 more per year.*
• Coverage for sump pumps is available as an add-on for $40* per year.*
• Policyholders are entitled to a $30-day money-back guarantee.

*Rates are according to a Select Home Warranty agent as of July 12, 2022 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

• The Bronze Care Plan ($58 per month / $630 per year): Covers eight appliances, including garbage disposals, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, ovens/stoves, built-in microwaves, and refrigerators.
• The Gold Care Plan ($57.67 per month / $630 per year): Covers six major systems, including plumbing, water heaters, electrical, heating, air conditioners, and ductwork.
• The Platinum Care Plan ($62.08 per month / $699.99 per year): Combines all Bronze Care and Gold Care items plus plumbing stoppages, garage door openers, and ceiling fans. 
• Optional Add-Ons: Offers 11 coverage riders for plumbing and lighting fixtures, limited roof leak (already included for new joiners), pools/spas, well pumps, sump pumps, central vacuum, second refrigerators, stand-alone freezers, lawn sprinkler systems, septic systems, and built-in ice-makers.
• Service Fee: $60

For a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.

Read our full Select Home Warranty review for more details.

3. American Home Shield

Having grown a customer base of over two million homeowners over its 50 years in the industry, American Home Shield (AHS) stands out for the customizability of its coverage. Coverage for plumbing and plumbing stoppages is consistent throughout all three of its base plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Across all policy levels, AHS has no coverage limit on plumbing repairs or replacements. An exception applies for plumbing enclosed behind concrete, which is capped at $1,000 per year to access, diagnose, repair, or replace the system. 

AHS’s plumbing coverage includes all pipe leaks and breaks within the main foundation of the home as well as repairs or replacements for things like showerheads/arms, valves, angle stops,  toilet wax rings seals, etc. Sump pumps are also included in AHS standard home warranty coverage. Plumbing-specific items not covered by AHS include toilet lids and seats, caulking/grout, and root infiltration. 

American Home Shield is not available in Alaska. 

Key Highlights

• Service call fee is the customer’s choice of $75, $100, or $125
• Septic tanks and systems are included as an optional add-on coverage item for $60 per year
• Doesn’t have a maximum coverage limit on plumbing repairs or replacements 
• Covers plumbing issues caused by unknown pre-existing conditions, improper installation, and sediment/rust/corrosion

*Rates are according to an American Home Shield agent as of July 12, 2022 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

• ShieldSilver ($29.27- $44.27 per month / $347.88 – $527.88 per year): Covers 14 systems, including interior plumbing lines, toilets, faucets and valves, whirlpool tub motors and components, water heaters, HVAC systems, electrical systems, and more.
• ShieldGold ($39.27 – $54.27 per month / $467.88 – $647.88 per year): Covers 23 systems and appliances, including all systems featured in ShieldSilver plus instant hot/cold water dispensers, garbage disposals, dishwashers, ranges/cooktops/ovens, refrigerators, built-in microwaves, clothes washers, and clothes dryers.
• ShieldPlatinum ($59.27 – $74.27 per month / $711.88 – $891.88 per year): Covers systems and appliances in ShieldGold plus:
  • Unlimited refrigerant
  • $6,000 coverage limit per appliance
  • $1,500 in roof leak repair coverage
  • $1,000 in coverage per year for code violations, permits, and modifications
• Optional Add-Ons: Offers coverage for pool/spa, septic pumps, well pumps, roof leaks, and guest house repairs
• Service Fee: $75, $100, or $125

For a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.

To learn more about AHS, visit our American Home Shield review.

4. The Home Service Club

Across all leading home warranty providers, The Home Service Club (HSC) offers the quickest plumbing coverage. Whereas most competing companies instate a 30-day waiting period for new customers, homeowners who sign up with HSC will have access to their policy benefits in just ten days. HSC also guarantees a claim response within 24 hours, which is especially vital for emergency leaks and line breaks. 

The Home Service Club has two combo base plan options: the Standard Coverage plan and the Comprehensive Coverage plan. Both policy levels include up to $750 per year in basic coverage for interior plumbing parts and water leaks, but only the Comprehensive Coverage plan covers plumbing stoppages. Water leak and stoppage coverage are each individually capped at $500 per year. 

Key Highlights

• Covers up to $5,000 in exterior water line damage, available as an elective coverage option for approximately $42 per year.*
• Promises replacements for items that can’t be repaired 
• Plumbing repairs or replacements by HSC are guaranteed for 90 days on parts and 30 days on labor.

*Rates are according to an American Home Shield agent as of July 12, 2022 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

• Standard Coverage Plan ($50 per month / $650 per year): Covers 18 systems and appliances, including plumbing, water leaks (within foundation’s perimeter), water heaters, garbage disposals, HVAC, electric, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, and more.
• Comprehensive Coverage Plan ($62.90 per month / $800 per year): Covers appliances and systems as they appear in the Standard Coverage plan plus plumbing stoppages, sewer and gas line leaks, sump pumps, whirlpool bathtub motors and pumps, pest control, telephone and alarm wiring, smoke detectors, and more. 
• Optional Add-Ons ($3.33 to $16.66 per month): Offers 11 additional coverage items, including water softener, sprinkler system lines, sewage ejector pumps, comprehensive utility line coverage, jetted bathtubs, pools/spas, spa heaters, well pumps, roof leak repairs, dual-compressor refrigerators, and freestanding freezers.
• Service Fee: $60, $75, or $95 

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-842-9334.

Continue reading about HSC in our complete The Home Service Club review.

5. Liberty Home Guard

Even as a much newer company, Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is the most trustworthy home warranty provider in the category. In addition to being the only leading home warranty carrier to date with an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), LHG also maintains strong customer satisfaction scores and an impressively low rate of claim denials. 

Liberty Home Guard divides its standard coverage by type, offering an appliance-only plan (Appliance Guard), a systems plan (Systems Guard), and a comprehensive plan variation (Total Home Guard). Both Systems Guard and Total Home Guard cover interior plumbing systems and stoppages. LHG caps all necessary plumbing maintenance at $2,000 per year. 

Also, according to Liberty Home Guard’s sample contract, basic plumbing fixtures aren’t a standard inclusion but can be purchased as an add-on for an extra $79.99 per year.

Liberty Home Guard is not available in WA, WY, or WI. 

Key Highlights

• New joiners will receive an extra $200 off plus two bonus months of free coverage and complimentary roof leak protection 
• Offers an exhaustive suite of 41+ optional coverage riders, which includes water softener, plumbing fixtures, septic systems, sump pumps, and more. 
• Base plans start as low as $1 per day
• Coverage for sump pumps available as an add-on for an extra $59.99 per year

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

• Appliance Guard ($70 per month / $700 per year): Covers 11 appliances including, dishwashers, garbage disposals, ranges/ovens/cooktops, built-in microwaves, refrigerators, ceiling and exhaust fans, garage door openers, clothes washers, and clothes dryers. 
• Systems Guard ($74.99 per month / $750 per year): Covers nine systems, including plumbing, water heaters, toilets, heating, air conditioning, electrical, bath exhaust fans, ceiling fans, and ductwork. 
• Total Home Guard ($79.99 per month / $799.99 per year): Premier plan option that combines 20 appliances and systems in Appliance and Systems Guard. 
• Optional Add-Ons ($49.99 – $299.99 per year): Offers coverage for plumbing fixtures, septic system pumping, well pumps, sump pumps, ejector pumps, pool/spa, water softener, reverse osmosis water filter systems and more.
• Service Fee: $75

To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.

Continue reading about LHG in our Liberty Home Guard review. 

What is a Home Warranty for Plumbing?

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the cost to repair or replace major appliances and built-in home systems as they break down due to normal wear and tear over time. Because interior plumbing is considered a whole-house system, it’s almost always regarded as a primary inclusion in home protection plans. 

All home warranty providers instate an initial waiting period for new policyholders starting on the day you first sign up and usually lasting between 10 and 30 days. Any plumbing issues you notice before or during this waiting period aren’t eligible for coverage through your provider. 

Home warranty policies follow a 12-month contract period unless you’ve purchased a multi-year plan. Your coverage can be renewed at the start of each new year. 

Who Should Have Plumbing Coverage?

All homeowners should consider protecting their property’s interior plumbing with a home warranty. It’s safe to assume that your plumbing system is integral to your day-to-day routine. Unexpected maintenance problems that hinder your water supply or drainage needs will affect the habitability of your home if not dealt with promptly.

Plumbing issues are bound to happen to every homeowner at one point or another. Still, a home warranty may be especially worthwhile for anyone who recently purchased an older home with:

• Cast irons pipes
• Galvanized steel pipes
• Polybutylene pipes
• Lead service lines
• Pipe bellies
• Outdated faucets and fixtures

Investing in a home warranty for your plumbing system is also a good idea if you have or are planning on having younger children. Because kids often flush too much toilet paper or even other things they shouldn’t, clogs are more likely to occur if you have little ones around. Most home warranties will cover stoppages within 100 feet of an access point.  

What Does a Plumbing Home Warranty Cover?

Because home warranties are designed to cover malfunctions and total breakdowns caused by normal wear and tear, only plumbing issues due to age-related deterioration will be covered by your policy. Inclusions and exclusions vary from company to company. Still, eligible plumbing problems generally include:

• Leaks and breaks in water, drain, waste, and gas lines
• Clearing of toilet, sink, bathtub, and shower stoppages
• Clearing of mainline drain and sewer stoppages (up to 100 feet from an access point)
• Clearing of lateral drain line stoppages (up to 100 feet from an access point)
• Toilet flushing mechanisms
• Faucets, showerheads, valves, angle stops,  shower arms, etc.
• Risers
• Built-in whirlpool/jetted motors, pumps, and air switches

Home warranties cover more than just plumbing systems. Even if you purchase a home warranty specifically to protect your home’s interior plumbing, you’ll also be covered for any issues affecting the following items:

How Much Does a Plumbing Home Warranty Cost?

Because plumbing systems are almost always a covered item in any home warranty base plan, you won’t have to pay extra to protect your home’s interior pipes and fittings. That said, the average monthly cost of a home warranty plan falls between $40 and $65. From an annual standpoint, that’s $480 and $780 per year. 

In addition to your main premium, you’ll also need to be prepared to pay an out-of-pocket fee each time you file a new claim. This deductible, often called a service fee, will vary based on your provider, though most range between $60 and $150. Your service fee will be paid at the first home visit per each new service request. It’ll be used to compensate your technician for labor costs and any travel expenses they may have incurred (gas mileage, use of a company vehicle, etc.)

The Secondary Costs of a Plumbing Issue

Even small-scale leaks can result in significant secondary damage when left unaddressed for too long. Black mold and mildew will grow on damp surface areas within 24 to 48 hours. Mold remediation can add up quickly, too — the average affected homeowner usually fronts between $1,500 and $3,159 for professional treatment services. 

The total cost to repair isolated areas of your home from water damage will largely depend on the type of material affected, and the extent of damage sustained. A home warranty won’t cover expenses related to secondary damage. Still, it will ensure that you have access to quick repair or replacement services to minimize your home’s exposure time to excess moisture. 

Here’s a cost breakdown of how water damage restoration prices may differ around the home: 

• Basic removal and cleaning — $200-$300
• Drywall and ceiling repair — $200-$1,000
• Flooring and hardwood repair — $300-$2,000+
• Cabinetry repair — $150-$200

On top of paying to repair subsequent damage, in the event of a leak or any plumbing issue that resulted in free-flowing water for an extended period of time, you’ll also be liable for the cost of all the water lost.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. Large-scale leaks can add up fast.

How Does a Home Warranty for Plumbing Work?

File a Claim

Once your home warranty plan is active, when you notice a leak or any other interior plumbing issue, all you’ll have to do is notify your service provider. To properly request service, you’ll need to file an official claim via your designated customer portal or over the phone through a customer service representative. 

Though claim turnaround times differ across providers, most will take 24-48 hours to process and approve. If you’re experiencing an emergency plumbing issue, clarify that up front. Most home warranty companies will provide expedited services for time-sensitive cases. 

First Service Appointment

Before a repair or replacement is made, your service provider will dispatch a technician to inspect the issue in person. At this diagnostic appointment, the contractor will ensure that the problem with your plumbing falls within the coverage terms of your warranty. 

If the issue at hand is eligible for coverage, the technician will report back to your home warranty company with a price estimate for the necessary repairs or replacement.

Pay the Service Fee

You’ll be required to pay a service fee as specified in your service agreement during the first service appointment. Your provider may even collect this before a technician is assigned to your case, so make sure you have that amount set aside.  

Second Service Appointment

Based on the severity of the fix and related maintenance costs, your service provider will decide whether to repair or replace the affected portion of your plumbing system. At this point in the process, you won’t owe anything further out of pocket, so long as the plumbing services performed don’t exceed your annual coverage caps. 

Final Thoughts

While plumbing costs are arguably among some of the lowest relative to other home repair issues, a sudden pipe break or mainline stoppage still isn’t going to be cheap to resolve. Plumbing issues also need to be handled with urgency from the moment you hear a distant dripping sound or notice signs of interior water damage. 

With a home warranty in place, you’ll be equipped to proactively and affordably handle plumbing issues, plus most other appliance or system failures around your home, with little to no involvement required on your part. Beyond notifying your provider of the problem and paying a flat-rate service fee upon the arrival of a technician, the rest will be coordinated by your home warranty company.  

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. 

To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.

We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings, using whole star increments between one and five. 

Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories: 

• Coverage (0.4): This category evaluates the scope of protection offered by a home warranty provider. We clearly distinguished between limited or broad coverage to help homeowners identify their own home protection needs. We also factor in claim turnaround times, average waiting period lengths, plan types, annual coverage limits, policy exclusions, etc.
• Cost (0.3): This category considers what home warranty companies charge homeowners monthly, annual, and out-of-pocket. We urge homeowners also to consider the cost-to-value ratio of a home warranty plan.
• Transparency and Trustworthiness (0.15): This category evaluates home warranty providers based on pending or past legal action, hidden fees, lack of information readily available on the website, exclusions, and more. We consider how upfront a company is to its potential policyholders, which says a lot about its products and services.
• Customer Support and Satisfaction (.09): This category evaluates the efficacy of a home warranty company’s effort to provide supportive guidance to inquiring customers and how policyholders are satisfied with the assistance they receive. 
• Customization (.06): This category evaluates the ability of homeowners to adjust and choose their policy details, such as pricing variation, optional add-ons, and the number of plans available.