Septic Warranty Review: Coverage and Costs (2020)

Homeowners who have a septic system know that proper care and maintenance can provide a lot of protection against potential septic system failures. Unfortunately, these systems do break down over time and may require costly repairs or replacement. There are several protection plan options for homeowners with a septic system to ease the burden of septic failures.

At House Method, we know that maintaining your home in an efficient and cost-effective manner is important. We’ve put together a guide that includes various options for protecting a septic system, including a septic warranty and home warranty.

Below are some of the most common providers.

After researching and reviewing top home warranty companies, our recommendation for home warranty provider is Choice Home Warranty for septic warranties. You can get a free home warranty quote by filling out this form or calling Choice Home Warranty at 929-400-6164. Read our in-depth Choice Home Warranty review for more details.

Coverage options for septic systems

Many homeowners with septic systems want to know that their septic system is at least partially covered should a problem arise. There are several septic system protection plans that can help reduce the cost of a septic system repair, including septic warranty programs made for septic systems.

1. Septic system coverage under home insurance

Although most standard homeowner’s insurance policies will cover your septic system as a part of your property, there are exceptions. Some policies limit the amount of coverage offered by classifying a septic system as “other structures,” similar to pools or garden sheds. This may mean that you’ll receive a reduced amount of coverage for your system.

Additionally, if your septic system is damaged by an earthquake or flood, you’ll likely need specific policies for those disasters, in addition to your standard home insurance. Some insurance companies offer well and septic insurance designed to protect septic systems. For example, State Farm customers can choose State Farm septic system coverage for their homes.

2. Septic warranty options

Some septic system companies offer a septic warranty to specifically protect a home’s septic system. A septic warranty is a septic system protection plan created as a service contract between the homeowner and the warranty provider. This particular septic protection plan option only covers your septic system, not your plumbing or other related systems.

3. Septic protection with a home warranty

Similar to a septic warranty, a home warranty is a service contract that provides protection to your home’s major appliances and systems. Unlike a septic warranty or septic coverage under home insurance, a home warranty covers more than just your septic system. Septic system coverage is usually an additional option to a base home warranty plan.

What parts of a septic system are covered by a home warranty?

Different home warranty companies will provide different septic protection plans and services. Choice Home Warranty, for example, offers to cover septic tank pumping once in the life of the contract agreement for main line stoppage or blockages. Additionally, Choice provides coverage for septic system parts, including the sewer ejector pump, jet pump, aerobic pump, and the septic tank and line from your house.

Are there exclusions for home warranty septic coverage?

Many home warranty companies don’t provide coverage for drain field pipe replacement or regular maintenance pumping. Home warranty companies also don’t usually provide coverage to gain access to the septic tank or dispose of waste. As with most insurance and septic warranty options, a home warranty doesn’t cover damages caused by neglect to the septic system or insufficient maintenance.

Are there any coverage maximums for septic systems?

Sometimes. The average coverage cap for a good home warranty is $162. In their contract, Choice Home Warranty includes up to $200 for septic tank pumping due to major blockages and $500 for repair and replacement of covered system parts.

Benefits of a home warranty vs. a septic warranty

Choosing whether to protect your septic system with a home warranty or septic warranty may come down to your home’s biggest needs. Some of the benefits of adding septic coverage to a home warranty over a specific septic warranty include:

• Coverage for other systems—It’s unlikely that your septic system will need frequent repairs or replacement with normal maintenance. With a home warranty, you’re more likely to use your protection plan than a septic warranty alone. Common household appliances such as washing machines or refrigerators break down often from normal wear and tear. A home warranty with septic insurance gives you coverage for these appliances as well.
• One contract—A home warranty allows you to pay one fee for one contract to protect your entire home. This makes keeping records or filing a claim much simpler.
• Potential cost savings—Adding septic coverage to your home warranty may save you more money than purchasing a septic warranty. Many home warranty companies offer discounts for paying annually, while a septic warranty company may not.

Is septic warranty coverage necessary?

Septic systems require proper planning and regular maintenance to run smoothly. Septic tanks, in particular, are highly resilient to damage when cared for properly. However, even with proper maintenance a septic tank and its leach field may encounter problems over time.

Common septic system repairs and costs

Repairing or replacing parts on a septic system can be an expensive undertaking. Even common repairs tend to be more expensive than other household systems. Below, we’ve broken down some of the most common septic system repairs and their average costs.

*Repair cost pricing current as of January 2019.

Note: Other septic system repairs are much costlier. Replacing any of the major components of a septic system will likely cost several thousand dollars.

How to take care of your septic system

Even with a septic warranty, the most effective way to prevent expensive damage is to practice proper maintenance. Regular inspections and home septic pumping will keep your system running smoothly. You’ll also be able to identify any issues that may be forming, catching problems before they become a costly replacement.

Inspect and pump your system often

Your septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a professional septic service. For larger homes or those with more water activity, such as a family with small children taking baths and needing to launder clothes more often, a septic system should be inspected even more frequently. Septic systems with mechanical parts or electrical float switches should be inspected every year.

A home septic pump should be performed about every three to five years. Your septic service company can help you decide how often your system needs to be inspected and pumped. Be sure to keep accurate records of your system including a diagram, property map, and log of previous septic system maintenance.

Practice efficient water use

All of the water used in your home’s plumbing eventually winds up in your septic system. The less water that enters the system, the better the system will operate to break wastewater down into the soil. By preventing wasteful use of water, you can make your septic system last longer.

Consider replacing inefficient toilets with high-efficiency models to reduce water waste when using the bathroom. Additionally, you can find energy-efficient shower heads and tap aerators that reduce water usage. Some companies and organizations even offer free kits with these products. Use the correct load size when doing laundry to avoid using more water than is necessary to clean your clothes.

Dispose of waste properly

Everything you pour down the bathroom or kitchen sink, flush through the toilet, or wash down the shower drain ends up in your septic system. Understanding what can and cannot be put into a septic system will help the longevity of your system. Never wash cooking oil or grease, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, or feminine hygiene products down the drain or toilet.

Other, lesser-known items that should never end up in your septic tank include dental floss, flushable wipes, and paper towels. Avoid using household chemicals in your plumbing as much as possible. For example, use a drain snake to unclog a pipe instead of a harsh chemical. Even products that advertise to be safe for septic systems can cause damage if used excessively.

Septic drain field maintenance

The septic drain field is one of the most important components of a septic system. In this leach area, the disposed wastewater enters the soil to break down naturally and remove contaminants. Once this water has gone through the process, it helps to replenish groundwater in the soil.

Keep your drain field in good repair by never parking or driving vehicles or heavy equipment over it. When planting trees and bushes with deep roots, make sure they are planted an appropriate distance away from the leach field. As too much water slows or stops the natural wastewater treatment of a drain field, be sure to avoid introducing excess water to the area, such as gutter runoff.

Which home warranty provider should you choose for your septic protection plan?

The House Method team has put in the time to research and review several of the top home warranty companies and their coverage options. The table below gives you an overview of coverage offerings from top home warranty companies.

Our septic warranty recommendation

Through our extensive research on the best home warranty companies, we recommend Choice Home Warranty for septic warranty coverage.

Here are just a few reasons why we suggest Choice Home Warranty for septic warranty coverage:

• 24/7 customer service—Appliance and system disasters rarely strike at convenient times. Choice Home Warranty’s after-hours availability is a rare find among home warranty companies.
• Competitive prices—Monthly premiums are affordable (plans start at just $1 day), and the service fee is comparable or lower than competitor prices. Where Choice Home Warranty stands out as a price leader is their discounts for paying your service contract annually and offers such as your first month free, based on certain conditions.
• 90-day repair guarantee—Choice Home Warranty stands behind the technicians they send to your home and offers a 90-day guarantee on repairs.

Find the suggested Choice Home Warranty plan for you

Sometimes too many coverage options can be an issue. Choice Home Warranty provides two base plans and offers additional coverage options for you to customize your home warranty. Their add-ons include septic warranty options to protect you from paying for expensive septic system damage. Here is what’s covered under Choice Home Warranty’s standard coverage:

Optional coverage is available at an additional charge, including septic warranty and septic pump coverage:

• Pool/spa
• Central vacuum
• Second refrigerator
• Well pump
• Limited roof leak
• Standalone freezer
• Sump pump
• Septic system
• Septic tank pumping

You can get started on finding the right plan for you by calling Choice Home Warranty at 929-400-6164 or by filling out this form to receive a free quote.

*Terms and conditions apply. Review complete limits of liability and any exclusions. CHW offers service contracts which are not warranties.
**See policy for specifics on response times.
***CHW reserves the right to offer cash back in lieu of repair or replacement in the amount of CHW’s actual cost (which at times may be less than retail) to repair or replace any covered system, component or appliance.
****In the event a claim is denied, and a customer seeks to have Us review that denial, We have the right to request routine maintenance records in reviewing its decision.