Best 4 Home Warranty Companies for Septic Systems (2021)

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 home and real estate owners with a septic system to ease the burden of septic failures. 

In this guide to septic systems warranty coverage, you’ll find:

• The best septic warranty providers of 2021
• Coverage options for septic systems
• Benefits of a home warranty to cover septic systems
• House Method’s septic warranty recommendation

Best 4 Home Warranty Companies for Septic Systems

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. We recommend the following home warranty providers for septic system coverage.

1. Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty is a seasoned home warranty provider with over 11 years of experience and a B rating on BBB. Choice Home Warranty offers two plans, the Basic Plan and the Total Plan, each with optional add-on coverage, including septic warranty. 

House Method score: 9.7 / 10

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.

For more information, read our Choice Home Warranty Review.

2. American Home Shield

American Home Shield (AHS) is an industry veteran with almost 50 years of experience as a home warranty provider. AHS offers 3 plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum, with optional add-ons, including septic pump, for an additional fee.

* AHS allows customers to choose their service call fee of $75, $100, or $125. A lower service call fee means higher monthly payments and a higher priced call fee results in lower monthly payments.

House Method Score: 9.3/10

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

To read more, visit our American Home Shield review.

3. Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty is well-known for its affordability and unique offerings such as free roof leak coverage. Select Home Warranty offers three coverage plans: Bronze Care for appliances, Gold Care for systems, and Platinum Care which is a combo plan, with optional add-ons, including septic system coverage, for an additional fee. 

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

House Method Score: 9.7 / 10

Read our Select Home Warranty review to learn more.

4. Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard is a relatively new home warranty provider, but has shown high numbers of customer satisfaction and has resulted in Liberty landing an A+ with the BBB. Liberty Home Guard offers three plans and optional add ons including septic tank pumping/system.

House Method Score: 9.4 / 10

To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-507-7356.

To learn more information, visit our Liberty Home Guard review.

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, which can offer homeowners some financial peace of mind.

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, rather than a home system. 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.

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 covers only your septic system, not your plumbing system or other related systems.

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 listed as optional coverage to a base home warranty plan.

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

Different home warranty service providers have 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 sewage ejector pump, jet pump, aerobic pump, and the septic tank and sewer 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.

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. The average septic tank repair cost is $1,397. Below, we’ve broken down some of the most common septic system repairs and their average costs.

*Repair cost pricing current as of August, 2021.

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 best 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

After extensive research and review of top home warranty companies, our recommendation for home warranty provider is Choice Home Warranty for septic warranty coverage s. 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.

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.

House Method home warranty provider ranking methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology.

We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home. Additionally, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.

That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology. Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to make sure no detail was left out.

To make the most of our research, we developed a formula to objectively determine the best home warranty companies based on the following criteria:

• Plans: Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
• Prices: How reasonable are the monthly fees and service fees in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
• Coverage: How many items are covered in each plan? We looked at the number of items each company covers. We dig into all service contracts available to get all the details.
• Customer service: How is the customer experience when calling the providers? Based on our phone calls, we were able to judge each company’s customer service.
• Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
• Nationwide availability: How many states does the company cover? We found the number of states covered by each company.
• Unique perks: Does the company offer discounts or cover special items? We looked for perks offered by each company that sets them apart from the competition.

How do we keep our data up to date?

We want to make sure we’re providing you, the consumer, with the most current data available for every home warranty company we’ve researched and rated. That takes significant effort but we feel that’s vital to providing you thorough and trustworthy reviews.

With that in mind, we have dedicated staff members who regularly update our database of home warranty research.

*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.