Top 5 Best Home Warranties For Plumbing (2022 Review)
Repairs and replacements for your plumbing system can be extremely expensive and most people don’t budget for that kind of emergence. However, a home warranty can save you thousands in those costs and offer you some peace of mind. If you’re looking for the best home warranty for your plumbing system, RHW can help.
Great, you have come to the right place. In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Do home warranties cover plumbing?
- Should you buy coverage for your plumbing system?
- How do you determine if a warranty for plumbing will cover pre-existing conditions?
- What is the waiting period to use a home warranty for plumbing after purchase?
- How do you choose the best home insurance plan for your plumbing system?
- And much more!
We’ve reviewed 68 different home warranty companies, and below are our top picks for plumbing systems specific to your state. Eager to learn more? Continue reading!
Our Top Home Warranty for Plumbing Picks
- $50 Off + 1 month free
- Won't deny coverage if systems/appliances are old
- Free cancellation within 30 days
- Emergency service available
- Reservice for failed repairs
- Get $50 off
- Lower chance of claim denial
- 24/7 service calls and online service
- Large and established firm
- Choose your own service fee!
- Market veteran
- $150 off + 2 months free
- FREE Roof Leak Coverage
- Good selection of plans
- High contractor professionalism
- $0 transfer fee
- First 30 days: Free cancellation
- $200 off + 2 Month Free + Free Roof Coverage!
- BBB's Only A+ Accredited Home Warranty Company!
- Newly designed customer claim portal
- Smaller company
- Newer on the market
- $200 OFF + 2 Months Free
- Free Roof Coverage
- Comprehensive coverage plans
- 1 day to submit claim
- Limited availability (6 states)
Out of all of your house’s major systems, your plumbing is one of the most important. Without a properly functioning plumbing system, we wouldn’t have running water, flushing toilets, or the ability to take a hot shower.
Top 3 Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing
We’ve done the research for you on the best home warranty companies across the country so you don’t have to. Here are our top three picks, and why.
| Company Name | Choice Home Warranty | American Home Shield | Select Home Warranty |
| Number of Plan Options | 2 Plans | 3 Plans | 2 Plans |
| Monthly Plan Cost | $45 – $55 | $35 – $65 | $36 – $45 |
| BBB Rating | B | B | B |
| Reviews | Read Choice Home Warranty Reviews | Read American Home Shield Reviews |
Choice Home Warranty (Best Home Warranty for Plumbing)
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty for plumbing. If you have ever had a problem with your plumbing system, you will know how important it is to have adequate coverage of the plumbing system and plumbing stoppages. The first thing that stands out about Choice’s plumbing coverage is the fact that both the Basic and Total plans cover plumbing. For many home warranty providers, like Select Home Warranty or American Home Shield, you will have to invest in a specific plan to get your plumbing system and stoppages covered.
In addition to the plumbing coverage and plumbing stoppages, Choice also covers the toilet as part of both of their plans. Having this entire area of your home covered is a tremendous benefit. In addition to the fact that your plumbing will be covered, appliances and other systems are also covered on the Choice plans. If you look at a plan like the Select Home Warranty Appliance plan, you will only get appliance coverage and not the systems you need.
Although the hot water heater is not always considered part of plumbing coverage, with the Choice Home Warranty, you won’t have to stress about this critical coverage either. Hot water heaters are covered under both the Basic and Total plans from Choice. With the very low coverage denial rates and impressive customer service, it’s no surprise that Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty for plumbers.
It only takes one bad plumbing situation to quickly hit your total out-of-pocket expense for Choice Home Warranty in a year. Now is a great time to grab a Choice Home Warranty plan with $50 off and one month free. Home warranty policies are all about saving money, and when Choice allows you to save right from the start, it’s worth taking advantage of the opportunity.
American Home Shield (Most Customizable)
American Home Shield is the editor’s choice for the best home warranty for plumbing. Living without the plumbing system is quite difficult; therefore, it can make sense to have an expert in the industry helping to ensure your plumbing is in excellent condition. The American Home Shield home warranty company has been in business for more than 50 years. AHS was one of the original leaders in the home warranty industry, and they have taken this role very seriously. The AHS plans are reliable, customer service is strong, and you won’t have to worry about the qualifications of the service technicians coming to work on your plumbing system.
The American Home Shield home warranty is the most customizable plan on the market. Adding more than just the plumbing coverage to your plan will be a simple process. With American Home Shield, you can cover everything from your garbage disposal to your swimming pool. Unlike Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty, where you will have to work with their pre-set plan options, American Home Shield can be built to fit your home specifically. This is a great benefit, even if it comes at a higher cost as you are getting exactly what you pay for.
American Home Shield is a premium home warranty provider, and there are very often no incentives to sign up. However, currently, you can get $50 off the policy. Now is a great time to protect your home using one of the original leaders in the home warranty industry.
Select Home Warranty (Most Affordable)
Select Home Warranty is the most affordable home warranty coverage for plumbing. The plumbing system is typically covered with both the plumbing and the plumbing stoppages coverage on a policy. Ensuring that you have the coverage for plumbing and stoppages helps ensure that any issue that comes up will be adequately covered. To get both these coverages, you will need to choose the Select Home Warranty Total Plan. The Total Plan is a comprehensive option coving both systems and appliances. The great thing about the Select comprehensive plan is that the pricing is considerably lower than the comprehensive plan from American Home Shield.
Protecting all of the appliances and systems in a home can get quite costly. When things start to break, and the deductibles need to get paid, this will get even worse. Luckily with the SHW, the deductible or service fee is only $65. This is more than $45 less than the typical American Home Shield service fee. If your plumbing system has several issues throughout the year, you will save a lot of money by going with the Select Home Warranty plan. Select Home Warranty has been in the business for more than ten years. They have very strict requirements for service technicians and quick response times for repairs.
Now is the perfect time to sign up for a Select Home Warranty to protect your plumbing and plumbing stoppages. Signing up today gives you access to $150 off the policy, two months free, and 30 days to cancel without it costing you a dime. Certainly, this is one of the best incentives on the market.
What's In This Guide?
That being said, plumbing is also one of the most expensive parts of a home. Repairing or replacing even a small part of a house’s pipes or a water heater can easily rack up hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
That’s where a home warranty can make a huge difference. When the plumbing in your home breaks down, a warranty can cover what homeowners insurance won’t.
But, with so many different home warranty providers out there today, it can be hard to find the right option for your needs. So, here’s our review of the best home warranty companies for plumbing, complete with top tips to choosing the perfect plan for your home.
If you’re looking for a trusted, industry-leading home warranty company, we recommend Choice Home Warranty. They’re a top-rated brand and right now you can take advantage of their current promotions that get you $50 off, plus one free month and free 30-Day cancellation. Get a free online quote or contact a specialist at 929-400-6169 before these deals end. Another great option is American Home Shield which offers $50 off. Get a free quote online or you can call a home warranty specialist directly at 866-464-7521.
Do Home Warranties Cover Plumbing Replacement?
When it comes to protecting your house’s plumbing system, not all home warranties are created equal. In fact, your home’s plumbing is quite complicated, as it includes things like pipes, pumps, sinks, valves, and faucets.
So, while most warranty companies will offer some sort of home protection plan that covers plumbing, it’s important that you know precisely what’s a covered item and what’s not. For example, many home warranty providers will offer either an appliance plan or a systems plan.
Top 5 Best Home Warranties For Plumbing System Coverage
With an appliance plan, you’ll get protection for various items, such as your washing machine, garbage disposal, dishwasher, and other major appliances. However, these basic plans will usually not include any protection for your plumbing.
Instead, if you want coverage for plumbing replacement, you’ll usually need to get a system or comprehensive plan. These will generally cover your HVAC system, septic system, electrical system, and, yes, your plumbing. Alternatively, you can build your own plan to ensure that your home’s plumbing system is covered.
Are You A First-Time Buyer? Check Out This Article!
What Do Home Warranties For Plumbing Cover?
While your service contract might state that you have plumbing coverage, you need to read the fine print to see exactly what’s included in your warranty cost. Home warranty plans will generally cover all or some of the following:
- Valves for showers and tubs
- Some fixtures and faucets
- Sump pumps
- Toilet tanks and mechanisms
- Built-in bathtub and whirlpool motors and pumps
- Pressure regulators
- Leaks and breaks in water, gas, vent, sewer, and drain lines (except when caused by freezing)
- Stoppages in bathtubs, showers, and sinks (when caused by normal wear and tear)
- The cost of returning your walls, floors, and ceilings to a rough finish condition
It’s important to note, though, that most home warranty companies consider your well pumps and septic systems to be separate from your home’s plumbing. Often, these home systems are offered as add-on coverage options, not as part of a basic plan.
Additionally, plumbing for pools, spas, and saunas are generally not included in a regular plan option, and you often have to pay an extra fee for this optional coverage.
Still curious about plumbing in your home? Check out this video to learn more about all the parts that make up your plumbing system.
Is Plumbing Coverage Worth It For Your Home?
A home warranty is worth it for your plumbing system. Warranties for plumbing have a number of benefits, including:
Financial Protection
The number one benefit of a home warranty is that it protects you financially from costly home repairs. Each warranty plan offers a different amount of protection, but you can generally expect about $500 per year of coverage under a plumbing plan.
It can cost hundreds of dollars just to get a plumber to come to your home to evaluate a problem during business hours. These diagnosis fees don’t even include the cost of labor or materials, which can easily rack up large repair bills.
So, the small service fee and the annual premium you pay for a home warranty is well worth the peace of mind you get from your service contract. There’s nothing better than knowing that you’ll be protected from paying extraordinary repair costs in the event of a plumbing-related emergency.
Read Also: What Are The Real Costs Of A Home Warranty?
Simplified Service Calls
With a home warranty plan, you don’t have to worry about searching for the best plumbing service provider when you have a burst pipe or a backed-up system. The best home warranty companies will contact a plumber on your behalf and send them to your home, even if it’s outside regular working hours.
Best Home Warranty For Plumbing System?
Choice Home Warranty is our top pick in the plumbing insurance market. Choice has more than 10 years of experience and offers low service call fees whenever you call a plumber to your home.
This is particularly beneficial for new homeowners who might not be familiar with the best home service providers in the region or busy families that don’t have time to research local plumbing companies. With the right warranty plan, you simply need to submit a service request, and then a plumber will be sent straight to your home to deal with the problem.
Covers What Homeowners Insurance and Manufacturer’s Warranties Won’t
Sure, you probably have homeowners insurance, but that’s explicitly designed to protect you in the event of a fire or natural disaster. Your insurance policy won’t help you pay for issues in your plumbing system caused by normal wear and tear.
Additionally, most manufacturer’s warranties on plumbing-related appliances and fixtures are quite limited. So, they’re not going to offer you the quick repairs that you need in an emergency.
Home warranties, on the other hand, will help cover the costs of plumbing repairs and replacements even when your insurance and manufacturer’s warranties won’t.
Read Also: Home Warranty vs. Home Insurance
Protection During Real Estate Transactions
Whether you’re buying or selling a home, a warranty plan can protect you from expenses created by unforeseen plumbing emergencies. For sellers, home warranty coverage can help keep a pending sale on track, even if you have a plumbing problem during negotiations.
Alternatively, for home buyers, warranties provide protection for various aspects of your new home, including your plumbing, air conditioning, and heating systems. Warranties can even help real estate agents prevent any disputes between buyers and sellers if the house has a malfunction in any of the covered home appliances or systems.
Read Also: How Does Home Coverage For Sellers Work?
Are Pre-Existing Conditions Covered For Plumbing?
At some point, your plumbing system will need to be repaired or replaced. If you have a home warranty, most of your issues will be covered under your plumbing plan, saving you money on costly repair costs.
But, most warranty plans do not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions if these issues are obvious to a professional repair technician and easy to detect visually. So, if a part of your plumbing system has a pre-existing issue, then you may have to pay for the repair out of pocket.
That being said, these exclusions generally only apply to pre-existing conditions that are detectable through regular maintenance and visual testing.
Therefore, if you have a pipe leaking behind a wall, that would likely be covered by your warranty since it’s impossible to know there’s a problem brewing behind the scenes until you have water on your floor. Alternatively, if you’ve known for years that your shower is blocked before you purchased your warranty, you’ll probably be liable for those repair costs.
To protect yourself from having to pay for repair costs on detectable pre-existing conditions, it’s helpful to arrange for a home inspection when buying a house. Even if you’ve owned your home for years, though, these inspections can help you identify any pre-existing issues that need to be fixed but won’t be covered by a warranty.
Read Also: Do Home Warranties Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
How Soon After Purchase Can You Use Your Plumbing System Warranty?
Generally speaking, home warranty plans have a “grace period” between when you sign up and when you’re able to make your first claim. This usually lasts about 30 days after the date that you enroll in your plan.
Companies will normally wave this grace period if you’re simply looking to change from one warranty plan to another. In these situations, you’ll be able to make a claim as soon as you finish enrollment, with no waiting period if you can prove that there’s never been a gap in your coverage.
Read Also: How Can A Home Warranty Help With Water Damage From Your Toilet?
What Should You Look For In A Plumbing System Home Warranty Plan?
You have a lot of different options when it comes to a home warranty for your house’s plumbing system. So, here are some of the most important things to look for as you’re shopping around to ensure that you get the best coverage for your needs.
Basic Plan vs. Add-Ons
For some warranty companies, plumbing systems are covered under their basic plans. However, some providers categorize plumbing as an optional coverage item that can be added on to other service packages.
Since basic plans generally have more affordable annual premiums, it’s important to see if they will protect your plumbing. Simply put, if you’re buying a home warranty for your plumbing system, you don’t want to end up with a plan that only covers your appliances.
Alternatively, you can often get a comprehensive or combo plan that protects most of what you’d find in a standard house. These are often the best value for homeowners that want to maximize their coverage.
Or, you can make your own plan if you want to mix and match coverage for your plumbing and other home fixtures, like your sprinkler system or your ductwork.
Service Fee Cost
Every home warranty company will charge you a small service fee every time they send a plumber or repair technician to your home. This fee is sort of like the co-pay that you’re charged when you go to the doctor’s office.
Of course, no one wants to spend more out of pocket than they have to on home repairs. So, lower service fee costs are a nice way to save a bit of money when you request a repair or a replacement of your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Inclusions
“Plumbing” refers to a wide range of different appliances, fixtures, and systems within your home, so you need to know precisely what’s covered by a plan before you commit to it. Here are some of the most important thing to look for when reading through home warranty sample contracts:
- Leaks And Breaks In Lines. Ideally, a plan would cover any leaks or breaks in water, gas, waste, drain, and vent lines. Issues caused by freezing or roots are usually not included, though.
- Stoppages. Most plumbing plans will protect you if you have a stoppage or clog in your drains or sewer lines, up to a certain distance from a given access point.
- Toilet Tanks And Bowls. Toilets can be surprisingly expensive to replace and repair. Check to ensure that you’re covered for any malfunctions in your toilet tank, bowl, or mechanisms.
- Showers And Tubs. A quality plan will cover any shower valves and bathtub motors/pumps.
- Return To Rough Finish. If a plumber needs to break through a wall to access your pipes, you’ll want to ensure that your warranty will pay to return your room to a rough finish condition when the repair is complete.
- Access Through Concrete. Some parts of your home’s plumbing may be located under concrete slabs. If this is the case, you’ll want to see precisely how much coverage a plan will offer for repairing or replacing system components that are sealed off with concrete.
Exclusions
Some parts of your home’s systems are not included within the “plumbing” section of a home warranty. In some situations, they may be included within other parts of your plan. Or, you may have to pay a bit extra for optional coverage and add-ons to your basic plan. Common plumbing-related exclusions include:
- Pools, saunas, and spas
- Caulking and grouting
- External sump pumps
- Well pumps
- Septic systems
- Water heaters (often included in an appliance plan)
- Washing machines
Our Top Pick For A Home Warranty On Plumbing
There are a lot of great home warranty options to choose from. But, if we had to choose just one to protect a plumbing system, we’d opt for Choice Home Warranty.
Choice stands out from the crowd when it comes to plumbing coverage because they offer a good mix of affordability and value. They have reasonable premiums and low service call fees, but still, maintain quality service and coverage for plumbing systems.
Choice Home Warranty includes plumbing coverage in all of their plans. Plus, they will repair or replace items like interior sump pumps and whirlpool bathtub motors, which some other policies won’t. When it comes to overall value for your money, Choice Home Warranty’s plumbing protection is hard to beat.
Read Also: What Are The Recommended Home Warranty Companies For Sewer Lines?
Our Top Picks Recap
- $50 Off + 1 month free
- Won't deny coverage if systems/appliances are old
- Free cancellation within 30 days
- Emergency service available
- Reservice for failed repairs
- Get $50 off
- Lower chance of claim denial
- 24/7 service calls and online service
- Large and established firm
- Choose your own service fee!
- Market veteran
- $150 off + 2 months free
- FREE Roof Leak Coverage
- Good selection of plans
- High contractor professionalism
- $0 transfer fee
- First 30 days: Free cancellation
- $200 off + 2 Month Free + Free Roof Coverage!
- BBB's Only A+ Accredited Home Warranty Company!
- Newly designed customer claim portal
- Smaller company
- Newer on the market
- $200 OFF + 2 Months Free
- Free Roof Coverage
- Comprehensive coverage plans
- 1 day to submit claim
- Limited availability (6 states)