Best Home Warranty Companies for Sewer Lines (2023)

Sewer line problems, such as pipe stoppages, can be a real pain for homeowners. Homeowners insurance protects your house from structural damage caused by various incidents, but it won’t cover home repairs incurred from regular wear-and-tear. Luckily, many home warranty companies offer standard coverage for clearing stoppages and add-on coverage for septic tank systems and pumping.

If you’re concerned about repair costs for your home’s sewer lines, a home warranty plan that covers your plumbing system and septic tank could give you peace of mind. Here’s what to look for in a sewer line warranty, plus our picks for the best home warranty for sewer line coverage.

• American Home Shield: Best Coverage Caps
• Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Ratings
• First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage
• America’s First Choice Home Club: Best for Customization

Line Coverage

Our team researched dozens of home warranty providers and selected our top picks based on their sewer line coverage. We considered plumbing system coverage limits, premiums, and service call fees. The table below highlights these factors per provider:

BBB ratings are accurate as of November 2023.

Our team pulled 120 sample quotes to find the national average for the pricing data above. 

Quotes are based on a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home. Your monthly premium will vary based on your coverage and home size, type, and location.

Home warranties protect your home’s plumbing and sewer lines from breaks, leaks, and stoppages. However, most policies don’t offer protection for every issue. While reviewing sample policies, we learned that no home warranty covers every potential sewer service line or plumbing problem. We compiled a list of typical sewer line warranty coverages, add-ons, and exclusions to help you compare coverage options.

Covered Issues

Here’s the sewer line coverage you can expect from most top-rated home warranties:

• Access to pipes behind unobstructed walls/ceilings/floors returned to a rough finish (usually subject to a benefit amount limit)
• Mainline and lateral drain line blockages up to 100 feet from the main access point
• Water service line leaks, breaks, and stoppages within the main foundation

Add-On Coverage Options

Not every provider includes every coverage option in its protection plans. The following coverages are typically available as plan add-ons for an extra fee:

• Septic tank pumping (once per year or contract term)
• Septic tank systems, including sewage ejector pumps, jet pumps, and aerobic pumps

Exclusions

Here are the coverages providers typically exclude from most home warranty sewer line plans:

• Damage due to sediment, rust, or corrosion in pipes and water lines
• Leaks or stoppages outside of the main foundation
• Septic tank waste disposal or chemical cleanout
• Stoppages caused by collapsed/damaged drain lines, tree roots, or freezing

Now that you know what to look for, we’ll list our top picks for plans that cover sewer lines. Then, we’ll show how each company compares to the standards above.

Please note that all cost data below is based on quotes for a 2,477-square-foot home in Cleveland, Ohio. Pricing and coverage details will vary by location, so be sure to get your own customized quote.

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.

Note: The annual cost figure generated by our home warranty calculator is not an indication of a company’s actual plan cost, as annual costs and service fees vary based on your plan selections and your home’s size, type, and location.

With sewer line coverage, homeowners have extra protection against unexpected backups, clogs, and other drainage issues. You should address any notable sewer issue signs immediately. Below are some clues that you may need a sewer line repair.

• Clogging in multiple drains
• Excessive flooding or mud in your yard
• Frequent plunging of toilets or sinks
• Foul odors coming from your drains or yard
• Gurgling sounds in your drains
• Increased insect and rodent infestation
• Slow-draining sinks, showers, or toilets
• Water backing up in your drains or toilets

With typical sewer line replacement costs falling between $3,000 and $6,000, we recommend regular maintenance to keep your system running smoothly. Below are a few tips on proper sewer line maintenance.

• Call a professional for major issues: If you experience any major clogs or backups, contact a professional plumber to resolve the issues.
• Don’t flush the wrong items: Ensure only waste and toilet paper are flushed down toilets to reduce your chances of clogs and buildup. Even products designed for flushing, such as disposable toilet wipes, could cause sewer line problems.
• Limit garbage disposal waste: Don’t place certain food, such as egg shells or bones, in the disposal. To avoid unwanted clogging, deposit them in the trash or compost.
• Maintain your landscape: Tree roots can grow into your sewer line and cause blockages. Keep shrubs and trees well maintained and cut back any nearby roots.
• Throw oil away in the trash: Avoid pouring oil or grease down the kitchen drain line. These substances will solidify, creating build-up and clogs. Safely dispose of cooled grease in the trash instead.

Sewer lines play an important role in your home functioning properly. A home warranty protects your home’s plumbing and sewer lines from inconvenient breaks, leaks, and stoppages, giving you peace of mind.

We recommend American Home Shield because it covers rust, corrosion, and sediment damage, which are typically excluded from plans. Liberty Home Guard offers $2,000 coverage limits and a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs. Finally, First American Home Warranty covers miscellaneous repair fees in its Essential and Premier plans.

When shopping for plans, we recommend requesting quotes from three providers and comparing their coverage terms, costs, exclusions, and limitations.

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

• Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.

• • Additional coverage items
  • Annual coverage cap
  • Home systems coverage
  • Major appliances coverage
  • Obstructed wall coverage cap

• Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs. 

• • Average monthly cost
  • Cost flexibility
  • Lowest service fee

• Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability. 

• • Brand reputation
  • Policy change flexibility
  • Sample contract availability
  • Workmanship guarantee length

• Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician. 

• • Claims process
  • Guaranteed response time
  • Service flexibility

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.