Water Line Warranty Product Guide

If you are the customer of a water utility, and you can turn on a faucet in your home and get running water without any hassle, you have a water service line. It’s vital to your quality of life, and you rely on it every day. If your home’s water service line stopped delivering water the way it should, repairs would be needed — repairs best left to a professional.

Top Takeaways

• A home warranty program is different than homeowners insurance policy. While both protect homeowners against things that can go wrong, they cover different problems a homeowner may face, and they often complement each other.
• Facing repairs without home warranty coverage can be costly for a homeowner, and many people are unprepared for the expense. People may find it much easier to budget for the regular monthly cost of a home warranty (often starting around $5 or $10 per month) than for an unexpected repair or replacement that could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Home warranty companies offer plans that cover issues with plumbing systems, heating and cooling equipment, appliances, underground water and sewer service lines, electrical wiring and more. Options and pricing can vary depending on the warranty company and your location.
• Home warranty plans typically cover breakdowns caused by use and age — when things need to be repaired or replaced because of normal wear and tear. As the components of a home continue to age, home warranty plans can give homeowners peace of mind and confidence.
• Home warranties generally do NOT cover theft, abuse, storm damage, and other issues more typically covered by a homeowners’ insurance company.

What is a water line warranty?

A water line warranty is a program that protects a homeowner from the costly repair bill and inconvenience associated with water service line damage and subsequent repairs. It’s a protection plan — or a service contract — that entitles a homeowner to professional repair services in the event that a covered problem occurs. In the case of a water line warranty, those repair services generally include (but are not limited to):

• Ground excavation to expose the leaking or broken underground water service line
• Repair of the exterior water line itself
• Backfilling the hole after the repair is complete

Is “Water line insurance” the same as a “Water line warranty?”

Sometimes people refer to coverage for water service line repairs as “water line insurance,” however, the coverage that protects you for repairs to the underground water service line is more likely to be a water line warranty. It’s important to know that water line coverage typically isn’t included or covered with a standard homeowner’ insurance policy.

Who needs a water line warranty?

If your home has running water and you aren’t getting it from a well, you have a water service line. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that their homeowners’ insurance policy will cover any water line problem that their local utility doesn’t. However, standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover water line repairs, and water utility companies are typically not responsible for water line damages or repairs on private property — their responsibility usually ends at the property line or the street.

As the water service line travels underground between the property line and the home, its maintenance and repair are usually the homeowner’s responsibility. (If you live in dwelling like a condominium, please contact your local homeowner’s association to determine your specific responsibilities.)

For any residential homeowner who is responsible for the water service line attached to their home, it’s wise to consider enrolling in a water line warranty in order to help protect their home and budget.

What does a water line warranty cover?

A water line warranty covers repairs for problems with a home’s water service line, which is usually located underground. Warranty coverage typically includes a visit by a professional to determine the extent of the problem and how best to fix it (including what equipment and how many people will be necessary), permit application(s), a request for utilities to come to the property and mark underground service line locations, and the repair work itself. Excavation is usually needed to expose the problem with the water service line in order to make covered repairs.

Problems and services often covered by a water line warranty include (but are not limited to):

• Burst pipe
• Pipe damage from tree root
• Leaking pipe, including due to corrosion
• Normal wear and tear
• Excavation 
• Equipment
• Backfilling holes
• Reseeding yard
• Scheduling inspection(s)

After the water service line is repaired, the service professional typically takes care of scheduling an appointment to get the repair inspected. If the inspector determines that additional work is needed, the service professional performs the work and schedules a follow-up inspection. Once the repair work is approved, the pro will backfill the excavated area.

What are some common problems with water service lines?

As long as you can turn on a faucet in your home and the water runs, and as long as you can flush your toilet and the bowl refills with clean water, you probably won’t give your water line a thought. But this line can be subject to corrosion, ground shifts due to weather and other causes, tree root growth, and other damage and hazards. Lines can leak and break — even underground. When that happens, the water pressure in the house can drop, the ground outside might become soft and spongy, and wasted water might begin to pool in the yard.

4 common water service lines issues:

1. Leaky water line. Warning signs of a water line leak include pooling water outside the home, squishy ground, and loss of water pressure inside your home.
2. Cracked water line. A damaged water line is often caused by tree roots. If you've noticed a change in water pressure, water puddles on your lawn, or an escalating water bill, you may have a cracked service line.
3. Burst water line. Changing soil conditions surrounding your home could unexpectedly lead to a burst water line. If you see water bubbling up from the ground or collecting in puddles, it could be an indication of a burst line.
4. Damage from normal wear and tear. Over time, your exterior water service line will endure normal wear and tear. If you notice mushy spots on your lawn, a water meter that’s going up even with no water running, or standing water, you may have a damaged line.

What are the top warning signs that your water line may be damaged?

When there’s a problem with your home’s water service line, you may still have some water flowing in your home — or you might not. Here are things that homeowners should keep an eye out for. All of these could be symptoms of a problem with your water service line. And if your water meter is located near your curb — before the water reaches the leaking or damaged pipe under your yard — then you could be paying for water that’s not even getting to your house.

• Water pressure in the home is lower than it should be
• Rusty, discolored or cloudy water is coming from the faucets and shower
• Water has an odor
• Cracks in the home’s foundation are appearing and expanding
• Wet, soggy areas in the yard are present even when the weather has been dry

Are there different types of water line warranties?

Many people hear the words “water line” and immediately think of the plumbing supply and wastewater lines that are inside a home. They may hear or say the words “water line home warranty” when what they really have in mind is a plumbing warranty or a clog repair warranty. They are different. A “water line warranty” specifically protects the water service line that’s outside a home and runs underground, and not a lot of companies offer them.

How does a water line warranty work?

Here are the steps a homeowner will typically follow to enroll in and use a water line warranty for their home:

1. Sign up. Once you select the warranty company and the warranty plan that best suit your needs, you’ll enroll in coverage. The enrolling homeowner may be able to choose monthly or annual billing, and will need to provide information about a payment method. Setting up automatic payments — from a bank account or credit card — helps ensure that the account stays active, and that the warranty coverage doesn’t lapse due to missed payments.
2. Wait for coverage to begin. It’s standard for new water line warranty coverage to have a 30-day or 60-day waiting period before the homeowner can make a repair claim. Because pre-existing conditions are not covered by a warranty plan, this waiting period helps ensure that repairs that are ineligible for coverage are not claimed.
3. Contact your warranty company WHENEVER you suspect an issue. Good warranty providers should be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to make a claim. They will provide you with a phone number to call, a website to visit, or a text line to chat. If you think there might be a problem with your water service line, let the warranty company know right away. The warranty company will ask you a few questions, and then make arrangements to have a service provider come to your home.
4. A service provider will come to your home. A vetted service technician from the warranty company’s service provider network will come to your home to investigate the issue, diagnose the cause, and tell you what needs to be done to fix the problem. If your warranty plan includes a service fee or trip charge, you will be charged that amount for this appointment.
5. The service provider will fix the problem. For some issues, the service provider for your line plan will be able to fix the problem at the time of the appointment. For larger issues, especially ones that may require more equipment, a permit, or a crew to fix, the service provider will walk you through the steps necessary to fix the problem, then will arrange to take those steps and remedy the issue.
6. The service provider gets paid. Depending on your warranty plan, you may be responsible for paying a deductible to either the service provider or the warranty company. If the cost of the repair was within your plan’s coverage limit, then the warranty company will pay the service provider for their work. Should the cost of the repair exceed your coverage limit, you will be responsible for paying the difference between the repair’s total cost and your coverage limit.

How much does a service line warranty program for water lines usually cost?

You can generally expect to pay between $5 and $10 per month for a water line warranty. The price will vary based on the warranty company, coverage limits, deductibles, service fees and your location. Some warranty companies offer homeowners the opportunity to bundle multiple warranty plans and save compared to buying plans separately.

How much can a water line save you?

Based on 2022/2023 AWR internal claims data, repairing (or replacing) a water service line typically costs $2,963, and without a warranty plan that would all come out of your pocket. Your costs could be lower, or they could be a lot higher — AWR paid a water line claim for $24,000 in 2022, and another for $14,057 in 2023. According to Forbes, “corroded piping can sometimes call for repairs on part of your water line, but in other cases it can call for complete replacement. Typical costs for this type of repair can run $600 to $5,000.”1

What is NOT included in a water line warranty?

Because a water line warranty covers a home’s water service line — the line that’s underground and brings water to the home — there are some exclusions. Indoor plumbing and fixtures are not covered by a water line warranty. Some water line warranty plans cover the service line until it reaches a main shutoff valve or water meter located inside the home. Carefully read the terms and conditions of any warranty plan to know what is and is NOT covered. PRO TIP: Many home warranty companies that offer water line warranties also offer in-home plumbing warranties. You may be able to save money and cover more by bundling a water line warranty plan with an in-home plumbing warranty plan.  

How do I choose a water line warranty company and plan?

If you have a choice of water line companies and plans where you live, these are some of the considerations you’ll want to look for and compare as you make a choice:

• Price
• Service fees, trip charges, deductibles (if any)
• Coverage limits
• What’s covered
• Reviews and BBB ratings of the company
• Coverage in your area
• Vetted technicians and service provider network

Who can I talk to if I have more questions about water line warranties?

American Water Resources is Better Business Bureau accredited and offers water line and sewer line warranties, as well as coverage for systems and appliances not often covered by homeowners insurance. AWR has been protecting homeowners since 2000. If you have questions about water line warranties and the programs offered by American Water Resources, call 855-800-5195 or visit AWRUSA.com.

1 Perry, Christin. “How Much Does Water Line Repair Cost in 2024?” Forbes Home, April 20, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/water-line-repair-cost/.