Plumbing Warranty Product Guide

We wash our hands and take showers. We flush our toilets, run our dishwashers, and clean our laundry. Our home’s indoor plumbing is so ubiquitous that it’s easy to not pay attention to it. Its job seems simple — getting water from there to here, then taking wastewater from here to there — but its repair and maintenance can be anything but easy.

Top Takeaways

• Unexpected plumbing problems can be costly, especially if a homeowner needs to call a plumber during off hours. According to internal claims data from American Water Resources, the average repair cost for an interior plumbing repair in 2023 was just over $250. Homeowners with a warranty for their plumbing system often will pay nothing for covered repairs.
• Like every other part of a home, plumbing ages, and pipes and valves can wear out. A home warranty plan can give homeowners peace of mind and confidence that they won’t be on their own when an unexpected repair is needed.
• A home warranty and homeowners’ insurance are often mistaken for each other, but they aren’t the same thing. Both are meant to protect homeowners from financial hardship if things go wrong in a home, but they cover different problems. Common interior plumbing problems are typically not covered by standard homeowners insurance, but warranty plans are available.
• Home warranties differ from company to company and can come with a variety of coverage options and prices. Warranty plans can cover many different parts of a home, and customers can often save money by bundling multiple plans. Among the many home systems and components that can be covered by a home warranty are plumbing, heating and cooling, and underground service lines.

What is a plumbing warranty?

A plumbing warranty is a protection plan — or a service contract — that entitles a homeowner to professional repair services when a covered problem occurs with the home’s interior water supply and drain lines. Those are the lines that bring water to sinks, toilets, tubs, dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines, and that carry wastewater from fixtures and appliances to the point they exit the home on their way to the sewer line and main. Covered repair services for a plumbing warranty generally include (but are not limited to):

• Leaking interior supply and drain lines  
• Shutoff valves in those lines
• Shutoff valves that lead to fixtures like sinks, toilets and tubs
• Some warranties include clearing/removal of clogs to interior drains

Is “Plumbing insurance” the same as a “Plumbing warranty?”

It’s important to know that plumbing coverage typically isn’t included in a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. Some people use the phrase “plumbing insurance” generically when they are referring to any homeowner coverage for plumbing repairs, but they likely mean “plumbing warranty” when they speak in those terms.

Who needs plumbing coverage?

It’s wise for any homeowner to consider enrolling in a plumbing warranty to help protect their home and budget. Leaking pipes, clogged drain lines and leaking valves can be an expensive nuisance, and what seems to be working fine one day might be leaking water or wastewater the next. A blocked or overflowing toilet is something no homeowner wants to face on their own. A clogged laundry drain line could prevent a homeowner from being able to wash a family’s clothes. A plumbing warranty can give peace of mind all the time and can be a tremendous stress reducer when there’s a covered problem.

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that their standard homeowners’ insurance policy covers interior plumbing problem in their home. However, standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover interior plumbing repairs.

The age of a home and its plumbing lines can be a factor in their condition if issues arise due to normal wear and tear, in part because construction standards and materials have evolved over the years with new homes. It’s helpful to know the age of the lines, not just the age of the house, when deciding whether to enroll in a plumbing warranty plan.

What does a plumbing warranty cover?

A plumbing warranty covers repairs for problems with a home’s interior water supply lines and wastewater drain lines, plus shutoff valves. Some plumbing warranties also include coverage for clearing/removing clogs (including toilet clogs) and broken/leaking fixtures (including faucets). Plumbing warranty coverage typically includes a visit from a professional plumber to get a look at the problem, determine its extent, and make repairs. This may include replacing leaking or burst pipes, replacing failing shutoff valves, and other needed fixes.

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

• Broken water pipe hidden behind walls and ceilings
• Blocked or slow shower drains
• Clogged laundry drain line
• Leaking water supply line
• Leaking washing machine valve
• Burst water pipe joint
• Clogged sink
• Blocked or overflowing toilet
• Leaking water shutoff valves

What are some common problems with a home’s plumbing?

If you can get running water in your sinks, if you’re able to take showers, clean the dishes and wash your clothes, and if you’re able to flush your toilets, you probably won’t give your home’s plumbing much thought. But plumbing ages and can leak, and when water goes where it’s not supposed to, it can lead to big, expensive problems.

3 common plumbing issues:

1. Sink is dripping. Even when the hot or cold handle is turned to “off,” water continues to drip from the faucet. Those drips add up, wasting an often-unexpectedly large amount of water and leading to unnecessarily high water bills.
2. Plumbing in basement is leaking. Are there puddles on your basement floor or water stains in your basement ceiling? Water lines and shutoff valves may have corrosion and begin to leak, or weakened components may burst.
3. Toilet isn’t draining. Sometimes this problem is simple to fix with a plunger, but sometimes it’s not so simple and a plumbing professional is needed.

What are the top warning signs that your home’s plumbing may be damaged?

When you own a home, plumbing problems will happen. Fixtures wear out, drains clog, pipes rattle, etc. Here are things that homeowners should watch for. All of these could be symptoms of a problem with your home’s interior plumbing.

• Low water pressure
• Slow drains
• Rattling pipes
• Leaking lines
• Dripping fixtures
• Running toilet
• Higher water bills

Are there different types of plumbing warranties?

There is a distinction between a home’s interior plumbing and the home’s water and sewer service lines (outside the home), and they usually require different warranty plans for homeowners who want to cover them all. A “plumbing warranty” typically covers a home’s interior water supply lines and interior wastewater drain lines, and it may also cover plumbing clogs and fixtures such as faucets and toilets. To have warranty coverage for the water and sewer service lines — the ones that are on private property outside a home and run underground to the city mains — a homeowner needs to enroll in a water service line warranty and a sewer service line warranty.

How does a plumbing warranty work?

Here are the typical steps a homeowner will take to enroll in — and use — a plumbing warranty:

1. Sign up. The homeowner will review the options available from different warranty companies, plans and prices, understands exclusions, and selects what best suits their needs. When enrolling, they may have the option to select monthly or annual billing, and to set up automatic payments — from a bank account or credit card — that can help ensure that the account stays active, and that the warranty coverage doesn’t cease due to missed payments.
2. Wait for coverage to begin. A 30-day or 60-day waiting period before a new customer is eligible to make a repair claim is standard among warranty companies. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by a warranty plan, and the standard waiting period helps ensure that ineligible claims are not submitted.
3. Contact your warranty company when you suspect a problem. If you think there might be a problem with your plumbing system, such as leaks or stoppages, pick up the phone and let your warranty company know — warranty companies should have customer service lines that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The agent you talk to will ask a few questions and arrange for a service professional to come to your home.
4. A service pro will come to your home to assist with warranty claims. A service professional from the company’s provider network will come to your home to diagnose the problem and perform needed repairs. 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. The service provider may be able to fix the problem during the initial appointment. If this isn’t possible — perhaps parts need to be ordered — the service provider will tell you what steps are necessary to fix the problem, then will arrange to take those steps and finish fixing the issue.
6. The service provider gets paid. If your warranty plan has a deductible, you’ll be responsible for paying it to either the service provider or the warranty company. If the repair cost isn’t over your warranty’s coverage limit, then the warranty company will take care of paying the service provider for their work. Should the cost of the repair exceed your warranty’s coverage limit, you will pay the difference between the coverage limit and the total cost of the repair.

How much does a plumbing warranty usually cost?

The price of a plumbing warranty will vary based on many factors — the warranty company, the specific problems covered in the plan, annual and per-incident coverage limits, deductibles, service fees and location. Some home warranty companies sell plumbing warranty coverage at a low price, then may charge additional fees if the homeowner chooses to add more coverage options. Also, many home warranty companies offer coverage bundles which include multiple warranty plans (often including plumbing) at savings compared to enrolling in plans individually.

How much can a plumbing warranty save you?

Based on 2022/2023 American Water Resources (AWR) internal claims data, repairing an interior plumbing problem typically costs a little over $250. For homeowners without a warranty plan, that whole amount would come out of their pocket. Your costs could be lower, or they could be a lot higher — AWR paid a plumbing claim for $13,475 in 2023. According to Forbes, “Leaks are probably the most common plumbing repair needed. Simple leaks from a fixture such as a toilet or a kitchen sink cost about $275 to repair. Similarly, leaks from an accessible pipe, such as a burst pipe in the crawlspace, cost about $275 to repair.”1

What is NOT included in a plumbing warranty?

Plumbing warranties typically cover a home’s indoor plumbing, so the service lines that run through a yard between the house and the utility mains are usually not included. Basic plumbing warranties might not include coverage for a plumber to make a service call to clear a clogged toilet, or to repair or replace leaking faucets (such coverages might only be available as step-up options). Also, depending on the warranty plan, coverage to repair a wall after it was opened to make a plumbing repair may not be included. PRO TIP: Companies that offer plumbing warranties may also offer homeowners warranties for their outside water and sewer service lines, sump pumps, hot water water heaters, HVAC systems, garbage disposals, clogged bathtub drains, and more. You may be able to save money and get more coverage by bundling multiple warranty plans.

How do I choose a plumbing warranty company and plan?

If you have multiple warranty companies and plumbing services and warranty plans from which to choose, consider the following as you decide whether to enroll in coverage:

• Price
• Service fees, trip charges, deductibles (if any)
• What’s covered
• Coverage limits
• 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 plumbing warranties or home warranty coverage in general?

American Water Resources offers many programs, including an in-home plumbing warranty program, air conditioning systems, water lines, electrical systems, home appliances, and more. We have been protecting homeowners since 2000. If you have questions about plumbing warranties and the programs offered by American Water Resources, visit AWRUSA.com or call our phone number (855-800-5195) to find out why we could help protect your budget and give you peace of mind as your warranty provider.

1 Jimenez, Juan. “How Much Does Plumbing Repair Cost in 2024?” Forbes Home, February 19, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/plumbing-repair-cost/.