Sewer Line Warranty Product Guide

It’s easy to take a sewer/septic line for granted until the day it starts to have a problem. As long as the toilets flush, the drains clear, and you don’t see or smell sewage in your yard, everything’s fine. But when that changes, line clearing or bigger repairs may be needed — and a sewer line protection warranty can protect you from the costs.  

Top Takeaways

• Many people confuse home warranties and homeowners’ insurance, but they aren’t the same thing. While both protect homeowners against things that can go wrong, they cover different problems. Having both can be a good thing, because they often complement each other.
• Where you live and the home warranty company you choose will have a lot to do with the warranty options and pricing you find. Warranty companies offer plans that cover a range of issues for essential home components, including underground sewer/septic and water service lines.
• Unexpected repair or replacement of sewer lines and related problems can be expensive — typically costing $1,361 (based on 2022/2023 American Water Resources internal claims data). Budgeting instead for the regular, predictable monthly cost of a sewer line home warranty (often starting around $9 to $15 per month) can be more cost-effective for many homeowners.
• Aging affects a home, especially things like the sewer or septic line, which can be composed of different materials of varying durability. As a home’s components get older, home warranty plans can give homeowners peace of mind and confidence. Home warranties cover breakdowns caused by use and age, like when things need to be repaired or replaced because of normal wear and tear.
• Know what you’re buying! Standard homeowners’ insurance providers offer policies that typically cover problems like theft and storm damage, while a home warranty/service line protection plan may be what’s needed to cover issues related to wear-and-tear — like a leaking or clogged sewer/septic line — and spare you from having to cover all the repair costs.

What is a sewer line warranty?

A sewer line warranty is a utility line protection plan — or a service contract — that entitles a homeowner to professional repair services in the event that a covered problem occurs with the home’s sewer/septic service line. That’s the line that carries wastewater and sewage from the home to the utility company’s sewer main or to a septic tank. In the case of a sewer line warranty, covered repair services generally include (but are not limited to):

• Ground excavation to expose the leaking, clogged or blocked underground sewer/septic service line
• Repair of the line itself
• Backfilling the hole after the repair is complete

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

It’s important to know that sewer line coverage typically isn’t included with a standard homeowner’ insurance policy. “Sewer line insurance” is a phrase that some people use generically when referring to any coverage for sewer/septic line repairs, no matter the cause. However, the coverage that protects a homeowner for repairs needed due to wear and tear, including corrosion and damage from tree roots, of the underground sewer/septic service line connected to their home is more accurately called a “sewer line warranty.”

Who needs a sewer line warranty?

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

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that their standard homeowners’ insurance policy covers any sewer line problem that their local utility company doesn’t, and that the policy covers the line that runs to a septic tank if they have one. However, standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover sewer/septic line repairs. As the sewer service line travels underground between the home and the sewer main, 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.) If a home utilizes a septic tank instead of being connected to a utility sewer main, the homeowner is responsible for the service line that runs to the septic tank.

The age of the line can be a factor in its condition, in part because construction standards and materials have evolved over the years. Sewer and septic line issues are more common in older homes, and even some newer homes that utilize older lines that were already in place. It’s helpful to know the age of the line, not just the age of the house, when determining whether to enroll in a warranty plan.

What does a sewer line warranty cover?

A sewer line warranty covers repairs for problems with a home’s sewer (or septic) service line, which is located underground. Sewer line warranty coverage typically includes a visit from a professional to get a look at the problem, determine its extent 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 line and make covered repairs.

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

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

After the sewer/septic 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 sewer service lines?

If you can flush your toilet and the bowl empties, and if your sink and shower drains flow, you probably won’t give your sewer/septic line any 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, toilets and drains can back up into the house, the ground outside might become messy and disgustingly smelly, and sewage/wastewater might begin to pool in the yard.

3 common sewer service lines issues:

1. Clogged sewer/septic line. Blockages in your sewer or septic line could be caused by tree roots, old/weak lines, or from things being flushed or put down drains that shouldn’t be — e.g., grease or fats, paper towels, cotton swabs, etc.
2. Cracked sewer/septic line. Cracked lines could be caused by shifting soil, cold weather, weakened/old lines, or clogs.
3. Ruptured sewer lines. Ruptured or burst sewer lines could be the result of flushing items that shouldn’t be flushed, blockages, tree roots, or corrosion.

What are the top warning signs that your sewer or septic line may be damaged?

When there’s a problem with your home’s sewer or septic service line, toilets may flush — but slowly. Sinks and showers may drain — but slowly. Or they all might start backing up into your home. Here are things that homeowners should keep an eye out for. All of these could be symptoms of a problem with your sewer or septic service line.

• Foul smells
• Gurgling, slow, or backed-up toilets
• Rodents and insects in the home — they could come in through a broken line
• Slow drains
• Lush, green patches in the yard — where leaking sewage is acting as an unexpected fertilizer

Are there different types of sewer line warranties?

Many people hear the words “sewer line” and immediately think of one or two things. First, they think of the utility-owned sewer main that’s under the street in front of their home. Second, they think of a portion of their home’s indoor plumbing that is not a sewer line — the wastewater drain lines, especially the toilet drain(s). A “sewer line warranty” does not cover these, but instead specifically protects the service line that’s on private property outside a home and runs underground to the sewer main (or a septic tank). Not a lot of warranty companies offer them.

How does a sewer line warranty work?

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

1. Sign up. The homeowner will select the warranty company and warranty plan that best suit their needs, then enroll. Billing options may be monthly and annual, and establishing automatic payments — from a bank account or credit card — can help ensure that the account stays active, and that the warranty doesn’t lapse due to missed payments.
2. Wait for coverage to begin. It’s standard for new sewer/septic line warranty customers to have a 30-day or 60-day waiting period before they are eligible to make a repair claim. Because pre-existing conditions are not covered by a warranty plan, this waiting period helps ensure that only repairs that would be eligible for coverage are claimed.
3. Contact your warranty company when you suspect a problem. Look for a warranty provider that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — because problems can happen any time of day or night. If you think there might be a problem with your sewer/septic service line, let the warranty company know right away. They will ask you a few questions and arrange to have a service provider come to your home.
4. A service provider will come to your home. A screened, pre-approved service technician from the warranty company’s provider network will come to your home to investigate and diagnose the problem, and to determine what needs to be done to fix the issue. 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 this diagnostic appointment. For larger issues, especially ones that may require a permit, excavation equipment, and possibly a crew to fix, the service provider will share with you what steps are 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 be responsible for paying 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 your coverage limit and the repair’s total cost.

How much does a sewer line warranty usually cost?

You can generally expect to pay between $9 and $15 per month for a sewer 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 sewer line warranty save you?

Based on 2022/2023 American Water Resources (AWR) internal claims data, repairing (or replacing) a sewer service line typically costs $1,361, and without a sewer system warranty plan that would all come out of the homeowner’s pocket. Your costs could be lower, or they could be a lot higher — AWR paid a sewer line claim for $53,000 in 2022, and another for $40,000 in 2023. According to Forbes, “minor localized sewer repairs begin at around $650 and range up to $7,500 for 30 feet of sewer line replacement, with an average of around $4,000.”1

What is NOT included in a sewer line warranty?

Because a sewer line warranty specifically covers a home’s sewer pipe — the line that’s underground and carries sewage and wastewater from the home — indoor plumbing and fixtures are not covered by a sewer line warranty. Many sewer line warranties will also cover a line that runs to a septic tank, but they often do not cover the septic tank itself (or its components). Carefully read the terms and conditions of any warranty plan to know what is and is NOT covered. PRO TIP: Many companies that offer sewer line warranties also offer in-home plumbing warranties. You may be able to save money and also cover interior drain lines by bundling a sewer line warranty plan with an in-home plumbing warranty plan.

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

If you have a choice of sewer line warranty companies and plans where you live, these are some of the considerations 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 sewer line warranties and service line coverage?

American Water Resources offers many programs, including a sewer line warranty program, water line warranty programs, plumbing protection programs, gas line coverage, and has been protecting homeowners since 2000. If you have questions about sewer line warranties and the programs offered by American Water Resources, visit AWRUSA.com or call 855-800-5195.

1 Durrani, Ana. “How Much Does Sewer Line Repair and Replacement Cost in 2024?” Forbes Home, February 22, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/sewer-line-repair-replace-cost/.