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Do Home Warranties Cover Plumbing in 2026?

Home warranties typically cover plumbing systems, but some repairs may be excluded depending on the plan.

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Whitney Vandiver
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Home warranties typically cover plumbing systems, including certain types of pipe leaks and most kinds of water heaters. But they only apply to issues caused by everyday wear and tear.
Many plans also cover toilet parts and seals, shower fixtures and clogged drains that can be accessed with a standard sewer cable. Some areas that likely won’t be covered under home warranties include root damage and septic tanks.
» MORE: The Nerds explain home warranties

Plumbing issues that home warranties generally cover

Home warranties typically cover many parts of your home’s plumbing system but only for everyday wear and tear. Each home warranty company chooses what it covers, which may include:
  • Leaks in plumbing lines and pipes inside your home.
  • Clogged drains or lines that can be accessed with a standard sewer cable.
  • Groundwater sump pumps, if permanently installed. 
  • Valve parts and components.
  • Gas and electric water heaters.
  • Garbage disposals.
  • Shower heads and shower arms.
  • Toilet mechanisms, tanks, bowls and wax ring seals.
  • Whirlpool and jetted tub motors, pumps and air switch assemblies.
Areas that you may have to pay extra to add coverage for include:
  • Pools and built-in spas.
  • Plumbing in guest houses.
  • Septic system ejector pumps.
  • Well pumps.
  • Water heaters.
  • Complete toilet replacement.
» MORE: How much does it cost to replace a garbage disposal?

Plumbing problems that home warranties usually don’t cover

Although home warranties typically cover a home’s plumbing system, there are often parts that they don’t cover as well. Areas that may not be covered, depending on your plan and the company, include:
  • Root damage.
  • Line clogs outside the home’s foundation.
  • Clogs that are inaccessible by cable or snake.
  • Radon systems.
  • Sprinkler and fire-suppression systems.
  • Water softeners.
  • Water filtration or purification systems.
  • Water storage tanks.
  • Saunas or steam rooms (optional coverage may be available with some companies).
  • Caulking and grouting.
  • Shower enclosures, tubs, sinks, bidets and base pans.
  • Septic tanks.
  • Toilet lids and seats.
Even if an item is covered, some plans may not repair issues with that item that were caused by rust, corrosion or sediment. Companies that do cover these issues might not repair them if the problem existed before you signed up for your plan. Be sure to read home warranty plans carefully to understand when a home warranty will repair your plumbing system.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Because what’s covered differs between home warranty companies, read each plan’s coverage carefully before selecting the one that best suits your needs. If a specific part of your plumbing isn’t covered by a standard plan, you may be able to add it to your coverage for an extra fee.

How much home warranties generally pay toward plumbing repairs

Home warranty plans that include plumbing coverage range from $29.99 to $172.42 per month. The average monthly cost for these plans is $70.38, according to NerdWallet’s analysis. Because plans differ in terms of what they’ll pay toward plumbing repairs, here’s what you can expect if you purchase a home warranty plan that covers plumbing:
  • Coverage limits. Most plans limit how much they’ll pay for plumbing repairs. Many plans pay between $500 and $5,000 for covered plumbing issues during a 12-month contract period.
  • Even “unlimited” plumbing coverage can have limits. Some home warranty companies, such as First American Home Warranty offer “unlimited” plumbing repairs. This means they won’t deny a covered plumbing repair because they’ve already spent a certain amount on the customer’s plumbing. Be aware that those plans are often limited by a total repair cap (known as an aggregate limit). That amount is the maximum the company will pay for all of a customer’s combined repairs during a 12-month period.

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Who covers the plumbing repair: homeowners insurance or your home warranty?

Whether your plumbing issue is covered by your home warranty or your home insurance depends on what caused the problem. A home warranty is a service contract that repairs issues caused by normal wear and tear. Homeowners insurance covers issues that happen because of unexpected events, such as fire, theft, wind, lightning, smoke, vandalism, riots or falling objects.
For example, you’d contact your home warranty plan if:
  • Your old garbage disposal motor stops working.
  • You have a clogged drain in your tub that can be accessed with a standard sewer cable.
  • The wax ring seal under your toilet dries up and cracks, causing water to leak onto your bathroom floor.
Examples of when you should contact your homeowners insurance include:
  • Your pipes freeze and burst during freezing cold temps.
  • A fire in your basement destroys your water heater and other plumbing fixtures.
  • Vandals break into your home and damage your whirlpool tub.
If you’re not clear on the differences between them, check out our article on how home warranties differ from homeowners insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a home warranty cover plumbing leaks caused by tree roots?
Home warranties generally don’t cover any type of plumbing problems caused by tree roots, but you may be able to find add-on coverage. Homeowners insurance also usually excludes tree root issues in sewer lines. To avoid this type of issue it’s important to know where your lines are and how far your tree roots reach. You can also consider removing any trees that have roots threatening your plumbing.
Do home warranties pay to repair plumbing issues caused by natural disasters?
Home warranties don’t generally cover plumbing issues caused by natural disasters; the coverage they provide is for issues caused by everyday use. If you have plumbing problems from natural disasters, contact your homeowners insurance company.
Will my home warranty pay to repair a stopped drain or blocked pipe?
A home warranty typically covers clogged drains and pipes, as long as they occur due to normal wear and tear and can be cleared with a standard sewer cable — generally within 100 feet of the access point.
Does a home warranty cover the same plumbing repairs as homeowners insurance?
In some cases, the types of repairs might be the same, but a home warranty and homeowners insurance won’t repair plumbing for the same reasons.
A home warranty will repair plumbing when an issue is caused by everyday wear and tear, such as your water heater wearing out over time. A homeowners insurance policy repairs plumbing issues that are damaged by different causes. For example, home insurance kicks in if a flash flood damages your toilet or a tree falls on your home and damages your water heater.
The coverage never overlaps between a home warranty and homeowners insurance.
Is a home warranty worth it to cover my plumbing?
Purchasing a home warranty is a personal decision. It might be a helpful addition to cover what your homeowners insurance doesn’t cover, but you’re never guaranteed to have a home warranty claim approved for a plumbing repair.
When budgeting for a home warranty, keep in mind that most home warranty companies offer a number of plan options that cost different amounts. Prices can vary depending on where you live. And some plans may come with service fees, which means that even covered repairs might involve some out-of-pocket cost.
» MORE: How to know if it's worth getting a home warranty
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