Best sewer line home warranty 2024

What we like

American Home Shield (AHS) offers a generous $25,000 aggregate coverage limit with no specified coverage limit for systems besides air conditioning, heating and ductwork. Its lowest-priced plan covers plumbing, and a $5 optional add-on provides even more comprehensive septic coverage.

• Covers items damaged through normal wear and tear
• Covers items without a maintenance record
• Covers unknown, preexisting conditions

What we don’t like

AHS only offers six optional add-ons, which is fewer than most competitors. Appliance coverage is only available through its two higher-priced plans.

• Charges $100–$125 service call fees — slightly more expensive than some competitors
• Doesn’t cover stoppages caused by tree roots
• Doesn’t cover waste disposal

American Home Shield is one of the few major home warranty companies to offer a low-priced plan that covers plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems. 

• ShieldSilver ($30–$40 per month): Covers heating and air conditioning, plus plumbing and electrical systems
• ShieldGold ($40–$50 per month): Covers everything in the ShieldSilver Plan, plus kitchen and laundry appliances
• ShieldPlatinum ($80–$90 per month): Includes everything in the ShieldSilver and ShieldGold plans, plus one annual HVAC tune-up, coverage for code violations, roof-leak repairs and unlimited AC refrigerant

Add-on options: AHS only offers six add-ons, but one option is septic pump coverage at $5 per month.

Other factors that influence coverage: AHS limits its dollar amount to $500 per unit for sewage ejector pumps but has a $50,000 aggregate annual coverage cap.

American Home Shield owns a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Its customer review BBB rating is 2.1 out of 5 stars. That said, an AHS representative responded to most customer reviews we read, whether favorable or unfavorable.

AHS also struggles to gain favorable reviews on the consumer site Trustpilot, where its average rating is 2.1 out of 5 stars. Rejected claims are a recurring theme in unfavorable reviews.

What we like

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) enjoys a solid reputation among home warranty companies and is known for its focus on friendly, efficient customer service.

• Provides a convenient 24/7 online chat tool
• Offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee 
• Offers a $2,000 coverage cap per covered item for most items

What we don’t like

While LHG offers more add-ons than most home warranty providers, its septic system add-on costs more than most at $13 per month.

• Limits coverage for plumbing systems to $250 within the first 90 days
• Lacks transparency with service call fee pricing options
• May take up to 48 hours to respond to a claim

Liberty Home Guard’s highest-priced plan provides the most comprehensive coverage of any plan we reviewed.

• Appliance Guard ($50 per month): Includes major kitchen and laundry appliances, ceiling and exhaust fans, and garage door openers.
• Systems Guard ($55 per month): Covers major systems, such as plumbing, HVAC and electrical, ductwork, and water heaters.
• Total Home Guard ($60 per month): Includes everything in the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans.

Add-on options: LHG’s 42 available add-ons lead the industry. Its septic system plumbing add-on costs $13 a month — and monthly premiums increase substantially if you include the $13 sump pump add-on, the $9 grinder pump add-on and the $15 ejector pump add-on.

Other factors that influence coverage: The 60-day workmanship warranty is twice as long as the 30-day industry standard. Coverage limits for plumbing increase to $500 after 90 days.

Liberty Home Guard’s A rating on BBB was changed to N/R (“not rated”), but it holds a BBB customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. In March 2024, LHG responded to losing its A rating with a statement that the company’s customer satisfaction levels remain the highest relative to its scale. LHG also stated that in February 2024, it received the lowest number of cancellation requests in its history. Many of its favorable customer reviews on BBB and the consumer site Trustpilot mention a seamless experience for filing claims.

Unfavorable reviews often mention delays in service and difficulty getting claims approved. One example is a 1-star BBB review by David B., who wrote in February 2024 that the company wouldn’t resolve either of his open claims, despite one being open for over 90 days.

What we like

First American Home Warranty is accredited by the National Home Services Contract Association, which signifies that a provider is reputable and established in the industry.

• Provides unlimited coverage for most major systems
• Covers up to $3,500 per kitchen appliance
• Covers most working systems regardless of age

What we don’t like

First American’s premiums are among the most expensive in the industry. 

• Lacks coverage in 15 states, including most of the Northeast
• Does not allow you to choose a technician
• Does not cover all systems with its lowest-priced plan

With add-ons, First American provides comprehensive coverage for sewer lines and other plumbing components.

• Starter Plan ($47–$62 per month): Covers plumbing and electrical systems, ductwork, some kitchen appliances and heating
• Essentials Plan ($57–$72 per month): Covers everything in the Starter Plan, plus garage door openers, air conditioning, clothes washers and dryers, ceiling and exhaust fans, trash compactors and water heaters
• Premium Plan ($72–$87 per month): Includes everything in the Starter and Essentials plans, plus additional garage door and plumbing components

Add-on options: First American offers eight optional add-ons, including septic system coverage for $7 per month. 

Other factors that influence coverage: The septic add-on includes one septic tank pumping per year. Otherwise, its dollar limit is $500. First American offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

First American Home Warranty holds a BBB rating of B and a BBB customer rating of 1.8 out of 5 stars. Its customer rating with Trustpilot is more favorable — 4.1 out of 5 stars. Many favorable reviews on BBB and Trustpilot mention the responsiveness of First American’s claims department.

Some unfavorable reviews mentioned that technicians assigned by First American either failed to show up or did not resolve the issue. In a 1-star review for Trustpilot, customer Stephen from New Jersey wrote that three different plumbers never arrived on the days they were scheduled to.

What we like

AFC Home Warranty (formerly known as AFC Home Club) offers variety in its four coverage plans and 12 add-ons. Its service call fee structure is customizable, with three options.

• Currently includes roof-leak coverage for all plans
• Offers a workmanship guarantee for the policy term
• Includes exterior sewer lines coverage in its highest-priced plan

What we don’t like

AFC mandates that claims must be filed within 24 hours of the discovery of a malfunction. 

• Bases older appliance coverage caps on their prorated value
• Limits repairs and replacements to $3,000 annually
• Excludes coverage for unknown preexisting conditions

With four plans and 12 optional add-ons, AFC Home Warranty offers variety in coverage and cost.

• Silver Plan ($34 per month or $347 per year): Covers clothes dryers and clothes washers, refrigerators, ovens/ranges, cooktops, stoves, dishwashers, garbage disposals and garage door openers
• Gold Plan ($49 per month or $516 per year): Includes everything in the Silver Plan, plus water heaters, air conditioning, heating systems, electrical systems, plumbing systems and ductwork
• Platinum Plan ($53 per month or $573 per year): Includes everything in the Silver and Gold plans, plus plumbing stoppages and clogs, faucets, ice makers, built-in microwaves, and exhaust and ceiling fans
• Diamond Plan ($88 per month or $938 per year): Covers everything included in the other three plans, plus built-in microwaves, electronics, exterior sewer lines and exterior water lines

Add-on options: AFC offers 12 add-ons, including coverage for septic systems at $50 per year and for sump pumps at $35 per year.

Other factors that influence coverage: AFC’s service call fees are $75, $100 or $125; premiums go down with the higher service call fees. The Silver Plan costs $432 annually with sump pump and septic system add-ons and a $125 service call fee.

The BBB rates AFC Home Warranty with B, while the company’s BBB customer rating is 2.4 out of 5 stars. Many favorable reviews on BBB center on AFC’s professional service from its in-network technicians and customer service representatives. Customers report that AFC’s representatives answer questions completely and in a helpful manner.

Many 1-star statements on the consumer review site Trustpilot claim that AFC rejected claims repeatedly. In a 1-star Trustpilot review posted in July 2023, customer Nuno C. complained that the company never addressed any of his three claims.

What we like

Select Home Warranty (SHW) offers budget-friendly premiums and laundry appliance coverage with its lowest-priced service plan.

• Offers generous coverage caps for HVAC
• Requires a $75 service call fee — significantly less than most competitors
• Includes roof-leak protection in all of its service plans

What we don’t like

While SHW’s monthly premiums are among the lowest in the industry, its coverage caps place severe limits on non-HVAC reimbursements.

• Offers $500 coverage caps for most items and systems
• Does not offer complete plumbing coverage with its two lower-priced plans
• Requires you to use a technician chosen by SHW

Select Home Warranty provides budget-friendly costs, but the coverage caps are not as generous as most competitors.

• Bronze Care ($44 per month or $480 per year): Covers most major appliances, including kitchen appliances and clothes washers and dryers
• Gold Care ($44 per month or $480 per year): Covers electrical systems, heating systems, air conditioning, most plumbing components and water heaters.
• Platinum Care ($48 per month or $525 per year): Includes everything in the Bronze Care and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and ceiling fans.

Add-on options: SHW offers nine add-ons, including roof-leak repair for all plans. It offers septic system coverage at $6 per month and sump pump coverage at $3 per month.

Other factors that influence coverage: SHW adds two months to the policy for a total of 14 months when you pay annually rather than monthly.

Select Home Warranty holds a BBB rating of B, but its BBB customer rating is 1.4 out of 5 stars. Unresponsive customer service is a common theme of unfavorable BBB customer reviews. Also, some unfavorable reviews on BBB and consumer review site Trustpilot indicate that the customers were surprised when SHW would reimburse only a portion of replacement costs.

SHW fares better with Trustpilot, where its rating is 3.8 out of 5 stars. Most favorable reviews on BBB and Trustpilot cite the excellent customer service and the seamless sign-up process.