A few years ago, I came home from a vacation to a flooded basement from a burst sewer pipe. Figuring out how to get it fixed started with texting friends for recommendations, then making frantic calls to plumbers. Ultimately, I shelled out several thousand dollars.
It wasn’t an experience I want to repeat, but it would have been a lot easier to handle if I’d had a home warranty.
A home warranty covers your home appliances, systems, and more. Homeowners insurance typically only pays out for covered events like a windstorm ripping shingles off your roof or a fire in your kitchen that ruins your stove. A home warranty gives you peace of mind by covering events and breakdowns that homeowners insurance excludes.
Using our unique criteria, Today’s Homeowner has determined the best home warranty if you’re concerned about your sewer line. We look at availability and whether the home warranty provider covers sewer lines, and we factor in their claims process, customer reviews, and affordability.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Sewer Lines
- Elite Home Warranty is easily a winner in my book. It has the most comprehensive coverage for sewer lines, including excavation, replacement, and repairs of seals and joints, plus backfilling. Other companies only pay for the clearing of sewer line blockages.
- If you only want coverage for blockages, companies like Liberty Home Guard and AFC Home Club include that in primary plan pricing. You can save money by not having to pay for added coverage.
- Pay attention to companies like AFC Home Club or Elite Home Warranty that ask for maintenance records before approving a repair. If you haven’t kept records, you might want to buy a policy from someone else.
What’s Most Important in a Home Warranty for a Sewer Line?
A sewer line connects your home’s plumbing system to either your city’s sewer system or a septic system. It takes all the wastewater from sinks, toilets, dishwashers, bathtubs, and more out of your house. If it’s clogged or breaks, it can become a stinky health hazard.
There are many reasons that sewer lines can break, crack, or become clogged. At my house, it was the combination of a corroded pipe and roots from nearby trees that had broken it apart. Other common causes are shifting soil, corrosion, damage from nearby construction damaged pipe joints, and heavy vehicle traffic around the pipe.
Whatever the reason, you want a home warranty that can fix it. Most home warranties only offer sewer line coverage as an add-on protection, so you will pay more for any coverage. Pay close attention to your policy’s exclusions. For sewer pipes, some home warranty companies will only pay to have the line cleared out with a snake, and others won’t pay for damage caused by roots or trees.
Pick the coverage that fits your property.
Home Warranty Companies for Sewer Lines I Don’t Recommend
Unfortunately, the home warranty industry has its bad actors. There are two home warranty companies to avoid because of shady business practices. How they market and sell policies can be deceptive. In some cases, they faced legal troubles.
US Home Guard has a tarnished reputation. In 2022, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a news release warning consumers against doing business with US Home Guard because of its confusing and deceptive marketing. The company sent mailers that used scare tactics with subject lines such as “Your home warranty is about to expire!” to homeowners who never had a home warranty with the company and to new homebuyers who may not have known what coverage came with their home purchase.
In 2021, while doing business under a different name (Total Home Protection), Service Plus Home Warranty paid $400,000 to settle a deceptive marketing claim by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Today, even though I unchecked a box to receive texts and phone calls after applying for a quote, Service Plus Home Warranty texted and called multiple times a day for months.
I recommend avoiding both companies.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Sewer Lines
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$52–$58 |
$75-$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Sewer Lines
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard goes above and beyond when it comes to letting homeowners customize a home warranty policy. It sells the most add-on coverage of any company on our list, though two plans include sewer line coverage without charging extra. Its add-ons also come at reasonable premiums and service fees.
The company promises short wait times when you file a claim. It gives customers claims visibility through tracking and updates on its mobile app. Liberty is the only company with sewer line coverage that also has an app.
Liberty Home Guard wins the superlative of “best for customization” because it has so many add-ons (more than 40). Its Total Home Guard and Systems plans include sewer line coverage with no added cost. If you need your septic system pumped or a sump pump coverage with your sewer line, Liberty sells coverage for $12.99 and $8.99 a month, respectively.
With added coverage, you can protect much of your plumbing and sewer system. I like that you don’t pay extra for stoppages or clogs in drain and sewer lines, though the company only covers issues up to 100 feet from an access point. Mainline stoppages need an accessible ground-level cleanout and must not have a collapsed line for Liberty to provide service.
In addition to having so many extra coverage options, Liberty Home Guard usually delivers superior customer service. Representatives answer questions patiently, don’t push to close a sale, and receive consistent customer praise because of their claims filing and processing.
Liberty does not have the cheapest home warranty prices. Its extra coverage costs more per month than those of competitors. For example, Liberty charges $20 a month for a pool and spa rider, but a similar policy from American Home Shield costs $18 a month.
Liberty Home Guard’s standard service fee of $125 is high, too. You’ll pay this fee every time a technician comes out to your house for a repair, so multiple service calls take a bite out of your budget. However, when I recently called Liberty for policy estimates, a customer service representative offered to reduce my service fee to $85 (if I agreed to buy the policy at the time).
Liberty Home Guard sells three plans: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The latter two have plumbing coverage at no extra cost. Coverage starts 30 days after your policy kicks in. The coverage limit of $2,000 per covered item, the maximum a company will pay out for a repair or replacement, is the same for all its plans. That cap is lower than the limits of many competitors.
If you need sewer line coverage, your only options are the Systems Guard or Total Home Guard. With the Systems Guard plan, you get coverage for your plumbing systems, heating systems, air conditioners, ductwork, water heaters, and electrical systems.
Because the Appliance Guard Plan protects so many major appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ranges/ovens/cooktops, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, garage door openers, and exhaust fans), Liberty won’t sell you add-on sewer line coverage.
The Total Home Guard plan, Liberty’s most comprehensive coverage, protects your home’s systems and appliances. Covered home systems include plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electrical. Appliance coverage includes your clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, garbage disposal, range, oven, cooktop, ceiling and exhaust fans, built-in microwave, and garage door openers.
When you buy your policy, you can pay per month or once a year in advance. If you can afford to pay for a year in advance, you’ll get two free months of extra coverage.
Homeowners who feel comfortable prepaying for several years get even more time for free. For example, prepaying for three years gives you four months free. Shopping online, you’ll find deals that give you $200 off for a full-year plan plus limited roof-leak protection.
Remember, while it has a $125 service call fee, that price is negotiable over the phone if you’re ready to buy.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Appliance Guard | $50 | $125 | One year paid in advance $500 (2 months free) |
| Systems Guard | $55 | $125 | One year paid in advance $550 (2 months free) |
| Total Home Guard | $60 | $125 | One year paid in advance $600 (Two months free) online, $575 (2 months free) over the phone |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Homeowners with a septic system, a sump pump, or a well pump can add them onto their policy with Liberty Home Guard. You’ll have 42 different add-ons to pick from if you go with Liberty Home Guard as your home warranty provider.
- Pool and spa: $20/month
- Additional spa: $10/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $10/month
- Saltwater pool: $24/month
- Generator: $20/month
- Casita guest unit: $36/month
- Sump pump: $9/month
- Well pump: $13/month
- Septic system pumping: $13/month
- Ejector pump: $15/month
- Grinder pump: $15/month
- Limited roof leak: $12/month
- Re-Key: $10/month
- Gutter cleaning: $15/month
- Pest control: $15/month
- Carpet cleaning: $20/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $20/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $20/month
- Central vacuum: $9/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $6/month
- Water softener: $14/month
- Swamp cooler: $15/month
- Second refrigerator: $8/month
- Trash compactor: $7/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $4/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $15/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $12/month
- Water dispenser water line: $5/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $10/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $15/month
- Lighting fixtures: $8/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $8/month
- Electronics protection: $20/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $15/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $20/month
- Pro-Series Refrigerator: $15/month
- Pro-Series Stand Alone Freezer: $15/month
- Pro-Series Range/Oven/Cooktop: $13/month
- Pro-Series Dishwasher: $8/month
- Pro-Series Microwave: $5/month
- Pro-Series Washing Machine: $5/month
- Pro-Series Clothes Dryer: $5/month
If you have odd or unique systems or appliances that aren’t on this list, contact LHG and ask about coverage. If you give Liberty the make and model of an item, it will try to provide you with specialized coverage.
The list of add-ons can be overwhelming. If you can’t decide what extra coverage you’ll need, the website shows the most popular options in your state. It’s helpful to see what other homeowners in your state thought they might need.
Although higher, Liberty Home Guard’s prices are within the range of competitors. Elite Home Warranty charges slightly higher for its comprehensive plan. I used undiscounted prices when comparing plans, and pricing could be lower if you get a deal.
Customers also benefit from getting a decent amount of coverage within Liberty’s plans, all for the low monthly fee and having the option to cover unusual items like pest control or a generator. You get a lot of bang for your buck with their basic plan pricing.
However, the higher pricing for additional coverage drags down Liberty’s score. For example, Elite Home Warranty charges $11 a month to add on coverage for the septic system, whereas Liberty charges $13 a month. Plus, Elite covers the whole system, not just septic system pumping. Elite typically charges a $70 service fee, which is still cheaper than Liberty’s discounted fee.
While you can cancel your policy with Liberty, if you cancel after 30 days, you’ll only receive a prorated refund. Plus, it charges a $50 cancellation fee. Some competitors don’t charge any fees to cancel.
To get the best deals, call Liberty directly. It offered me a reduced service fee when I asked about other discounts and when I called for a quote on a holiday weekend.
Liberty Home Guard has excellent customer service. It’s easy to get a quote from its well-designed website and to play around with add-ons to see how they affect your bottom-line cost. On the phone, representatives are friendly and patient when answering questions. The company doesn’t blow up your phone after you reach out, either.
If you need service, you can submit claims 24/7/365 online by phone or on its mobile app. It is one of the few home warranty companies that has an app where customers can contact the company and track their claims. A 60-day workmanship guarantee means that if you need the same service within 60 days after a repair, you won’t pay another service fee.
Liberty Home Guard has some of the best online reviews in the business. Customers have given them 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google, 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, and equally strong reviews on the Better Business Bureau. Their ratings are much higher than competitors’ rankings despite only having been in business since 2017.
Reviewers praise the company’s consistently great customer service and fast claim resolution. They also say that technicians knew how to get the job done right the first time, so even though Liberty offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee, the customer didn’t have to use it.
However, the company has recently received more negative reviews. And, while no home warranty covers 100% of every component, part, and valve in an item that might break, homeowners have been upset about exclusions. Some reviewers complain that the company took longer than promised to complete a repair or that multiple service technicians couldn’t fix the item.
Always read the fine print in your contract to make sure you understand exclusions. Ask local friends about their experiences working with the company. A positive or negative experience with a service technician can depend a lot on your area.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR*, 4.48/5 stars | 2,453 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7/5 stars | 2,.753 |
| 4.7/5 stars | 11,243 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note as of May 8, 2024: Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to LHG for comment, and it shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”
For homeowners on the go who don’t have time to call in, Liberty Home Guard has a useful mobile app. After you sign up for coverage, you’ll receive a link to download. While you can track the progress of a claim on the app and see how close a technician is to your house, you can still call in to file a claim or use the customer portal on its website.
Some competitors, like Elite Home Warranty, charge a higher service if you need help outside of normal business hours or on the weekends. But Liberty’s service fee stays the same whether you need help during business hours, at night, or on the weekend. After partnering with Progressive Insurance, Liberty’s technician network has grown, increasing the likelihood that you won’t wait long for service and that it can fulfill its promised 24- to 48-hour turnaround time on claims.
It’s tough to predict which components of an HVAC system or dishwasher might break, though you can guess that older systems and appliances will have more issues. There’s a lot of confusion out there about what a home warranty will and won’t cover, so you can’t always check before something breaks. The score for transparency and ease of use comes from how easy it is to find this information about a home warranty company before something goes wrong.
Liberty Home Guard puts a sample contract online, so it’s easy to look at exclusions and limits. The fact that policies don’t cover known or preexisting conditions lowers its score here. However, the company’s website clearly lays out each plan’s coverage, and the FAQs answer many basic questions.
Exclusions
All home warranty companies have instances in which they won’t pay out on a claim, also called exclusions. Liberty Home Guard’s plans exclusions include:
- Flues, vents, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Electronics, computerized, “smart,” or Internet/enabled components and parts
- Filters associated with any covered items
- Remote receiving and transmitting devices
- Radon and other leak detection monitoring systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Lighting
- Solar systems and applications
- Cosmetic defects
- Disposal of appliances, systems, or components
- Cranes or other specialty vehicles required to install, remove, or access your appliances or home systems
- Glass parts
- Noise
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the listed exclusions here are not exhaustive. More exclusions may apply.
Like homeowners insurance, home warranty policies have financial limits. They represent the maximum a company will pay for a repair or replacement. Liberty pays out as much as $2,000 per covered item. That might not be enough to pay for a fix or replacement if you have higher-end appliances and don’t have a product warranty.
If you buy a policy from Liberty Home Guard, you can pick your service provider. This flexibility can be positive if you’ve had a great experience with previous service technicians — or negative if you’re someone who doesn’t like shopping for these professional technicians.
Elite Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Elite Home Warranty’s excellent service, high coverage limits, and comprehensive workmanship guarantee have led to a best-in-customer satisfaction rating. Elite offers homeowners a high level of protection from breakdowns — some coverage limits go up to $7,000.
However, pay attention to the reduced coverage limits during the first 90 days of buying a contract if you think something could break soon. They severely reduce coverage beyond the typical 30-day waiting period.
Elite Home Warranty’s website makes it easy to find out what you’re getting with a policy. There are sample contracts for every state where they sell policies, not boilerplate contracts that don’t apply. On its home warranty plans page, you can click on every item (including add-ons) to find out more about specific coverage. There’s no digging through the contract’s fine print to find that out.
Unlike some competitors, the company doesn’t take your application for a free quote as an invitation to spam your phone with calls and texts. Customer representatives ask exploratory questions to help you when picking coverage and even give you a direct number to call back if you say you need more time to think about the purchase.
All repairs come with a 90-day guarantee on parts, labor, and installation. While companies like Liberty Home Guard have a workmanship guarantee that only covers parts and labor, Elite includes installation. If you buy a premium appliance add-on, coverage limits increase to $6,000, and other coverage limits are $10,000. This limit is two to three times some competitor’s coverage limits.
The service line add-on, which costs $350 a year or $29 a month, is the most comprehensive out of all the providers on this list. It doesn’t restrict coverage to a distance from the foundation, and it will even cover excavation and backfilling dirt. While expensive, if you have serious concerns about your sewer line, it could be your best choice.
Even though you’ll receive a sizable amount of coverage for your premiums, Elite’s pricing isn’t the least expensive in the business. On the surface, it looks wonderful. Only $70 for a service fee! Then, you dig deeper.
Elite doesn’t provide standard-priced service after hours or on weekends. If your dishwasher springs a leak on a Saturday and you need immediate service, you’ll pay a $150 fee instead of the normal $70 fee. Competitors like Liberty Home Guard have a flat fee regardless of timing. Because appliances rarely break when it’s convenient, this could become a pricey issue.
Even though the company is transparent with its coverage, pay close attention to the contract’s fine print. It’s common in the industry that, after you buy a policy, you have a 30-day waiting period before full coverage begins. However, Elite extends its waiting period longer for some of the items and systems it covers. Replacement coverage, which would buy a new dishwasher if yours wasn’t repairable, is only available after 90 days. Until those 90 days are up, Elite’s liability for repairs and parts is only $300.
To get the benefit of Elite’s high coverage limits, you must have service records. Without records that show you’ve had your water heater, furnace, or other big-ticket items serviced regularly, Elite lowers its coverage cap to $500. Picking Elite as a home warranty company when you first buy appliances is your best bet unless you have records. The company can also deny coverage if your records show a lack of maintenance.
Elite sells three warranty plans:
- A systems-only plan for items like your heating, plumbing, and electrical systems
- An appliances-only plan that covers most major appliances
- A comprehensive plan that combines the coverage of the other two
If your plumbing problem starts in the house, only the systems-only and comprehensive plan covers interior plumbing repairs.
Add-on benefits like premium appliances, premium systems, or premium benefits increase Elite’s coverage limits to much higher than the industry standard of $2,000 to $3,000. Coverage caps for appliances with the premium add-on go up to $6,000, and system payouts can be as much as $10,000. If you buy the premium systems plan, your coverage limits for HVAC coverage will increase to $7,000.
However, there’s one catch. Elite severely restricts its coverage limits after the initial policy purchase. To find out more, go to its website’s service agreements and filter by state. For New York, replacement coverage doesn’t kick in for 90 days under every plan. Coverage limits can drop lower at any time if Elite’s service technician says that the repair became necessary because of a lack of maintenance and repairs.
When I called Elite in the past, the customer service representative offered $150 off plan pricing if I signed up during our call. The deal is also available online.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Elite Appliance | $35 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
| Elite Systems | $50 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
| Elite Complete | $60 | $70 | $150 sign-up, 30-day free trial |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Elite Home Warranty offers the second-largest list of add-ons after Liberty Home Guard. Additional coverage options include (annual price):
- Annual HVAC maintenance: $300
- Attic exhaust fan: $70
- Central vacuum: $49
- Drainage, sewer, and water service lines: $350
- Effluent pump: $100
- Ejector pump: $100
- Freestanding freezer: $60
- Freestanding ice makers: $60
- Freestanding spa equipment: $120
- Generator: $100
- Geothermal heating and cooling systems: $300
- Grinder pump: $100
- Guest house: $300
- Jetted hot tub: $100
- Lawn sprinkler system: $100
- Lift pump: $100
- Limited patching repair: $100
- Pool and spa equipment: $200
- Pool equipment: $150
- Premium Appliances: $250
- Premium benefits: $200
- Premium systems: $300
- Premium Systems plus: $500
- Septic system: $130
- Sump pump: $100
- Swamp cooler: $150
- Water softeners: $100
- Water filtration system: $100
- Well pump: $100
- Wine cooler: $70
Elite’s pricing is in line with competitor pricing, though its normal service fee can be much cheaper than Liberty Home Guard’s $125 fee or Cinch Home Warranty’s $100 fee. Watch out for surprise price increases. For example, Elite increases its service fee on nights and weekends to $150, while other companies do not.
Elite also charges a $150 service fee to repair professional-grade home appliances. To get maximum coverage limits, which are a key selling point for Elite, you have to pay extra to buy an add-on package. To increase your HVAC coverage to $7,000, you’ll pay $300 or more a year (or approximately $25 more a month).
However, you can cancel at any time and receive a prorated refund. Elite doesn’t charge a cancellation fee, either.
Elite scores lower for customer experience because you can’t buy a policy online. To get a price quote, you must speak to a representative on the phone. This lack of online information also means that you can’t verify anything a company rep tells you. Customer service representatives also offer the most expensive plan first without asking questions to determine if another plan could be a better fit.
However, Elite has links to sample policies on its main page. Access to this information enables you to dig into their coverage and exclusions. When you click on a pop-up for each item, you’ll see what Elite covers among home appliances and systems. For example, plumbing coverage excludes pipes under concrete. Other companies only make this information available in the fine print of their contracts.
That fine print discloses restrictions on coverage, which drops Elite’s customer experience score even lower. You must wait 90 days to get the full benefit of your policy. The maximum coverage on appliances, HVAC, and replacements is quite low until that time is up.
Elite receives rave reviews online from customers. They love its service, say that technicians have the expertise to get the job done, and they like the company’s coverage. More than one customer mentioned that they had coverage with a competitor in the past and thought Elite’s coverage was much better. Others noted that they’d owned a policy through Elite for years and had consistently received great service, including when they filed a claim.
One reviewer told the story of how, when the customer misunderstood a coverage exclusion, the company still covered the repair. Impressively, the company responds to negative reviews and has closed a few claims with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Elite has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, an A+ rating from the BBB, and 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google. However, it hasn’t been in business long — just four years. We need a longer track record for the company to receive a higher score.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+,4.97/5 stars | 397 |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 / 5 stars | 79 |
| 4.8 / 5 stars | 162 | |
| Yelp | 4.8/ 5 stars | 4 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
While Elite promises a 24- to 48-hour turnaround response time from when you place a service request, this excludes nights and weekends. You can file claims online or on the phone 24/7/365. Across the board, customers mention positive and professional experiences with service technicians,
However, Elite’s score dips because of its claims process, because its $70 service fee nearly doubles to $150 if you need service at night or on the weekend. If your furnace stops working on a cold winter Saturday, you’ll be waiting for help until Monday or paying extra for service.
Elite scores high for transparency and ease of use. You can find almost everything about its policies, coverage, and exclusions online. Instead of a generic sample contract, it has sample contracts available for each state in which it sells policies. Under coverage items, you can click on everything and see what it is and isn’t excluded, down to parts and valves in a dishwasher.
We gave Elite a minor ding because you can’t see pricing or buy a policy online.
Exclusions
Elite has a handful of exclusions that apply to all policies:
- Natural disaster-related damages
- Malfunction or damages due to acts of God
- Commercial-grade appliances
- Units in a rental property
- Cosmetic damage
- A lack of maintenance
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative that readers review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
If you’ve got an excellent plumber on speed dial, don’t worry. Elite won’t force you to go with someone else if you file a claim through Elite. As long as your favorite plumber is licensed and insured, it will approve of your favorite service technician (or company).
AFC Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
AFC Home Club earns higher marks than other home warranty companies because it sells four plans with different coverage tiers. Homeowners can also pick a favorite technician as long as they first verify the company with AFC. However, it’s important to read the fine print in AFC Home Club’s sample contract because many customer complaints stem from confusion about coverage.
AFC Home Club gives the highest level of exterior water and sewer line coverage with its Diamond Plan. With the Platinum Plan, the company only covers sewer link snaking. But if you upgrade to the Diamond Plan, AFC pays to fix leaks or breaks to your water line and clogs and blockages in your sewer line up to where it connects with the sewer utility’s main line or a septic tank.
I appreciate the transparency and thoroughness of AFC Home Club’s website. You can find details about its four plans on the Plans and Pricing page. When you click on an item, a pop-up gives you more information about excluded parts and components. For example, click on “heating systems” to see that their policy doesn’t cover flues and vents.
Often, you have to hunt this information down in a contact’s fine print. Only in Elite Home Warranty’s agreement will you find out that it excludes parts for sealed components of fridges. If you know why a particular item broke, quickly checking the website could save you a service call fee if it isn’t covered.
The ability to pick your service technician is one of the best benefits of AFC Home Club’s policies. While the company doesn’t have after-hours or weekend service through their network, you can pick someone you’ve worked with in the past to perform the repair. Just call AFC’s claims department and verify that the company is licensed and insured. The repair person who comes out can choose to be paid directly from AFC, or you can pay them and submit for reimbursement.
I don’t like AFC’s poor online reviews. Reviewers complained the company wanted to pay to replace an appliance and install it themselves when that wasn’t possible because of physical limitations. They said that AFC regularly denies claims, sends out inexperienced and unprofessional technicians, and aren’t fans of having to provide maintenance records to receive service.
AFC sells only a limited list of 14 add-ons to increase plan coverage — and all of them cost more than those of competitors. In comparison, Elite Home Warranty has 30 add-ons, and Liberty Home Guard has 42 options. Sump pump coverage costs $35 a month, which is considerably more than the $9 a month Liberty Home Guard charges. If you want to increase coverage, the options aren’t budget-friendly.
AFC Home Club sells four home warranty plans, one more than other competitors on this list. Its Diamond plan has added coverage that other companies don’t have and the best sewer and water lines coverage.
AFC’s cheapest plan, the Silver Plan, covers most major appliances and no home systems. It protects your oven/range, refrigerator, stove, cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer, dryer, and garage door opener.
The next step up, the Gold Plan, adds systems to its Silver Plan coverage, such as air conditioning and heating systems, electrical systems, plumbing, water heater, and ductwork.
The Platinum Plan increases coverage even more to include exhaust, attic, and ceiling fans, faucets, plumbing stoppages, an ice maker, and a built-in microwave.
AFC Home Club is the only home warranty company that sells a fourth coverage tier. While the Diamond Plan costs approximately $35 more a month than the Platinum Plan, it offers the best additional benefits for homeowners concerned about exterior sewer lines. Few home warranties cover electronics and exterior water and sewer lines — or they restrict coverage to a certain distance from the house.
The added benefits of the Diamond Plan might mean more if you invest in an expensive audiovisual system. The electronics coverage protects your investment. And sewer line repairs can cost thousands.
With AFC Home Club, like First American Home Warranty, customers can raise or lower their monthly premiums by selecting a higher or lower service fee. If paying a lower monthly fee is better for your budget, pick the $125 service fee, which reduces your monthly premium. AFC’s pricing is similar to how choosing a high deductible with a homeowners insurance policy can lower your premium.
There are no current discounts online and over the phone, but in the past, the company has offered $250 off the total cost and roof-leak coverage included. Coverage caps are up to $3,000 per membership term per item with all plans.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Silver Plan | $44 or $52 | $75 or $125 | None |
| Gold Plan | $61 or $70 | $75 or 125 | None |
| Platinum Plan | $67 or $76 | $75 or 125 | None |
| Diamond Plan | $102 or $110 | $75 or 125 | None |
*If you choose the lower service fee of $75, you pay the higher monthly premium. For example, the $65 with the Platinum Plan pairs with the $75 service fee.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Albany, NY.. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
The monthly fees for added coverage with AFC Home Club can be four to 10 times higher than those of other companies. If you need one of these add-ons, you should put another company, such as Liberty Home Guard, higher on your list of potential home warranty providers.
- In-ground pool: $100/month
- In-ground pool and spa: $150/month
- Sump pump: $35/month
- Ice maker: $25/month
- Well pump: $50/month
- Electronics coverage (price depends on your specific electronics)
- Double oven: $25/month
- Hot water dispenser: $25/month
- Built-in microwave: $50/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $25/month
- Central vacuum: $25/month
- Septic system: $50/month
- Roof leak (free, worth $25/month)
AFC Home Club’s prices its first three plans competitively. The Diamond Plan is the most expensive of any home warranty provider that covers sewer lines. Still, you’d need it if you have luxury electronics or want protection for your water and sewer lines.
The company’s higher service fee of $125 is up there, too — but you can lower it by choosing a higher monthly premium. However, Elite Home Warranty and First American sell sewer line coverage at a lower cost. AFC also occasionally offers on special weekends such as President’s Day or another holiday weekend.
Unlike competitors that limit repair guarantees to 60 or 90 days, AFC extends its service guarantee to the life of the plan. As long as you have a current plan, it guarantees past work.
It’s easy to shop for information about AFC through its clear and well-laid-out website. You can explore each plan’s coverage and excluded items, and FAQs answer many common questions. When I called for a quote, the customer service representative chatted and asked questions about my house rather than pushing to close the sale.
Depending on the reviewing site, AFC Home Club has variable online reviews. On Trustpilot, customers gave AFC 3 out of 5 stars, and Google reviews are 3.7 out of 5 stars, with positive reviews mentioning fast service and quickly resolved claims. AFC has a B rating from the BBB, though customers rate them only 2.43 out of 5 stars (primarily for denied claims). Elite Home Warranty and Liberty Home Guard enjoy higher ratings.
Reviewers who’ve had policies with AFC for years are happy with their consistently great service and the smooth online claims process. Others appreciated the friendly service representatives who helped them through the claims process, and that sales representatives called to confirm coverage when it was time to renew.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B, 2.11 / 5 stars | 142 |
| Trustpilot | 3 / 5 stars | 24 |
| 3.7 / 5 stars | 1,620 | |
| Yelp | 1.9 / 5 stars | 339 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
If you need to file a service request, you can do it online or over the phone. Most reviews had positive things to say about the claims process. After filing claims, representatives updated them regularly on their technician’s expected arrival time.
Within 24 to 48 hours of you filing a claim, AFC promises that a technician will reach out to make an appointment. I like that you’re not at the mercy of the home warranty company and the technician’s calendar. Instead, you can work with the technician to find the best time for you. However, AFC Home Club scores lower for not having after-hours or weekend service through their network.
It’s easy to find the coverage and exclusions of every item in its plans on AFC’s website. When you click on an item, you can flip between “covered” and “not covered” on the pop-up. They also have sample contracts for each of their plans. You shouldn’t wonder if a lower-tier plan has different exclusions than a top-tier plan.
Exclusions
All of AFC Home Club’s plans exclude the following:
- Crane rentals are needed to move appliances or systems
- Geothermal heating systems
- Haul-away services
- Light fixtures
- Code violations
- Appliances and systems not properly maintained
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Most of these are standard exclusions. The exclusion for code violations is unlikely to be an issue if you live in a newer home. But if you live in a house with older electrical or plumbing, coverage for repairs might not include the full cost to bring them up to code.
Also, AFC sometimes asks customers to supply it with maintenance records before it will approve repairs. For example, if you call in with an HVAC problem, the company will ask for an annual maintenance record from a licensed technician. If a technician sent by AFC recommends a repair that you choose not to have done, you forfeit any future coverage on the item.
If you’re looking for flexibility in service providers, look no further than AFC Home Club. It gives homeowners the option of picking a service technician. All you have to do is call AFC for pre-approval. It makes sure the technician is licensed and insured and then approves the repair.
First American Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
First American hits the spot for reasonable pricing, plus service fees that won’t break the bank when you need a repair. Its coverage limits for appliances are the highest among its competitors, too. It is also the only home warranty provider that gives homeowners an option to choose among three service fees.
First American’s plans cover the clearing of sewer and mainline stoppages up to 125 feet from the access point — and you don’t have to pay extra for this coverage.
Other companies have low replacement or coverage limits for appliances, which could stick you with an inferior appliance if you bought a top-tier washer. First American, on the other hand, pays out up to $3,500 for an appliance. If you pick the Premium Plan, coverage increases to $7,000 for your refrigerator, washer, dryer, and other appliances.
I also like that First American gives homeowners three choices for a service fee. A higher service fee lowers your monthly premium. If you need to keep your monthly budget under control but can pay a higher fee occasionally, First American gives you this option.
Also, you won’t have to pay extra for basic sewer line coverage. First American includes the coverage in every plan.
First American has a generic website that is non-specific in terms of coverage limits, exclusions, or service until you apply for a quote. To get concrete details on prices and service fees or to see a sample contract, you have to give First American your contact information — not a friendly customer experience.
Also, weekend customer service representatives can’t answer any questions. They tell you to call back on a weekday.
First American’s first two plans, Starter and Essential, give homeowners coverage up to $3,500 for a dishwasher, refrigerator, built-in microwave oven, oven, range, cooktop, and kitchen range hood. The Essential Plan adds the same coverage for your washer, dryer, and trash compactor. I find the split of covered items to be odd. Most home warranty companies divide plans by either appliances or systems.
The Starter plan, First American’s cheapest plan, offers protection for more items than many competitors include in their basic plans. It covers your dishwasher, refrigerator, kitchen range hood, built-in microwave oven, oven/range/cooktop, plumbing, plumbing stoppages, toilet tanks, bowls and mechanisms, electrical system, ductwork, heating, and refrigerant. However, it excludes your washer, dryer, water heater, and air conditioning.
The Essential Plan adds coverage for your water heater, washer, dryer, trash compactor, fans (attic, exhaust, ceiling, whole-house), garage door opener, air conditioning, and a mini-split ductless system. First American is the only home warranty provider that covers a mini-split system, which is common in older houses where it’s too expensive to add the ductwork for traditional air conditioning.
If you buy the Premium plan, the financial cap increases to $7,000 for appliances. It also expands Essential Plan coverage to include hose bibbs, a ground-level cleanout, instant hot water dispenser, shower head, shower arm, garage door springs, hinges, transmitters, central vacuum system, registers, grills, filters, and window A/C units.
Add-ons are reasonably priced, with most being between $2 and $7, but First American doesn’t offer many options to expand coverage. Because you have three options for service fees, you adjust your monthly costs to fit your budget.
The Essential and Premium plans include additional items and limits I haven’t seen offered by any other home warranty provider. These include coverage for permits and code violations, concrete encasement, HVAC lifting equipment, improper installations/modifications, and refrigerant recapture, reclaim, and disposal. A concrete encasement would cover up to $500 under the Essential Plan and up to $1,000 under the Premium Plan for the diagnosis, access, repair, or replacement of covered items located in or under concrete.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Starter Plan | $57, $62, $72 | $75, $100, $125 | None on website |
| Essential Plan | $67, $72, $82 | $75, $100, $125 | Spring sale: $200 off |
| Premium Plan | $82, $87, $97 | $75, $100, $125 | None on website |
* If you choose the lower service fee of $75, you pay the higher monthly premium. For example, the $97 with the Platinum Plan pairs with the $75 service fee.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Seattle, WA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Unfortunately, First American has few available add-ons. Some are included on more expensive plans, while others you can add to more basic plans for an extra charge. Among the optional coverages with every plan are:
- Pool/spa equipment: $21/month
- Well pump: $7/month
- Additional refrigeration: $4/month
- Limited roof leak: $8/month
- Septic tank pumping/system: $7/month
- Water softener/reverse osmosis system: $7/month
- HVAC tune-up: $2/month
First American’s service fees range from $75 (almost as low as Elite Home Warranty’s fee) up to $125. You can pick what you want to pay, and your monthly premium increases or decreases based on your choice. If you pick a $75 service fee, you’ll pay $97 a month for the Premium Plan. If you select a $125 fee, you’ll only pay $82 a month. However, all of these prices are slightly higher than those of its competitors.
Pricing for add-ons is fairly cheap, ranging from $2 to $21 a month, which is fairly cheap. The company offers sample contracts to read online after you apply for a quote, so it’s easier to gauge your overall cost.
Like most home warranty companies, there’s a 30-day waiting period after signing up. Service calls are lower than Liberty Home Guard’s undiscounted and discounted fee and only $5 more than Elite Home Warranty’s service fee. After you apply for a quote, you’ll find a lot of information about plans and coverage, but they will contact you incessantly.
However, First American only guarantees the workmanship of its service technicians for 30 days, which is shorter than both Liberty and Elite Home Warranty. If you have your clothes dryer repaired and it stops spinning again 31 days later, you’ll pay an additional fee for service.
First American’s customers have positive things to say about the skill and professionalism of technicians. Even when the service technicians needed to order parts and return to complete the repair, customers said it was all handled in less than a week. However, other reviewers mention that First American only had technicians who were quite a distance from their homes, and they had to wait for service.
People who left negative reviews were unhappy with what they paid for replacement items or said their technician was unable to fix the issue. Others mention plumbing repairs that dragged on for months, only for First American to close the claim without the customer agreeing the repair was complete.
From reviews, customer experience with First American varies based on the network of service technicians in their area. Unfortunately, this is common in the industry. I’d advise homeowners to ask friends about anyone who has recent, local experience with First American. However, while some competitors ignore negative reviews and complaints, First American responds to negative comments online and attempts to resolve the problem. In my opinion, engaging with dissatisfied customers and trying to resolve problems is a good sign for the company’s overall integrity.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B, 1.78 / 5 stars | 1,866 |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 / 5 stars | 13,975 |
| 2.8 / 5 stars | 2,669 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
While customers can place a claim over the phone or go to an online portal to request service, they might wait awhile for service. First, the company checks that the item has coverage before scheduling a service call. According to online reviews, you also must pay the service fee before they will give you any details about the technician who will come to your home.
After you have pre-approval, it’s up to the service provider to contact you to schedule an appointment. While their contract says that services will commence within 48 hours of filing a claim, that means First American will have started the ball rolling. If you had a sewer line stoppage that was backing up into your house, waiting for service could become a problem — and a potential health hazard).
After applying for a free quote, you can read First American’s sample contract. Only in the did I find information about sewer line coverage. The lack of basic information on First American’s website is frustrating. You have to dig to find answers. However, once you apply for a quote and get the contract, everything is clearly laid out.
Exclusions
All of First American’s plans have the following exclusions:
- Crane rentals are needed to move appliances or systems
- Geothermal heating systems
- Haul-away services
- Light fixtures
- Code violations
- Appliances and systems not properly maintained
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
First American’s contract states that items must be in safe working order the day you buy your policy. The Company will not reimburse any repairs that weren’t pre-approved. If a deep freeze, foreign objects, tree or shrub roots, or collapsed or broken lines outside the foundation cause your sewer line problem, the company will not cover the repair.
There is no flexibility in choosing your service provider with First American. Unlike other companies, you cannot get pre-approval and call a technician you know and have had a good experience with in the past to perform a repair. This inflexibility could be a real issue if the company sends out a technician who bungled a past repair or who was unprofessional.
Calculate the Cost of a Sewer Line Home Warranty
If you’re curious about what a home warranty for a sewer line would cost, try using our home warranty calculator.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Home Warranty for Sewer Lines?
Whether or not you need a home warranty for sewer lines depends on your house. If you had your sewer line scoped during the home inspection prior to purchase, and it revealed issues like roots or collapses, a home warranty company would likely refuse coverage. But if you don’t know of any preexisting problems, it might be a good idea to have the coverage.
Another thing to look out for is whether a neighbor with a house built at the same time as yours starts having sewer line issues. It’s a sign that you could have problems soon enough.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost for a Sewer Line?
The average cost for a home warranty for a sewer line will vary depending on whether a plan includes it in standard pricing or if you buy it as an add-on. As part of a plan, the average cost is $79. As an add-on, the average price is $29. A home warranty’s cost can vary if you pick more add-ons or a higher service fee.
How To Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties for Sewer Lines?
To save money when shopping for home warranties that cover sewer lines, consider the number of add-ons your home really needs. Added coverage can escalate your costs to more than $100 a month for a basic plan. Also, shop for a home warranty over a holiday weekend, like President’s Day. Many companies offer holiday deals and discounts.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Sewer Lines?
A home warranty is worth it for sewer lines if you need peace of mind and suspect an issue might arise soon. When deciding if a home warranty is worth it, add up the monthly or annual cost and compare it to what you’ve paid for recent breakdowns and repairs. You might find that you would have saved money with a policy.
Other Warranty Resources for Homeowners
- Best Home Warranty Companies
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Seniors
- Best Home Warranty for Garage Doors
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Water Heaters
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Heat Pumps
- Best Mobile Home Warranty Companies
- Best Home Warranty Companies for a Rental Property
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Electrical Systems
- Best Home Appliance Insurance Companies
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Pre-Existing Conditions
- Best Home Warranties With No Deductible
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Luxury Homes
- Best Pool Warranty Companies
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Duplexes
- Best Home Warranty Companies for HVAC Coverage
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing
- Best Home Warranty for Sellers
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Septic Warranty
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Roof Coverage
- Best Home Warranty Companies for High-End Appliances
- Best Home Warranty Companies For Wells
- Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing
- Best Options for a Dishwasher Warranty
