Does a Home Warranty Cover Water Damage or Plumbing Leaks?

When a pipe starts leaking or a plumbing system fails without warning, the questions come fast. Does my home warranty cover water/pipe leaks? Is water damage covered by a home warranty at all? And who pays for water damage from a leaking pipe when the water is already spreading? For plumbing leaks, the short answer is yes, a home warranty can cover the repair.

Here's the full picture: if the leak is caused by a covered plumbing issue, your home warranty will take care of the repair. However, a home warranty does not cover water damage, such as ruined flooring, drywall, or belongings (although your homeowners insurance may). Knowing what home warranties and homeowners insurance cover, their limits, and how they can work together can give you a better idea of what to do when water leaks are the problem.

How Home Warranties and Homeowners Insurance Can Help

A home warranty is a service plan that covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear, like plumbing leaks. Homeowners insurance covers structural damage and belongings from sudden events like fires and storms, as well as certain accidental damage, such as water damage from a leak.

Here are some typical scenarios to show how your home warranty vs. your homeowners insurance may come into play:

^*Not covered if pipes freeze
^†With separate flood insurance

As you can see in the table above, when a covered plumbing system or appliance fails from wear and tear, a home warranty can help with the repair. When resulting water damages your floors, walls, or property, that's when homeowners insurance can step in.

Learn more about coverage and what home warranties protect beyond plumbing.

Home Warranty Plumbing and Leak Coverage

Does a home warranty cover plumbing leaks? Yes, when the leaks stem from normal wear and tear and involve a covered component. That's exactly what home warranty water leak coverage is built for. Home warranty plumbing coverage typically includes leaks and breaks in covered sewer, water, drain, vent, and gas lines – the kinds of failures that come from everyday use.

Here's what's commonly covered under a standard First American home warranty plan:

• Leaks and breaks of covered water, drain, gas, vent, and sewer lines
• Toilet tanks, bowls, and mechanisms
• Valves: shower, tub, diverter, riser, angle stop, and gate valves
• Pressure regulators
• Circulating hot water pumps
• Permanently installed sump pumps (groundwater only)
• Garbage disposal parts
• Water heaters, including tankless units (parts)

See our full plumbing coverage for more details on our plans.

Home Warranty Leak Coverage for Appliances

It's not just your pipes. When a covered appliance develops a leak due to normal wear and tear, your home warranty plan can help with the repair, or replace it if a repair isn't possible. That coverage includes some of the hardest-working appliances in your home:

• Water heater: leaks or failure from normal wear and tear
• Dishwasher: internal leaks and component failures
• Washing machine: leaks from covered mechanical breakdowns
• Refrigerator: leaks from covered internal failures

For the washing machine in particular, a washer drain pan is a smart, low-cost layer of backup protection. Your home warranty covers the appliance when it breaks down, and a drain pan helps keep any water from reaching your floors in the first place.

What's Not Covered by Home Warranty Plumbing Coverage

Home warranty plumbing coverage is a great way to protect your budget from unexpected repair costs, and knowing what falls outside your plan is just as important as knowing what's in it.

Let’s look at what’s not covered under standard home warranty plumbing coverage:

• Water damage to floors, drywall, ceilings, or belongings: This is where homeowners insurance may come in.
• Pipe leaks or breaks caused by freezing: Coverage is for normal wear and tear, not freeze damage.
• Flooding: Neither basement flooding nor surface water from groundwater is covered (ongoing drainage issues may point to a French drain solution).
• Tree root damage and exterior sewer/septic lines: Not covered under standard home warranty plumbing coverage,
• Pre-existing conditions: When detectable before your coverage started.
• Mold remediation: Mold resulting from water damage is generally not covered; get more details in our guide, Does a Home Warranty Cover Mold.
• Roof leaks: While First American offers limited roof leak coverage as an optional real estate add-on, standard plans don't cover roof-related water intrusion; view our home warranty roof coverage to learn more.

For a broader look at exclusions, see what's not covered by a home warranty.

How Plumbing Coverage Helps Protect Your Budget

For many homeowners, home warranty coverage for plumbing repairs is one of the most valuable benefits it offers. Without a home warranty, a single covered plumbing repair can run several hundred dollars or more out of pocket.

Here’s how it works with a First American home warranty plan: You submit a service request, pay a service fee, and a prescreened service provider takes care of the rest. Once on site, the service provider will confirm coverage, diagnose the issue, and begin the repair.

One thing worth knowing: after diagnosing the problem, your service provider may identify costs that fall outside your plan coverage, known as non-covered costs. These can include costs like code-required upgrades or modifications needed to accommodate new equipment. Your service provider will communicate any non-covered costs before work begins, so there are no surprises.

Staying current with regular plumbing maintenance reduces the risk of breakdowns. But when normal wear and tear catches up with your covered systems or appliances, you can request service 24/7 online or by phone, and we'll send help.

If you're still weighing your options, our guide to choosing the right home warranty plan walks you through what to look for. Get a quote today and start protecting your budget from covered plumbing leaks and repairs, and protect many other systems and appliances you rely on every day, too.

FAQs About Home Warranties and Water Damage

Can a home warranty help with plumbing repairs?

Yes! Home warranty plumbing coverage is designed to help with exactly that. When a covered pipe, valve, or plumbing component fails from normal wear and tear, your home warranty can cover the repair. If the item can't be repaired, we'll work to replace it. Coverage and exclusions vary by plan; see your contract for details.

Will my home warranty cover water leak damage?

A home warranty may cover the repair of a covered plumbing component that caused the leak, such as a broken pipe, valve, or fitting, when the failure is due to normal wear and tear. It does not cover water damage to your floors, walls, ceilings, or belongings. For that type of damage, homeowners insurance is typically the right place to file a claim.

Does a home warranty cover plumbing leaks?

In many cases, yes. Home warranty plumbing coverage typically includes leaks and breaks in covered water, drain, vent, sewer, and gas lines due to normal wear and tear. Coverage and exclusions vary by plan and contract terms.

Does a home warranty cover pipe leaks or burst pipes?

A home warranty can cover the repair or replacement of covered pipes that fail from normal wear and tear. However, burst pipes caused by freezing are a standard exclusion. Coverage for tree root damage and exterior sewer and septic systems can be added through optional upgrades.

Does a home warranty cover water heater leaks?

Yes, water heaters, including tankless units, are covered for parts under most First American home warranty plans when they fail from normal wear and tear. If a covered water heater can't be repaired, we'll work to replace it.^‡

Do I need a home warranty or homeowners insurance?

You need both for a more complete budget protection. These products serve different purposes and work best together. Homeowners insurance protects your home from sudden events, such as storms, fires, theft, and certain accidents. A home warranty covers the repair and replacement of covered systems and appliances that wear out from everyday use.

^‡Please review the sample contract for specific coverage, terms, and limitations.