Best Home Warranties for Wells

Our top 3 home warranty companies for well coverage

• Best overall: Cinch Home Services
• Best for high coverage limits: Old Republic Home Protection
• Best customer service: Regency Total Warranty

Compare the best home warranties for wells

We compared plan options, service fees and coverage limits to identify affordable protection for homes that rely on well water. Based on our analysis, Cinch Home Services, Old Republic Home Protection and Regency Total Warranty are the leading home warranty companies that offer warranty coverage for well pumps.

Home warranties for wells: a guide

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 43 million Americans depend on private wells for their water, and repairs often cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

If your house gets its water from a well, it’s a good idea to make sure that well is covered in your home’s warranty plan. Almost without exception, the well will be considered an add-on to your warranty company’s basic coverage plans, so it’s important to thoroughly understand exactly what’s covered under your home warranty as well as what isn’t.

How to choose the right home warranty for your well

Real estate agent Jessica Vance shares several factors to consider if you’re wondering how to choose a home warranty with well coverage:

• Coverage specifics: Look for which components are included, such as the pump, pressure switch, electrical lines and well casing.
• Coverage limits: Review the plan’s dollar limits for each system and note any exclusions.
• Costs and fees: Compare the monthly premium or add-on cost for the well pump, along with service or trade call fees.
• Provider reputation: Check how the company handles claims and customer service before you commit.

Vance added, “I recommend reading the fine print to determine what is not covered as well. This will provide you insight into what you are actually paying for.” Comparing a few different plans can help you gain greater insight into the parts of a well that are commonly covered, versus those that aren’t. In general, Vance said you should still expect to face some out-of-pocket expenses if your home runs on a well.

In general, Vance said you should still expect to face some out-of-pocket expenses if your home runs on a well.

Pros and cons of well warranties

Since well coverage isn’t included in most plans, many homeowners wonder if it’s worth buying a home warranty with an add-on for well repair. Well warranties can lower repair costs, but they also have coverage limits and exclusions to keep in mind.

Another option is to set aside savings for future repairs instead of paying for a warranty.

Warranty coverage for wells

If you opt for a well pump add-on to your home warranty plan, the following parts may be covered, according to Vance:

• Pump and its components
• Electrical parts controlling the pump
• Pressure switches
• Control boxes

“A well warranty generally does not cover the tank itself, the well casing, piping, any contamination or water quality problems,” she said.

Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking home warranty coverage is the same thing as homeowners insurance, but this is not the case at all. Homeowners insurance covers unexpected damage caused by natural disasters or accidents, such as hurricanes, falling trees or hailstorms. Most mortgage lenders require you to carry this insurance policy.

By contrast, a home warranty covers everyday wear and tear on major home systems, like heating and AC, large appliances, and plumbing and electrical systems. You aren’t required to take out a home warranty policy, but it can provide financial peace of mind, especially if you own an older or previously owned home.

Well warranty costs

Most plans offer well pump coverage as an add-on for a minimal charge on top of the monthly amount you pay for the service level you select. We found that most plans offer add-on well pump coverage for about $8.

Well pump coverage is usually sold as an add-on. Comprehensive home warranty coverage usually costs $30 to $90 per month, and the well pump add-on averages about $8.

If you need to file a claim for a well repair or replacement, expect extra costs like service fees or coverage limits, which are important to consider before purchasing a plan.

• Service call fees: Each time a serviceperson comes to your home, you’ll pay a service fee to your home warranty company. These fees vary, but range from $75 to $125 among the companies included in this guide.

What to know about coverage caps

Home warranties place an upper limit on the amount the company will contribute toward a particular appliance or home system. For instance, American Home Shield offers a generous $5,000 for air conditioning units and $4,000 for appliances, while other home warranty companies offer a $2,000 limit on maximum coverage per system.

Is well warranty coverage worth it?

An extra $8 per month sounds like a fair deal, considering the well pump is the most expensive and crucial part of your well. The average cost to replace a well pump is $1,853, with most replacement pumps falling between $975 and $2,769.

Methodology

To find the best home warranty companies for wells, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team used a data-driven approach guided by our expert editors.

We researched 49 home warranty companies and scored them using measurable criteria grouped into two main categories:

1. Key home warranty company features

   Companies earned higher scores for offering:

   • Well pump coverage
   • High system payout limits
2. Customer satisfaction metrics

   We conducted sentence-by-sentence sentiment analysis of thousands of verified reviews to measure customer satisfaction with:

   • Coverage
   • Pricing fairness
   • Refunds and payout experience
   • Customer service quality
   • Claims handling
   • Punctuality and speed
   • Service technicians

   Each company received a score from 1 to 10 for every metric, with 10 awarded to the top performer in that category. Metrics are weighted differently for each award calculation.

The company with the highest score in each category’s uniquely weighted formula was given the “Our pick for” designation. In some cases where a single company received the top score across multiple categories, the company with the second-highest score was named the winner.