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 offering coverage for well pumps.

Buyers guide: Home warranties for wells

Most standard home warranty plans don’t automatically cover well pumps, leaving rural and suburban homeowners vulnerable to sudden, four-figure repair bills. Adding dedicated well pump protection to your home warranty lets you pay a predictable service fee instead of the full replacement cost of the failing part.

Before signing up, you need to understand what the contract covers, what it excludes and how much the provider will pay for a covered repair or replacement.

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, as well as 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.

Pros and cons of well warranties

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 43 million people, or about 15% of the U.S. population, rely on domestic (private) wells for drinking water. Private wells aren’t usually regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, leaving homeowners responsible for maintaining their systems and monitoring water quality.

Since well coverage isn’t included in most plans, many homeowners wonder whether it’s worth buying a home warranty with a well repair add-on. 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

Home warranties place an upper limit on the amount the company will contribute toward a particular appliance or home system. In general, home warranty companies cap coverage at $2,000 per system.

What to know about coverage caps

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

Many homeowners mistakenly think home warranty coverage is the same as homeowners insurance, but that is not the case. 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 monthly.

Well pump coverage is usually sold exclusively as an add-on. Comprehensive home warranty coverage usually costs $30 to $90 per month.

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

• Service call fees: Each time a service person comes to your home, you’ll pay a service fee to your home warranty company. These fees vary, but range from $60 to $150 among the companies included in this guide.

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 $1,900, with most replacement pumps falling between $975 and $2,825.

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.

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