Do Home Warranties Cover Septic Systems?

What septic system services does a home warranty cover?

A home warranty typically covers septic systems. However, these systems may not be included in the base package, meaning you’ll need to pay a little more for coverage.

Before diving into specific coverage, it helps to understand how a septic system works in your home. A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment structure that collects and processes wastewater from toilets, showers, sinks and appliances. Wastewater flows into the septic tank, where solids settle and scum rises, and then liquid effluent moves to a drain field for further natural filtration. Because the system is buried and relies on both mechanical parts and soil absorption, breakdowns can cause major disruptions inside your home and on your property.

Some septic system problems your home warranty may cover include:

• Clearing out blockages in the main line
• Septic tank pumping
• Sewage ejector pump, aerobic pump and jet pump replacement or repairs
• Septic tank damage

Potential exclusions to septic system home warranty coverage

When it comes to what your home warranty covers for septic systems, a few repairs may not make the cut. If sewer lines outside your house's foundation get broken or collapse, that may be out of the warranty's scope. Also, if you're thinking about chemical treatments for your septic tank or sewer lines or you need to get rid of waste, those costs may be on you.

If you have an issue with roots or blockages a sewer machine cable can't fix from the outside, your warranty may not cover you. And if you need to dig around to find your septic tank or connect to sewer hook-ups, or if there's work needed on the tank itself, the leach lines, cesspool or any mechanical pumps or systems, home warranty plans may not include those, either.

Claim denials

Even if you don’t have any of these problems, there are still a few reasons your claim might be denied. These include the following:

• Preexisting problems with the septic system
• Failure to properly maintain the septic system
• Septic systems that are still under warranty through a homebuilders warranty, third-party warranty or manufacturer’s warranty

» MORE: What is a homebuilders warranty?

Coverage caps

Your home warranty company may also cap your coverage at a certain amount. This means you’ll need to pay for any repairs above and beyond the cap. For example, if your septic system repair costs are $15,000 and your plan caps coverage at $10,000, you’ll need to pay the last $5,000 on your own.

What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover septic systems

If your home warranty plan doesn’t cover septic systems, you can usually upgrade to another package or plan to gain coverage. Make sure to research what’s actually covered in terms of repair and replacement, and note any coverage caps as well as any exclusions or limitations.

Without coverage, septic system repairs can be costly. Homeowners may spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars for simple fixes like unclogging lines or pumping the tank to several thousand dollars for more serious repairs. Major septic system replacements can cost $10,000 or more, depending on the size of the system and the extent of the damage. These potential expenses highlight why many people choose to add septic coverage to their home warranty plans.

Bottom line

With a little maintenance and a good home warranty plan, your septic system can last up to 40 years. For the best protection, ensure your policy covers a wide range of problems, and carefully examine the policy caps.