Is plumbing and drainage cover worth it?

What is plumbing and drainage cover?

If you’re a homeowner or landlord, you can take out plumbing and drainage cover to protect the plumbing at your property.

This optional cover is put in place for you when you have an emergency, like a burst pipe or a repair, such as a blocked drain.

One of the biggest advantages of plumbing and drainage cover is that you don’t have to spend time looking for a local, qualified tradesperson – all of that is done for you. This removes any stress of having to find a plumber at short notice and, of course, the cost.

What does plumbing and drainage insurance cover?

Plumbing and drainage policies can vary. You’ll find some offer a broad range of cover and some with a number of exclusions, so it’s worth checking what it is you’re looking to include before purchasing.

Cover from companies like HomeServe will often include:

• Leaking pipes
• Blocked drains
• Sink and toilet blockages
• Water supply pipe that you’re responsible for leaks/blockages

What’s not covered by plumbing and drainage insurance?

Common exclusions include:

• Blocked guttering
• Shared drains
• Dripping taps
• Everyday maintenance
• Repairs carried out by unqualified tradespeople

Won’t my home insurance cover plumbing and drainage?

Home insurance splits into two parts – buildings and contents.

Building insurance will cover the structure of your property. In most cases, this will pay out for water damage that has been caused by faulty plumbing work, provided this work can be repaired. If you’ve allowed your plumbing to decay, then this can fall into disrepair, which can cause a problem when making a claim.

The contents side of your insurance will cover damage to things like furniture or curtains, which may get damaged if you have an unexpected leak.

Obviously, there are various types of insurance policies, and some are more comprehensive than others. In some cases, you may find that your cover will include your underground pipes, which will also cover the cost of tracing and repairing a leak.

However, your home insurance will not cover plumbing problems within your home. So, unless you take out plumbing and drainage cover alongside your home insurance, you will be unable to claim against plumbing emergencies within your home.

This means that should something go wrong at home, it will be your responsibility to find a plumber and arrange for the work to be done, which can add unnecessary stress. This is why so many people have plumbing and drainage cover, because all you have to do is get in touch, and we’ll do all the hard work and get one of our own engineers on their way to help you.

What are the most common plumbing and drainage problems?

There are numerous reasons that people get in touch with HomeServe when it comes to plumbing. Some are more common than others. The list below includes our top claims from 2025.

Top 6 plumbing and drainage claims 2025

• Faulty taps
• Leaking pipes
• Toilet flushing mechanism faults
• Blocked drains
• Blocked sinks, showers and baths
• Blocked toilets

How do you make a plumbing and drainage insurance claim?

Our claims lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – so if you have cover and find yourself needing to make a claim, you can call us on 0330 0247 999 and explain what the claim is for. If you prefer, it’s just as easy to make a claim online.

Once you’ve told us the problem, we’ll book one of our Home Experts, who are on hand nearby, to get things sorted.

With just a £30 excess to pay per claim, we’ll cover the cost of the rest within the generous £8,000 claims limit.

Do landlords need plumbing and drainage cover?

As a landlord or homeowner, any plumbing and drainage issues at any of the properties you own are your responsibility.

Taking out cover of this kind not only helps save you from unexpected repair costs, but it also means you don’t have to search for someone to get the job done.

We’ll even deal with your tenants directly if you don’t live locally.

We offer a plumbing and drainage policy, just for landlords – take a look.

Do tenants need plumbing and drainage cover?

Because fixing problems with burst pipes and leaks is down to the homeowner, policies such as this aren’t needed by the tenant, as it will be the responsibility of your landlord.

However, you might want to think about taking out contents insurance, if you haven’t already, in case something goes wrong and damages any of your belongings.

Is plumbing and drainage cover worth it?

Everyone has different circumstances, so it’s difficult to give a definite answer.

Essentially, plumbing and drainage cover can be worth it when you weigh up the pros and cons. Of course, there is a monthly payment to make at a time when we are all watching our outgoings.

But when you compare that to the cost of a repair bill, or the stress of finding a tradesperson, you might find that having plumbing cover is worth it for your circumstances. For example, if a concealed pipe were to burst in your home, it could cost an average of £222 to fix without cover*, but with Plumbing & Drainage Plus for £1 a month, you’d be covered with a £30 excess.

How much is plumbing and drainage cover with HomeServe?

Plumbing and drainage cover with HomeServe will vary depending on the level of cover you’re looking for.

Plumbing and drainage cover begins at £1 a month in your first year, with an unlimited number of claims. This covers:

• Leaks, blocked drains, sinks, taps and toilets
• 12-month guarantee on most repairs

Ready to take a look at plumbing and drainage cover?

If you’re interested in taking out cover with us then take a look at our range of plumbing and drainage options.

* BCIS© Research, September 2025 (prices include labour, parts, call-out charges and VAT)