Insurance for Your Above Ground Pool

If you have a swimming pool, it is important to know how this can affect your homeowners insurance and if you have the appropriate plan in place. In fact, it is important to check with your insurance company before acquiring a swimming pool as not all property insurers will insure a home with a pool on the property. In this article you can find information regarding whether homeowners insurance will help to cover your pool, the different coverages that may help protect your pool, and how liability coverage is an important factor.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Swimming Pool?

Homeowners insurance may cover your pool if it is damaged from a covered peril. Typically, the covered perils include falling objects, fire, hail, lighting strikes, and vandalism. While homeowners insurance can help to protect your pool, it is important to understand the actual coverage within your policy. For example, some policies may require a fence around your pool to be insured. To learn more about coverage options and requirements, you can request a quote for your swimming pool here.

• Personal Property

This coverage typically covers an above ground pool that is portable. Personal property coverage also comes in two forms, replacement cost or actual cash value. Actual cash value, sometimes shortened to ACV, commonly reimburses you for the current value of the item. This means the original cost, minus depreciation. Replacement cost value (RCV), on the other hand, typically will reimburse you for the current cost to replace the item.

• Other Structure

Other structures coverage can mean structures not attached to your home, such as a shed, a detached garage, or in this case an above ground pool that is permanently installed. You may find that other structures coverage is calculated by a percentage of your dwelling coverage.

• Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling coverage typically only applies to the structure of your home and other structures attached to your home, although some insurance companies may include  in ground pools under this coverage.

Request a Quote for Your Pool

If you are looking to get a quote for your pool, reaching out to us is as simple as filling out this form. If you prefer to call one of our offices to start the quoting process, you can find a list of all of our offices here. From there, a member of our team will connect with you to get more details on your pool and the insurance plans you are interested in.

What Does Insurance Not Cover for Your Pool? 

While your homeowner’s policy may cover a wide variety of perils, there are some situations that typically aren’t covered. The following list are some of the common instances of non-coverable claims.

• Normal Usage

If your pool needs various pieces and parts replaced or repaired due to age or typical wear and tear, your insurance generally won’t cover these costs.

• Maintenance Failure

Failing to upkeep your pool may cause damage to filters, pumps, heaters, liners, covers, etc., and in doing so failing to maintain your pool can cause damage which likely isn’t covered under your homeowners policy.

• Seasonal Neglect

One of the biggest threats to a pool is winter. Failing to properly winterize your pool can lead to freezing water damaging your pool, which may lead leaks and damage that typically won’t be covered.

• Flood Damage

Many homeowners don’t realize that their typical insurance policies may offer protection for plumbing-related flood damage, but do not cover losses involving pool related occurring floods. 

How Does Owning a Pool Impact Liability Coverage?  

Owning a pool makes you potentially liable for any incidents connected to it, sometimes even regardless of whether an individual has permission to use it or not. Even with a homeowners policy helping to provide a certain level of liability protection for accidents that occur on your property, a pool brings additional risk to you and your insurance policy. As owning a pool increases your risk, it is recommended to increase your liability coverage, and sometimes it is even recommended to purchase a separate umbrella policy. For more information you can contact our office here.

Recap

In order to protect the investment that you have made, both into your home and your above ground pool, you should be sure to have the appropriate insurance coverage. Connect with a local insurance agent today to discuss unique features of your pool and to discuss insurance options for you.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.