Does Homeowners Insurance Cover My Pool? And Other Pool Insurance FAQs

What’s better than jumping into a cool, sparkling-clean pool on a hot summer day? A backyard swimming pool is a great place to spend time with friends and family during the warm summer months, but owning one increases the risk that someone could be injured on your property. For that reason, it’s important to have the proper insurance coverage in place. 

If you’re considering purchasing a home with a pool or adding a pool to your home, you need to know how a pool affects your insurance coverage and cost. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pool Damage?

Insurance coverage for your pool is provided through your homeowners insurance and may help cover pool repairs if it’s damaged by a covered peril. These are most of the same perils that are covered by dwelling coverage — the main component of your home insurance policy that covers the structure of your home. Things that are typically covered include damages caused by:

• Fire
• Lightning strikes
• Hail
• Explosions
• Vandalism

The following causes of damage to your pool are less likely to be covered:

• Earthquakes
• Flooding
• Maintenance issues
• General wear and tear
• Pool liner damaged by water freezing over
• Pool cover collapses from weight of rainwater, snow or ice

Every insurance company handles coverage for a pool differently. Your insurance company might automatically cover your swimming pool for a certain percentage, or you might need to add your swimming pool onto your policy. You’ll need to contact your homeowners insurance company to find out how to add your swimming pool to your homeowners policy.

What Are the Swimming Pool Insurance Requirements?

In the insurance industry, swimming pools are often cited as an example of an “attractive nuisance.” Anything that might attract a child and is also potentially dangerous to an unsupervised child can be considered an attractive nuisance. Other examples are trampolines, man-made ponds and farm equipment. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for taking appropriate safety precautions to protect unsuspecting children from potential danger caused by your pool. Consider taking these safety precautions: 

• Installing a fence around the perimeter of the pool
• Using a safety cover when the pool is not in use
• Providing accessible safety equipment 
  
  

It’s also important to know your local pool laws — each town has its own definition of what constitutes a “home pool,” often based on its size and the depth of the water. Contact your municipality to learn the local standards and relevant safety and building codes to which you must adhere. These may include installing a certain size fence, locks, decks and pool safety equipment, and are often similar to the requirements your insurance company may have. 

Do You Have to Tell Your Insurance Company About a Pool?

Yes. If you are adding a pool to your home and you fail to disclose it to your insurance company, you may not have the coverage you need for certain pool-related claims.. Having insurance coverage for your pool is important to help protect you financially from the risks associated with it. While adding a pool to your policy may slightly raise your annual insurance rate, it ensures that you’re protected in the case of pool-related accidents or damage.

How Do I Get Extra Coverage for My Pool?

Standard home insurance policies are typically equipped with personal liability coverage, which will pay for costs like medical bills and legal fees if a guest is injured in your home. Even if your pool is automatically covered by your existing homeowners policy, it might make sense to increase the amount of liability coverage by purchasing umbrella coverage. Umbrella coverage earns its name because the coverage arches over your vehicle and homeowners insurance to provide extra protection beyond the liability limits of your standard vehicle and homeowners policies.

Swim Safely with Farm Bureau

With the right safety measures in place, a home with a pool can bring wonderful summer fun. Swim safely with the right insurance coverage from Farm Bureau. Contact your local Farm Bureau agent today to make sure you have the right policy for your pool.