Swimming Pool Home Insurance Tips
2006-05-15
Most people get excited having a new pool to splash around for summer time fun but before you get caught up in all the excitement the new addition can change your existing homeowners policy. You'll need dditional coverage that protects not only you, but also those in your neighborhood. When people fail to tell their insurance agents about a new pool, it can be problematic should they need insurance coverage as a result of a pool incident.
A pool is a 12-month a year affair
Your damage coverage depends on what type of home insurance policy you have. The most common homeowners policy in the United States will protect your pool from most troubles except those specifically excluded in the insurance contract. That's why it's important that you look at your policy careful for any such exclusions. Make sure you know what policy type you have and what it covers. One common damage occurrence, which isn't covered, is damage to your pool by freezing, thawing, pressure, or weight of ice or water.
If you live in colder climates, you need to properly winterize your pool to avoid such accidents.
Your Pool - Your Responsibility
Liability issues are what worry insurance underwriters the most because of the drowned issues that might occur. Every pool presents dangers, not only to your family and friends but also to uninvited guests, particularly children who creep into the side or back yard. Every year approximately 45,000 people are injured in swimming pools and nearly 300 people drown.
The risk is so great that some companies won't write a policy if your pool has a diving board or slide.
The liability in your homeowner's insurance policy protects your assets if someone sues you. When you install a pool, you increase the chance that
you will be sued if someone is injured or killed. Even if the pool has been used without your permission you are still responsible for it 24/7. Most homeowner policies pay up to $100,000 each time someone makes a legitimate civil claim against you but you can get coverage of $200,000 or $300,000 as part of your homeowners insurance basic policy. Consider this though: if the claim against you is more than $100,000, you're responsible for the difference. Pool owners should consider increasing liability coverage
above $100,000, just in case.
Tips to Stay Out of Trouble
If you follow these tips, you'll decrease your potential liability.
- Install a fence around the pool area to stop people (and children) from using the pool without your knowledge. It's best to have locks on any door
so they can't be easily pulled opened. - Never, ever, leave children unsupervised or allow their friends to use the pool without permission.
- Keep children away from pool filters - the suction can injure them or hold them under the surface.
- Be sure all pool users know how to swim and they don't swim alone.
- Don't allow anyone who's intoxicated to swim in the pool.
- Never dive into an above ground pool. Be familiar with in-ground pools and know the depth if you dive.
- Set up a list of rules like 'No running on the deck' and enforce them.
- Check the pool area regularly for glasses, bottles or other potential hazards.
- Keep electrical devices away from the pool.
- Keep a secure cover on the pool when it's closed.
A pool can be a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the weekends with family and friends. It can also be a liability nightmare if you're not careful. However, if you take steps to insure the safety of everyone in your house and your neighborhood, you can enjoy days of floating or swimming for years to come.
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