Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pool Collapse?

Homeowners insurance offers protection for unexpected events affecting your home. However, coverage for a pool collapse is complex due to varying incident types and specific policy terms. Understanding how these policies function helps determine if a pool collapse might be covered.

How Homeowners Insurance Policies Work

A standard homeowners insurance policy includes core components protecting different aspects of your property. Dwelling coverage protects your home’s physical structure, including walls, roof, foundation, and attached structures like a garage or deck. Other structures coverage protects detached buildings on your property, such as sheds, detached garages, fences, and in-ground swimming pools. This coverage is typically around 10% of your dwelling coverage.

Personal property coverage protects your belongings inside and outside your home, including furniture, electronics, and clothing, and may cover portable above-ground pools. Liability coverage protects you if responsible for injuries or property damage to others. Policies define coverage based on “named perils” or “open perils.” Named perils policies cover damages only from specific listed events (e.g., fire, theft), while open perils policies cover all risks unless excluded.

Perils and Pool Collapse Coverage

Coverage for a pool collapse depends on the cause and if it’s a covered peril. If from a sudden, accidental event listed in your policy, coverage may apply. Perils like fire, lightning, windstorms, or vandalism could trigger coverage. A tree falling on your pool during a storm, causing collapse, might be covered under “falling objects.”

Water damage from a sudden and accidental discharge or overflow from a plumbing system could be a covered peril if it directly leads to collapse. An explosion causing structural failure near the pool may also be included. Policy wording and the factual cause determine coverage.

Common Exclusions for Pool Damage

Many homeowners policies exclude pool collapse coverage, regardless of named or open perils. Earth movement (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes) is a widespread exclusion. Damage from ground shifting or subsidence is generally not covered. Insurers exclude these due to potential for widespread, costly damage.

Flood damage is another common exclusion; if a pool collapses due to natural flooding, it is typically not covered. Flood insurance is separate, and pools may be excluded even there. Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, rust, or corrosion are also typically excluded. If a pool collapses due to age or slow structural degradation, it will not be covered.

Faulty design, construction, or defective materials are common exclusions. If collapse results from poor workmanship or substandard materials, the policy likely won’t cover it. Neglect or lack of proper maintenance (e.g., failing to winterize or address known issues) will almost always lead to a claim denial.

Supplemental Coverage Options

When a standard homeowners policy doesn’t cover a risk, supplemental options can protect a pool. Adding specific endorsements is one common option. Equipment breakdown coverage, for example, protects against mechanical or electrical failures of pool pumps, filters, or heating systems, which standard policies typically don’t cover. This endorsement usually costs an additional $25-$50 per year.

Some insurers offer extended perils endorsements that broaden coverage for other structures, including pools, against more risks. For high-risk perils like earthquakes or floods, separate, specialized policies are available outside standard homeowners policies. These policies are distinct and cover specifically excluded events.

For new pool construction, a builder’s warranty or the contractor’s liability insurance may offer protection for collapses due to faulty construction or materials. These protections are typically for a defined period after installation. Homeowners should review these agreements to understand terms.

Navigating a Pool Damage Claim

If a pool collapses and coverage is suspected, promptly initiate the claims process. First, thoroughly document damage with photographs and videos from multiple angles. This visual evidence provides a clear record of damage extent. Keep damaged items until an adjuster inspects them.

Next, contact your insurer immediately to report the incident and obtain a claim number. Provide detailed information about how and when the collapse occurred, and cooperate fully with the assigned adjuster. The adjuster will assess damage and determine if it falls under covered perils. Obtain repair estimates from qualified contractors, as the insurer will require this for claim processing. Maintain clear communication with the adjuster and keep records of all correspondence and documents.