What Type of Insurance Does a Pool Contractor Need?

General liability—Provides you with liability coverage pertaining to personal injuries and property damage that occurs while installing a pool, at the office or even at your store.  

Umbrella and excess liability—Provides significant coverage if you were to incur a large liability claim that exceeds the limit of your primary coverage, such as improperly installing a ladder that resulted in injury or death.  

Inland marine—Covers property that’s not typically covered by other policies; it is sometimes referred to as a floater policy.  

Workers’ compensation—Provides benefits to employees if a work-related injury or illness happens. Coverage may include medical care, wages lost from work and non-medical related expenses.  

Property insurance—Protects property a pool or spa contractor owns or leases. This can include equipment, inventory, supplies, furniture and tools used for pool installation. You receive coverage if equipment breaks down, your business is unable to process electronic data or you lose income because utility services are interrupted.  

Commercial auto—Covers vehicles that your pool business owns, leases, rents or borrows. In addition, this coverage helps with expenses pertaining to electronic equipment in vehicles as well as lease and loan gaps.

Pool Pop-Up Coverage - Common in areas with high water tables. A pool pop-up occurs when a pool "floats" out of the ground because of the hydrostatic pressure of ground water seeping in to the pool excavation under the pool shell. When this happens, the pool is almost always a total loss with claim costs in the tens of thousands of dollars up to and over a hundred thousand dollars, depending on the type of pool and plumbing that need replacing.