If you have a swimming pool, you know how much it takes to maintain it. You should also be aware that you need to have the right home insurance policy to protect yourself.

Here's what you need to know.

Damage To Your Pool And Pool Equipment

If your pool or pool equipment is damaged by a covered incident, it may be treated differently than damage to your actual home. That's because your pool, pool pumps, and other equipment are usually considered separate from your home for insurance purposes. This applies to both above-ground and in-ground pools.

There are two places where you might have coverage under your home insurance policy. One is as a scheduled structure where you've specifically listed your pool and its equipment in your insurance policy. The other is under your "other structures" coverage. This doesn't list your pool specifically, but instead covers such additions as pools, sheds, and detached garages up to a certain limit. You'll need to check whether you have other structures coverage included and whether your limits are high enough. Otherwise, you'll need to add it.

Liability

The more important concern when you have a swimming pool is liability coverage. If someone drowns or gets hurt in your pool, you could face a lawsuit. Most home insurance policies include some amount of liability coverage that should apply. However, you should check your specific policy — especially if you added your pool after you bought your home — to make sure. You should also make sure your liability limits are high enough to protect your assets.

Your home insurance company or local laws may require you to take safety steps — both to have insurance coverage and as a general requirement for having a pool. This includes things like having your pool behind a fence or locked screen enclosure. If you don't, your claim could be denied or you could face other legal trouble.

Keep in mind that a pool is considered an attractive nuisance. That means you could get sued for an accident in your pool — even if the person hurt was trespassing. Your home insurance coverage will still protect you in these situations as long as you've followed your policy requirements.

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