Updated Jan 10, 2023
Updated Jan 10, 2023
Whether you’re a family outnumbered by kids or empty-nesters on permanent vacation, a swimming pool can be an attractive amenity for all types of homeowners. But pool ownership is undoubtedly an investment — of both time and money. Securing a home warranty with pool coverage can help cover the cost to repair or replace electrical systems, filtration, and other mechanical pool components prone to normal wear and tear over time.
Here are the top picks to help your pool stay open.
We’ve pinpointed the best home warranty providers nationwide, specifically honing in on the breadth of their in-ground pool and spa coverage. Read on to learn more about what a pool warranty covers, how much it’ll cost, and which carrier might be suitable for you.
Most home warranty companies don’t offer pool warranties in their standard service contracts but rather as an optional add-on.
The highest-rated home warranty companies for pool coverage include:
Since 2008, Choice Home Warranty (CHW) has been helping homeowners secure affordable fixes for a wide range of home systems and essential appliances. This home warranty company, like most others, offers pool coverage as an add-on to its standard service contract. CHW’s pool warranty rider costs $180 per year, with a coverage cap of $500. CHW’s trade call fees are a fixed $85, which is lower than some competing home warranty companies that charge up to $150 to dispatch technicians.
Your policy with Choice Home Warranty will become active 30 days after you’ve been approved for coverage by the company. Every policy period is 12 months long, with the option to renew at the start of each calendar year.
CHW’s plans are available in every state except WA.
Choice Home Warranty offers two incremental plan levels for homeowners based on their budget and coverage objectives. Elective plan add-ons, like pool coverage, can be purchased on an à la carte basis.
Here’s how Choice Home Warranty’s standard and bonus coverage unfolds:
Get a free quote today by filling out this online form or calling 929-400-6164.
Check out our complete Choice Home Warranty review for more information on this company.
Select Home Warranty (SHW) has gained an impressive following as a leading home warranty provider, specifically for its seasonal promotions and generous rotation of discounts. A pool warranty can be added to any of SHW’s three plan options — the Bronze, Gold, and Platinum Care Plans. All of its policies instate a 30-day waiting period for new customers before their coverage is accessible.
Select Home Warranty doesn’t offer coverage in WA, WY, NM, or NV.
For a free quote from SHW, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
Read our Select Home Warranty review for further details.
Often celebrated as the founder of the home warranty industry, American Home Shield (AHS) boasts a 50-year tenure in the field and a customer base of over 1.8 million. Pool and spa coverage can be tacked onto any AHS home warranty plan level and covers up to $3,000 in related costs per contract term.
American Home Shield has contractual agreements that are a minimum of one year long, with a 30-day waiting period after registration and the option to renew your home warranty coverage at the start of each year. None of its home warranty plan options require a home inspection before sign-up.
The amount you’ll pay for coverage through American Home Shield will depend on the plan level and the service call fee you select.
To access a free quote from AHS, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
Read more about this provider by visiting our in-depth American Home Shield review.
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers robust home warranty coverage at cost-effective rates and doesn’t base enrollment eligibility on a preliminary home inspection or the property’s age. This provider also has partnership policies available for real estate professionals and technicians.
Like its competitors, Liberty Home Guard showcases optional coverage for chlorine pools, in-ground spas, and saltwater pools as items available for purchase alongside a standard LHG home warranty. Pool-related repairs are capped at $250 for the first 90 days of coverage but increase to $500 after your first three months.
Liberty Home Guard’s three plan variations are available in 48 states and Washington, D.C., excluding WA and WI.
Get a free quote from LHG by filling out this online form or by calling 866-451-2281.
Continue reading about this home warranty company in our complete Liberty Home Guard Review.
Serving among the top home warranty companies across the United States since 1984, First American Home Warranty (FAHW) is well-versed in providing comprehensive coverage for essential home systems, major appliances, and a few elective add-ons.
FAHW splits its coverage into an appliance plan and an appliance plus systems plan — with six additional coverage items, like pool and spa protection. This company doesn’t have coverage limits for any chlorine pool repairs but caps services for saltwater pools to $1,500 per policy period.
Fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164 for a free quote.
Read more about this provider in our First American Home Warranty review.
Pool warranty insurance through home warranty coverage isn’t usually itemized as a standard inclusion in your contract but can be included for an extra fee.
Investing in a home warranty with pool coverage is an especially smart move for new home buyers purchasing a property with a pool already installed. A previously owned pool can come with many unknowns, but the right home warranty plan covers costs to address pre-existing conditions or any other malfunctions with the pool that were present when you moved in.
Home warranties also provide an added layer of home protection for things homeowners insurance won’t cover. For example, a home insurance policy might cover you for pool repairs due to structural damage caused by a storm. Still, it won’t cover servicing costs for a motor or filtration system that sputters out after a few years. That’s where a home warranty comes in.
If you’re on the hunt for the cheapest home warranty on the market, keep in mind that adding pool coverage to your plan will drive up your total costs. However, a pool warranty can be an especially lucrative investment if:
But pool warranties aren’t for all pool owners, so it’s wise to carefully assess your situation before signing up. One anomaly worth mentioning is that most home warranty companies only offer coverage for in-ground pools and spas and seldom cover above-ground or portable set-ups.
Also, homeowners who recently installed a new pool may not need pool coverage right away if they already have initial pool protection through other warranty types — namely equipment, manufacturer’s, and workmanship warranties. These are temporary protection plans unrelated to home warranties and only last between one and three years.
Pool coverage can usually be added to an existing home warranty plan later on. You can still cover the rest of your home appliances and systems without paying for a duplicate pool policy during your first few years of pool ownership.
Specific inclusions and exclusions will vary by home warranty provider, though most pool and spa policy add-ons will cover policyholders for:
Pool warranties are designed to provide homeowners with peace of mind, but they can also have drawbacks. Some of the common complaints against pool warranties include:
Suppose you’re not sure you want to settle for one of the previously mentioned pool coverage plans. In that case, you can have your pool protected under an existing home warranty, granting all-inclusive coverage that can help ease those pool repair woes.
In tandem with the average price of a standard home warranty — about $30 to $60 a month, or $360 to $720 per year — pool coverage can add approximately $20 to $200 per year to your total home warranty cost.
Without a home warranty, you can expect a high price tag for repairs, with filter and pump breaks costing anywhere between $150-$500+ and heater repair costing from $400-$1,200 in certain cases. The older the part, the more expensive a repair will be as age affects the complexity of tune-ups.
House Method consulted Robert Flynn of New Jersey Pool Repair, LLC on the true costs of owning a home with an in-ground swimming pool or spa. “The most common pool repair issue we see across the clients we serve are pool heater malfunctions, which cost roughly $6,000 upfront to replace,” Flynn says. “With heaters or any other primary pool components approaching ten years old, expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $1,600 per repair. Homeowners with older pools need to be extremely proactive about regular maintenance, and should financially prepare for standard parts to fail between the seven and ten-year mark.”
Because pool systems can be complex on a case-by-case basis, coverage may vary depending on your home warranty provider and your pool’s components.
Once your pool is backed by home warranty coverage, if you ever experience a pool maintenance problem, your first step is to call your provider to report the issue and request service. Most home warranty providers offer round-the-clock claims assistance, but it can still sometimes take up to 48 hours for your claim to be filed, verified, and approved.
As soon as your claim is approved, your provider will dispatch a pre-screened, qualified service technician to diagnose the issue and determine the scope of maintenance needed or if any major systems or components need replacement.
Be prepared to pay the service fee amount upfront as disclosed in your contract as well as for any repair expenses that your provider doesn’t explicitly cover.
After that initial diagnostic visit, your home warranty provider will take care of scheduling the actual service appointment for you through one of its in-network technicians. This way you won’t have to deal with the hassle of finding a contractor on your own and will only pay a small deductible versus paying for new parts, labor costs, or repair fees in full.
Most home warranties offer pool coverage as an add-on option. Home warranties typically do not cover pool leaks, as those are usually covered in workmanship warranties.
Your home warranty should cover mechanical or equipment breakdown due to below-freezing temperatures, so long as the damage transpired within your contract period. Check the fine print of your policy for confirmation.
Pool liners do not have their own warranty, but aspects of pool liners may be covered in an individual pool warranty or the pool’s manufacturer’s warranty.
The terms of each individual warranty will vary and depend on the type of pool installed and the materials used to make the pool.
Even with pool coverage, home warranties are generally transferable service contracts. Transfer policies vary provider-to-provider, but some home warranty companies even sell warranties to real estate professionals for the sole purpose of transferring the contract to the buyers they represent.
Our research team at House Method believes that buying a pool warranty is well worth the price, especially if you live in a hot state like Florida or California where your pool might get multi-seasonal use.
In order to decide which home warranty company would be best for you, we recommend researching at least three providers and comparing their coverage caps, plan costs, inclusions and exclusions, and add-on coverage options.
A standard home warranty with pool protection will offer catch-all coverage for every main feature of your home. But, if you’re just looking for a pool warranty without the securities for your other home services, consider looking into a product extended warranty.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
To make the most of our research, we developed an objective rating system to score each home warranty company based on the following criteria:
Why Trust House Method
House Method’s Experts collected and analyzed 2000+ critical data points to identify what makes a great home warranty company in the eye of the consumer. Our reviews team used this data to assess over 60 home warranty providers for coverage extent, annual cost, and national availability to provide unbiased reviews so homeowners can confidently navigate key decisions about their homes.
Additional System & Appliance Warranties to Consider
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