If the recent heat wave has you thinking about putting in a pool or moving to a home that already has one, you should know that pool safety rules are changing. And a backyard swimming pool could affect your ability to get homeowners insurance.
Insurers are increasingly treating pools not just as a reason to raise premiums but as a condition that can lead to a denial of coverage.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiRaaaaaaQm“!@@=D 2C6 ?@ =@?86C 4@?D:56C65 2>6?:E:6D 3J :?DFC6CDj E96J’C6 EC62E:?8 E96> 2D =:23:=:E:6D H96? F?56CHC:E:?8[ A6C:@5[” D2:5 z2E6 (:=96=>D[ 5:C64E@C @7 >2C<6E:?8 2?5 @A6C2E:@?D 2E v2E6H2J #62=EJ vC@FAk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm:? $E] {@F:D] “k^DA2?mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiRaaaaaaQm$@>6 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 C67FD:?8 E@ :DDF6 ?6H 4@G6C286 7@C 9@FD6D H:E9 @=56C A@@=D @C >:DD:?8 ?646DD2CJ D276EJ 762EFC6D DF49 2D 2FE@\4@G6CD 2?5 76?4:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am
k9amkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96 C:D< :D C62= 2?5 4@?46?EC2E65 :? E96 324<J2C5k^DA2?mk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmx?DFC6CD 86?6C2==J 4@?D:56C DH:>>:?8 A@@=D E@ 36 2? “2EEC24E:G6 ?F:D2?46” E92E :?4C62D6D 2 9@>6@H?6C’D =:23:=:EJ C:D<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmsC@H?:?8 :D E96 =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9 7@C 49:=5C6? 286D ` E@ c 2?5 E96 D64@?5 =625:?8 42FD6 @7 F?:?E6?E:@?2= :?;FCJ 562E9 7@C 49:=5C6? 286D d E@ `c[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? WrsrX] p?5 23@FE g_T @7 E9@D6 49:=5 5C@H?:?8 562E9D @44FC 2E 2 AC:G2E6 C6D:56?46 — E96 49:=5’D @H? A@@= @C E92E @7 2 ?6:893@C[ 7C:6?5[ @C 72>:=J >6>36C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm|@C6 E92? c[d__ A6@A=6 5:65 7C@> 5C@H?:?8 2??F2==J :? E96 &]$] 7C@> a_a_ E9C@F89 a_aa[ 23@FE d__ >@C6 A6C J62C E92? :? a_`h[ C6G6CD:?8 564256D @7 564=:?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9amkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm(92E 2 A@@= 5@6D E@ J@FC :?DFC2?46 C:89E ?@Hk^DA2?mk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96 :?4C62D6 :? J@FC :?DFC2?46 AC6>:F> 7@C 255:?8 2 A@@= :D @7E6? =6DD E92? A6@A=6 6IA64E — FDF2==J 23@FE Sd_ E@ Sfd A6C J62C 7@C AC@A6CEJ 4@G6C286[ 244@C5:?8 E@ :?5FDECJ 52E2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmqFE E96 3:886C 7:?2?4:2= C:D< 4@>6D 7C@> =:23:=:EJ 2?5 7C@> H92E :?DFC6CD C64@>>6?5 @C C6BF:C6 7@C DF49 4@G6C286]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm“{:E:82E:@? :D E96 >@C6 A@H6C7F= 7@C46[” D2:5 (:=96=>D] “x?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 42=4F=2E65 E92E 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 :?;FC:6D 2?5 5C@H?:?8 2C6 2>@?8 E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 7@C>D @7 9@>6 =:23:=:EJ A2J@FED ?2E:@?H:56]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm$E2?52C5 9@>6@H?6CD A@=:4:6D :?4=F56 S`__[___ :? A6CD@?2= =:23:=:EJ AC@E64E:@?] %96 x?DFC2?46 x?7@C>2E:@? x?DE:EFE6 DF886DED A@@= @H?6CD :?4C62D6 E9:D E@ 2E =62DE Sb__[___ E@ Sd__[___] |2?J :?DFC6CD 2=D@ C64@>>6?5 255:?8 2 A6CD@?2= F>3C6==2 A@=:4J[ H9:49 FDF2==J AC@G:56D S` >:==:@? :? 6IEC2 4@G6C286 7@C 23@FE Sa__ E@ Sb__ A6C J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm(9J D@ >F49 4@G6C286n x7 2 49:=5 5C@H?D @C 2 8F6DE :D D6C:@FD=J 9FCE 2E E96 A@@= 2?5 4@FCED 7:?5 E96 AC@A6CEJ @H?6C C6DA@?D:3=6[ D6EE=6>6?E 2?5 =682= 4@DED 42? 62D:=J 6I4665 E96 =:>:ED @7 2 DE2?52C5 A@=:4J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?DFC:7J]4@>^9@>6@H?6CD\:?DFC2?46^<?@H=6586^2EEC24E:G6\?F:D2?46^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR``ddrrQm“2EEC24E:G6 ?F:D2?46” 5@4EC:?6k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmD2JD E92E A@@=D 42? 2EEC24E 49:=5C6? 2?5 @E96CD H9@ >2J ?@E F?56CDE2?5 E96 C:D<D] pD DF49[ E96 =2H 42? 9@=5 A@@= @H?6CD C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C :?;FC:6D E@ 2?J@?6 H9@ FD6D E96 A@@= H:E9@FE A6C>:DD:@?[ 6G6? EC6DA2DD6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9amkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm{2HDF:ED D9@H H92E’D 2E DE2<6k^DA2?mk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96 =682= 6IA@DFC6 :D?’E E96@C6E:42=] #646?E u=@C:52 5C@H?:?8 42D6D 92G6 AC@5F465 9F86 =:23:=:EJ A2J@FED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmx? a_ac[ E96 72>:=J @7 `e\J62C\@=5 r2>6C@? qC@H? C646:G65 2 S`]b >:==:@? D6EE=6>6?E 27E6C 96 5C@H?65 :? 2? p:C3?3 A@@= E92E 2==6865=J =24<65 256BF2E6 H2C?:?8D 2?5 D276EJ 762EFC6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmp J62C =2E6C[ E96 72>:=J @7 b\J62C\@=5 z2: v@@5=2?56C D64FC65 2 S`d]d >:==:@? D6EE=6>6?E 27E6C E96 49:=5 5C@H?65 :? 2? :>AC@A6C=J >2:?E2:?65[ F?76?465 56E6?E:@? A@?5 2E 2 $6>:?@=6 r@F?EJ 2A2CE>6?E 4@>A=6I] q@E9 42D6D 46?E6C65 @? 2==682E:@?D E92E AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD 72:=65 E@ 255C6DD 7@C6D6623=6 H2E6C 92K2C5D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96 42D6D 92G6 364@>6 42FE:@?2CJ 36?49>2C<D 2D A=2:?E:77D EC62E G242E:@?\C6?E2= A@@=D >@C6 =:<6 4@>>6C4:2= 724:=:E:6D E92? AC:G2E6 324<J2C5 2>6?:E:6D] p==682E:@?D :?4C62D:?8=J 7@4FD @? >:DD:?8 D276EJ =:?6D[ :?256BF2E6 H2C?:?8D[ G:@=2E:@?D @7 76?4:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED[ 2?5 4@56 4@>A=:2?46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm%96 =682= BF6DE:@? :D H96E96C D9@CE\E6C> C6?E2= @H?6CD D9@F=5 36 96=5 E@ DE2?52C5D >@C6 4=@D6=J 2=:8?65 H:E9 E9@D6 @7 9@E6=D 2?5 C6D@CED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiRaaaaaaQm“p A@@= 4=2:> :D D6=5@> D>2==[” D2:5 y@D6A9 s’p8F2??@[ >2?28:?8 2EE@C?6J 2E v286 |2E96CD {2H vC@FA :? pC:K@?2] “%96 BF6DE:@?D :E 4@?E2:?D 2C6 :7 E96 82E6 H2D =@4<65[ :7 E96 =2E49 H2D H@C<:?8[ :7 E96C6 H2D AC@A6C =:89E:?8[ :7 2=4@9@= H2D :?G@=G65[ 2?5 :7 2?J@?6 <?6H 49:=5C6? 4@F=5 2446DD E96 2C62] %96D6 724ED >2J 2AA62C :?D:8?:7:42?E[ 3FE E96J 42? 36 3:8 =682= AC@3=6>D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmw@>6@H?6CD H:E9 A@@=D E92E =24< E96 D276EJ 762EFC6D E96:C DE2E6 C6BF:C6D 4@F=5 7246 >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2 =2HDF:E :7 D@>6@?6 :D :?;FC65 @? E96:C AC@A6CEJ] %96J >2J 2=D@ 36 3C62<:?8 E96 =2H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm|:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D @H? DH:>>:?8 A@@=D[ 3FE DE2?52C5 9@>6@H?6CD :?DFC2?46 =:23:=:EJ =:>:ED >2J 36 :?DF77:4:6?E E@ 4@G6C 42E2DEC@A9:4 :?;FCJ @C HC@?87F= 562E9 4=2:>D] !@@=\C6=2E65 =:23:=:EJ C:D<D AC@>AE >2?J :?DFC6CD 2?5 :?5FDECJ 8C@FAD E@ C64@>>6?5 9:896C =:23:=:EJ =:>:ED @C F>3C6==2 4@G6C286 7@C A@@= @H?6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm|62?H9:=6[ D6G6C2= DE2E6D 92G6 >@G65 288C6DD:G6=J @? A@@= D276EJ :? E96 A2DE J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmr2=:7@C?:2’D $6?2E6 q:== dda[ H9:49 E@@< 67764E y2?] `[ a_ad[ E:89E6?65 E96 DE2E6’D A@@= 32CC:6C C6BF:C6>6?ED 2?5 25565 ?6H 5FE:6D 7@C 9@>6 :?DA64E@CD 5FC:?8 AC@A6CEJ D2=6D] $6==6CD >FDE ?@H AC@G:56 3FJ6CD H:E9 2? :?DA64E:@? C6A@CE 46CE:7J:?8 H9:49 D276EJ 762EFC6D 2 A@@= 92D 367@C6 4=@D:?8] %92E 42? 4@>A=:42E6 @C 56C2:= 2 C62= 6DE2E6 EC2?D24E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmu=@C:52 D6E 2 C64@C5 7@C 49:=59@@5 5C@H?:?8 562E9D :? a_ad[ H9:49 =65 =2H>2<6CD E@ AC@A@D6 ?6H CF=6D 6?5:?8 2? 6I6>AE:@? 7@C @=56C C6D:56?E:2= A@@=D 3J C6BF:C:?8 9@>6D H:E9 A@@=D 3F:=E 367@C6 ~4E] `[ a___[ E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 E96 DE2E6’D A@@= D276EJ =2H H96? E96 AC@A6CEJ :D D@=5] p=E9@F89 2 a_ad 3:== 72:=65[ D:>:=2C =68:D=2E:@? 92D 366? C6:?EC@5F465 7@C E96 a_ae D6DD:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmu@C 9@>6@H?6CD 2?5 9@>63FJ6CD[ E92E 42? >62?ik^DA2?mk^Am
kF=mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm!C@G:5:?8 5@4F>6?E65 AC@@7 @7 2 AC@A6C=J 76?465 6?4=@DFC6 367@C6 2? :?DFC6C H:== 3:?5 2 9@>6 A@=:4J]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmx?DE2==:?8 2 A@@= 2=2C> @C D276EJ 4@G6C 2D 2 4@?5:E:@? @7 E96:C :?DFC2?46 A@=:4J] %96 :?DFC6C 4@F=5 42?46= 4@G6C286 :7 2 9@>6@H?6C C6>@G6D E96 2=2C> @C 4@G6C]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm{@D:?8 =:23:=:EJ 4@G6C286 7@C 2?J :?4:56?E :?G@=G:?8 2 5:G:?8 3@2C5 @C D=:56[ D:?46 >2?J :?DFC6CD ?@H 6I4=F56 E96D6 762EFC6D 4@>A=6E6=J :?DE625 @7 ;FDE 492C8:?8 6IEC2]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
k9amkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm(92E’D ?6IEn !@@= D276EJ E:AD 7@C 9@>6@H?6CDk^DA2?mk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmu@C AC@DA64E:G6 3FJ6CD 2?5 4FCC6?E 9@>6@H?6CD[ 2 324<J2C5 A@@= D9@F=5 36 EC62E65 2D 3@E9 2? 2>6?:EJ 2?5 2 A@E6?E:2= =:23:=:EJ] q67@C6 3FJ:?8 2 9@>6 H:E9 2 A@@= — @C :?DE2==:?8 @?6 — 6IA6CED C64@>>6?5 E2<:?8 D6G6C2= DE6AD E@ C65F46 3@E9 D276EJ C:D<D 2?5 :?DFC2?46 6IA@DFC6ik^DA2?mk^Am
kF=mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8mz?@H J@FC DE2E6’D A@@= D276EJ =2HD]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm#6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C 76?4:?8[ D6=7\4=@D:?8 82E6D[ A@@= 2=2C>D[ 2?5 D276EJ 4@G6CD G2CJ 3J DE2E6 2?5 6G6? 3J >F?:4:A2=:EJ] $@>6 DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 r2=:7@C?:2[ 92G6 C646?E=J DEC6?8E96?65 A@@= D276EJ C6BF:C6>6?ED[ H9:=6 @E96CD 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 ?6H C68F=2E:@?D 7@C @=56C A@@=D]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8mx?4=F56 E96 A@@= :? E96 9@>6 :?DA64E:@?]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmpD< J@FC 9@>6 :?DA64E@C E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96 A@@= 2?5 :56?E:7J 2?J >:DD:?8 @C ?@?\7F?4E:@?:?8 D276EJ 762EFC6D]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8m#6G:6H :?DFC2?46 367@C6 4=@D:?8 — @C 367@C6 4@?DECF4E:@? 368:?D]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qms@?’E 2DDF>6 6G6CJ 9@>6@H?6CD A@=:4J EC62ED A@@=D E96 D2>6] pD< J@FC :?DFC6C H9:49 D276EJ 762EFC6D :E C6BF:C6D 7@C 4@G6C286[ H96E96C E96 A@@= 27764ED J@FC AC6>:F>[ 2?5 H96E96C :E 6I4=F56D 762EFC6D DF49 2D 5:G:?8 3@2C5D @C D=:56D]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8mtG2=F2E6 J@FC =:23:=:EJ =:>:ED]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qmp D6C:@FD :?;FCJ @C 5C@H?:?8 42? C6DF=E :? 4=2:>D E92E 6I4665 DE2?52C5 9@>6@H?6CD =:23:=:EJ =:>:ED] |2?J :?DFC6CD C64@>>6?5 9:896C =:23:=:EJ =:>:ED 7@C A@@= @H?6CD 2?5 DF886DE 255:?8 2? F>3C6==2 =:23:=:EJ A@=:4J 7@C 255:E:@?2= AC@E64E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8mu:I 92K2C5D 367@C6 D@>6@?6 86ED 9FCE]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm|:DD:?8 82E6D[ 3C@<6? =2E496D[ 52>2865 76?46D[ A@@C =:89E:?8[ >:DD:?8 56AE9 >2C<6CD[ @C 56E6C:@C2E:?8 D276EJ 6BF:A>6?E 42? :?4C62D6 3@E9 E96 C:D< @7 :?;FCJ 2?5 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 =:23:=:EJ :7 2? 244:56?E @44FCD]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=:mkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmkDEC@?8m%9:?< 36J@?5 =682= 4@>A=:2?46]k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______Qm|66E:?8 >:?:>F> 4@56 C6BF:C6>6?ED :D 2 8@@5 DE2CE[ 3FE >2?J 6IA6CED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 rsr[ E96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 !65:2EC:4D[ 2?5 E96 &]$] r@?DF>6C !C@5F4E $276EJ r@>>:DD:@?[ C64@>>6?5 >F=E:A=6 =2J6CD @7 AC@E64E:@? — :?4=F5:?8 32CC:6CD[ 2=2C>D[ DFA6CG:D:@?[ 2?5 r!# EC2:?:?8 — E@ C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 5C@H?:?8]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ4@=@CiR______QmpD >F=E:>:==:@?\5@==2C 5C@H?:?8 D6EE=6>6?ED 4@?E:?F6 E@ >2<6 9625=:?6D[ :?DFC6CD 2?5 D276EJ 25G@42E6D D2J E96 36DE E:>6 E@ 255C6DD A@@= C:D<D :D?’E 27E6C 2? 244:56?E — :E’D 367@C6 J@F 3FJ E96 9@>6[ 367@C6 J@F :?DE2== E96 A@@=[ 2?5 367@C6 E96 7:CDE 8F6DE ;F>AD :?]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9am#6=2E65 2CE:4=6Dk^9am
