Inground Fiberglass Pool Warranties
3 Types of Fiberglass Pool Warranties
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Let's face it, most people don't dig too deep into product warranties. However, with an expenditure of the magnitude of an inground pool, they're critically important. During your research on fiberglass pools, you'll find that there are 3 types of warranties:
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Manufacturing warranty—from the fiberglass pool's manufacturer
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Equipment warranty—from the pool equipment's manufacturer(s)
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Installation warranty—from the pool builder who installs the pool (aka workmanship warranty)
Be sure to read through all of these warranties before buying anything. Furthermore, ask the manufacturer/installer about anything you don’t understand or agree with. If they won't explain the legalese, walk away.
Fiberglass pool warranties will always have some disclaimers—just like any other warranty for any product. But with this info, you'll be able to tell what's covered and (potentially more important) what's not covered, and if it's worth your investment.
The Fiberglass Pool Manufacturers Warranty. What is covered?
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Fiberglass pool manufacturers should cover two main things in their warranty:
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The structure of the pool shell
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The surface (gelcoat)
Sometimes the manufacturer provides a separate warranty for each, sometimes just one warranty that covers both. But make sure your manufacturer covers both aspects of the pool shell, one way or the other.
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The structural warranty says how long they guarantee the
pool will hold water. If the pool shell cracks and leaks, the
manufacturer will repair it. Usually this warranty will last
“for the life of the pool,” meaning as long as the pool is
owned and in normal use. "Lifetime Warranties are different
in each state so be sure to check that as well. Some States
definition of a "LifeTime Warranty is as little as 7 years!
You also need to be aware of a funky side that you need to
look for: homeowner responsibility in the event of a repair.
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What is the homeowner responsible for?
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The "will be responsible for" fine-print might not seem significant at first glance, but if you ever need warranty work, you'll be glad you triple-checked. In the event a warranty repair is needed most major fiberglass pool manufacturers make you (the homeowner) responsible for draining the pool, bracing it, refilling it, and replacing the water chemicals. That's expensive to say the least, and if you're not a pool professional, it might even cause further damage to your pool.
This is not the case at River Pools. Warranty claims are rare with River Pools anyway, but beyond that, River Pools doesn't feel that the burden should be placed on the customer if/when they need a repair. River Pools covers the cost to drain, brace, refill, and replace.
The Structural Warranty of a Fiberglass Pool
The Surface Warranty of a Fiberglass Pool
The surface warranty of a fiberglass pool can be a little tricky. Here is where you need to pay attention to: the warranty must specifically cover osmotic blisters on the surface of the fiberglass pool. Osmotic blisters are a cosmetic issue, not structural. A warranty that covers osmosis in the pool structure just means that the pool will continue to hold water. That's great, but it leaves you empty-handed if you see any bubbles or blisters in the Gelcoat.
How to inspect/disect a Fiberglass Pool Manufacturers Warranty
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In some cases you almost need a law degree just to decipher a modern warranty declaration. Here are a few tips that will help you navigate the process. As you vet your potential fiberglass pool manufacturers, ask these 4 critical questions regarding the fiberglass pool manufacturers warranty for your fiberglass pool:
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Is the warranty transferrable?
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What’s the duration of the warranty?
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What is excluded?
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What does the warranty actually cover?
You can read the River Pools manufacturing warranty anytime.
This is pretty self explanatory, any of the pool equipment:
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Lights
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Heaters
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Salt water chlorinators
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Automatic vacuums
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Pump and filter system
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Water feature accessories
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Whatever else struck your fancy
TIP: Pool equipment may have different warranties depending on the dealer, be sure to ask for details.
The equipment dealer A1 Pools might sell LED pool lights with a 1-year warranty. Across the street, the Fun Time Pools might sell the same lights with a 3-year warranty.
That's a major difference for you—and it's even more important with vital equipment like a pool pump or filter. Some pool equipment warranties may vary in regard to labor and parts as well. Some warranites may have a full 3 year parts and labor and others may be 3 years parts and 1 year labor. Most equipment warranties do not cover travel or trip charges either. So be prepared that there may be a fee for travel to the site to perform the repair that may or may not be covered by the pool equipment manufacturer.
Workmanship or Installation Warranty - What's Covered?
The fiberglass pool installer's warranty applies to everything besides making the pool itself and its equipment:
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Transportation
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Handling
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Storage
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Patio and coping
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Landscaping
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Plumbing
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The actual installation
You might choose to have one contractor take care of all of these bits, or you might hire multiple contractors based on their specialties.
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A workmanship warranty is the guarantee a pool builder puts behind their own work. It typically covers major issues like plumbing leaks or structural settlement or movement of the pool or patio.
River Pools, has developed a series of cutting-edge installation techniques called " The River Pools Way"—and this methodology virtually eliminates these major problems. Pool Pros uses this set of best practices on all of our fiberglass pool projects.
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