FIBERGLASS POOL WARRANTIES
Learn what is and isnt covered with most pool warranties
3 TYPES OF POOL WARRANTIES
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 and all warranites are not equal.
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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.
How To Inspect a Fiberglass Pool Manufacturer Warrnty?
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 by clicking the button here!
What Does the Pool's Manufacturing Warranty Cover?
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.
A Fiberglass Pool's Structural Warranty
The structural warranty says how long a pool manufacturer will guarantee the pool will hold water.
Usually this warranty will last “for the life of the pool,” meaning as long as the pool is owned and in normal use.
But there's a funky side that you need to look for: homeowner responsibility in the event of a repair.
What is the homeowner responsible for?
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.
For example, let's say you need a gelcoat repair. Most fiberglass pool manufacturers make you 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 us anyway, but beyond that, we don't feel that the burden should be placed on the customer if/when they need a repair.
A Fiberglass Pools Surface Warranty
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.
What Does the Pool's Equipment Warranty Cover?
The pool equipment warranty covers, well, all 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
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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.
What does the Pool's Installation Warranty Cover?
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.
What Does a Fiberglass Pools Workmanship Warranty Cover?
A workmanship warranty is the guarantee a pool builder puts behind their own work. It covers major issues like plumbing leaks or structural settlement or movement of the pool or patio.
Luckily, today a set of advanced fiberglass pool installation techniques, now widely considered industry best practices, is helping installers across the country avoid many of the most common challenges with fiberglass pools. These methods, which include the use of gravel backfill, plumbing support, and dewatering systems, are now being taught through leading certification programs and are fully endorsed by River Pools as the standard for high-quality, long-lasting installations.
Got Questions? We've got answers! Check out these FAQ's to learn about fiberglass pool Warranties.
FAQ's
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