According to A.M. Best Co, you may want to consider increasing your liability coverage if you add a pool or hot tub to your property.

Almost 3,600 people drowned in the United States in 2005, many of them in residential pools. Accidental drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury death for children 4 and younger and is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children under 14, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. For ever child who drowns, another four receive emergency treatment for near-drowning accidents.

According to A.M. Best, your homeowners policy normally limits coverage for other structures to 10% of the amount your home is covered. So a $100,000 home might have $10,000 in coverage for your pool and other structures.

Before installing a pool, A.M. Best recommends the following tips:

• Make sure the contractor has liability coverage by asking to see proof of insurance
• Check with your local town or municipality to see if a fence or other safety equipment is required.
• Install a four-sided pool fence that completely separates the house and play area of the yard from the pool.
• Always make sure a responsible adult is watching young children while playing around water.