Hello, I am adding pool inspection to my services. I have taken the Pool Inspection course but I still have some questions. For example, I am not sure what specialized inspection tools I will need. I also have questions about how to set up fees. Is there a pool inspection agreement available through Nachi?
If you are self-employed, you can set the fees any way you wish.
If you work for a company, they will give you guidance on that.
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Just curious what’s involved in a pool inspection? Do you just check that everything is working or does it go deeper like testing all of the bonding, etc?
Hi Joseph. Welcome back to the forum.
Once you know the SOP that you will follow, that hould give you an idea of any specialized tools that you may need.
For instance, from the pool inspection agreement that Brian posted:
2. We will inspect the pool in accordance with the InterNACHI Pool and Spa Inspection Checklist.
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Pool Inspection Checklist InterNACHI.pdf (73.6 KB)
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Thank you.
Minimum standard appears to be visual inspection for bonding. How involved is it to verify that all of the equipment is bonded to the pool frame itself?
Thanks Bob. That’s a pretty comprehensive list.
Do “in-ground” pools even have a ‘frame’?
With that being said… Be sure to verify with your Insurance that you will be covered, given the high-risk of electrocution hazard to occupants, (as well as other hazards to children)!
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The term you want to search is “equipotential bonding.”
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This is another example of where NACHI training falls short. They give you the impression that you are educated enough to add it as a service, and you are all set. The reality is that you are not educated enough to prevent something catastrophic or defend yourself in court.
To truly understand bonding and testing of bonding, you need to get hands on training by a competent electrician. In this case, at a few different pools.
This isn’t directed directly at you Joseph. I’m speaking in general.
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Thats why I was curious about what a pool inspection actually looked for. Equipotential bonding is one of the most important aspects of a pool when it comes to preventing electric shock or electrocution along with GFCI protection. As you’ve mentioned testing the pool bonding system is not something that most HI’s would be qualified or required to do by the SOP that Bob posted.
Here in NJ commercial pools are required to have their equipotential bonding system tested every 5 years. I once thought about performing these inspections but declined due to the massive amount of liability if some got hurt, even for something unrelated to bonding, after it was inspected.
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A home inspector exposure to liability is far greater than any possible fee collected. It is easy to imagine our exposure in relation to a small home inspection fee.
Our greatest defense is competency. I suspect you would have been a good “bonding inspector” and your risks would have been minimal. But not everyone wants that potential headache. I do not, therefore I do not inspect pools.
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Neither are many of the electricians in Florida…
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I inspect in Florida and I won’t do pool inspections simply because of the liability. I will do a cursory check for leaks and wave a NCV around checking for anything live, but that’s it. Not only do I think the return over liability is a bad ratio, I want to sleep at night if I were to inadvertently miss something and someone got hurt.
I watched an “electrician” doing the pool inspection while I was doing the house. He tested that the pump started, slapped a sticker one of the panels for the heater and left. ugh.
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How would you test for proper bonding/continuity?
I inspect pools, but have never pulled out a multimeter, maybe I should be.
I inspect for bonding of the pool pump, pool cage, and any metal frame windows within 5’ of the water. All these conductors should be attached to one single point that you see go underground, which connects to the pool rebar. (as Robert said “equipotential bonding”)
Then you want to look for GFCI protection on the pump (I believe this wasnt even added as a requirement until about 7 or 8 years ago, so I find this all the time) If the breaker isnt a GFCI type, chances are, it is not protected. I dont know of any pumps that have internal GFCI protection.
Look for air bubbles coming out of the jets
Some guys dont operate valves, but I will if they are in good shape. I want to isolate the skimmer and the main drain individually to make sure they are both pulling water to the pump, then I open the valve for the vacuum port to make sure it also has suction.
Check for proper drain covers!! Very important that it has the updated anti-entrapment covers. People have died, and kids have been eviscerated due to improper or missing covers.
Pool Drain Safety - Preventing Suction Entrapment Dangers (thezacfoundation.org)
And obviously, check the electrical panel for proper wiring, breaker and conductor sizes, etc, just like any subpanel.
If it has a heater, turn it on, but make sure the water is flowing through it first!!
And, obviously, check for worn out marcite/plaster/paint, and check for any cracks in the walls. I like to turn off all equipment for this so you can actually see the walls clearly.
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I see inspectors doing all of that for $150. Is it worth it or do you charge more?
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Good question. Just to be clear, especially for newer folks, does the InterNachi course (as well as other courses) fully qualify us to inspect and market it? Or do we need outside courses, certs and insurance?
actually, I usually only charge $100, because it takes me about 30 min. I prob should be charging more.
If they want me to do a leak test (bucket test) I will charge another $100-150, because I have to return the following day to pick up the bucket.
(I did this a few weeks ago, and the pool lost about 4" of water in 24 hours!) But, I recommended they do the test because there were some obvious concerns.
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