The pool in the photo is winterized. The pool is an in-ground pool with the pump and filter in the pump house shown. The filter is a sand filter that is regularly back washed by a professional pool maintenance company. The fencing is adequate and the gate latch is high enough that small children will not be able to easily enter.
I read the pool drain hazards article. Even have been around pools for years, on the swim team, as a lifeguard and swim instructor, I never knew that the drain suction could cause injuries that include evisceration. Therefore, I will pay special attention to the condition of drains and drain covers when doing pool inspections.
This is a photo of the pool piping and filter of a home inspected in South Miami-Dade. The filter in the background is an in ground pool sand type filter. The pipes are pvc and appeared to be in working order at the time of the inspection. the in ground pool appeared to be in working order at the time of the inspection.
For this assignment I read the article ‘Pool & Spa Inspection Checklist’ which I found very helpful. As a home inspector in South Florida it is important to develop the expertise to inspect pools and spas. Not having much experience with pools and spas I felt it necessary to develop a method for inspecting this component. The article does a good job in showing, step-by-step, how to inspect a pool area. The emphasis of the article is on safety. I have incorporated a lot of the points covered in the article in my own s.o.p. for inspecting pools and spas.
This image shows an outdoor receptacle with a weatherproof cover. This receptacle was proved to be GFCI protected. It also has a broken ground prong stuck in it. A 125V, 15-20Amp receptacle is required no further than 20’ and no less than 6’ from the inside walls of pools and outdoor spas and hot tubs. The weather proof cover should have provisions for use. This receptacle should be replaced by a licensed electrician.
This swimming pool has not been properly maintained due to the appearance of green algae. This condition may be remedied by adding an algaecide and chlorine tablets to reestablish a free-chlorine residual in addition to cleaning or replacing the filter media.
Two different types of swimming pool lights are Dry-Niche Luminaires and Wet-Niche Luminaires. The main difference is that the Wet-Niche Luminaire is designed to be fully surrounded by water in the mounting shell with a long cord (min 12’) so that the fixture may be removed above the surface to service. The Dry-Niche Luminaire is a pool light fixture that is mounted behind a water-tight, sealed glass cover and is serviced by accessing it from the deck box.
I chose to write about the Pool Drain Hazards Inspection article due to its emphasis on pool safety. The drain appears to be a dangerous mechanism if not properly protected. Pressure created by the suction can easily overcome a swimmer due to the forces it produces. Pool accidents can be minimized if the proper safety precautions are installed and adhered to.
The pool skimmer basket was in place and clean of debris. The pool water was clean, at the proper level, and no discoloration was observed. The weir was in place and operating. There were no stains observed on the coping and no chipped, cracked, or loose coping tiles. No physical damage was observed in the area of the skimmer basket.
At the time of the inspection, the inspector advised the client of the importance of checking the pool drain for hazards. Water rushing out of the drain creates suction that can cause entrapment of bodies, limbs, hair, jewelry, and clothing. The pool main drain cover should be checked routinely to make sure it is present and attached securely. Other measures to reduce the likelihood of entrapment include: a safety snap fitting to end suction if disconnection occurs, a safety vacuum release which ceases drainage if an entrapment occurs, and an anti-entanglement drain cover. Safety can be improved by adding additional drains or using gutters/overflows.
THis is a photograph of a commercial pool located in a hotel. Notice the two skimmer caps on the pools surface. One cap is for the one of the pools skimmers and the other cap is ffor the pools automatic water feeder
I studied pool plumbing, from the looks of the plumbing diagram, you can either turn the 3 way valve to allow the heater to heat up the pool water, or you may turn the valve to not use the heater and bypass it
Image: A Residential Pool
The photo depicts a 20 X 40 outdoor in-ground pool in a backyard of a home. The pool deck is made of concrete. It has a decorative retention wall. The pool was not in use due to weather, hence; winterized and covered with a blue mesh cover. The pool equipment sat about 50 feet away from the wall of the pool. The equipment included pumps, sand filter and oil heater.
Safety Guidelines for Home Pools
This article provides insight on home pool safety and shares tip for preventing swimming pool tragedies and near-drownings of young children. I have learned in this article the sad statics of children drowning in swimming pools and hospitalized emergency room treatment. According the article, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has estimated that each year, about 300 children under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools. Hospital emergency-room treatment is required for more than 2,000 children under 5 who were submerged in residential pools.
Check the motor and pump for leaks. There should be no leaks on the motor or pump. If a leak is found report it as deficient, and recommend repair by a qualified pool specialist. There should also be a gfci.
The water is drawn from the container and sent through the filter and heater, and then returned through the inlet ports back into the container or swimming pool or spa. PVC schedule 40 is common for piping. Usually 1 " to 2" pipes.
Upon inspection of the pool equipment I noticed a leak on the twist off clear cover pump debris catcher. Possible rubber gasket that seals the clear cover to the catch basket attached to the pump housing. Clear cover did not appear to have any noticeable cracks. Advised client to consult a qualified pool expert for further evaluation.
I choose the Diatomaceous Earth Filter D/E Filter. Its considered the most efficient pool filtration system available, it basically pushes the pool water through several vertical like fins that are wrapped on fiberglass cloth like material. The filter is saturated with D/E material that clogs the mesh to trap micro size particles to purify the pool water, the pump pushes the water with build up pressure the help it filter through the fins.
Swimming Pool and Spa
A swimming pool is considered a permanent structure in the ground, or partially in the ground, that is capable of holding water with a depth greater than 42 inches outside a building, as well as all pools installed inside a building without regard to water depth.
A spa or hot tub is a hydro-massage pool typically use a filter, heater and motor-driven blower.
Swimming Pool and Spa
A swimming pool is considered a permanent structure in the ground, or partially in the ground, that is capable of holding water with a depth greater than 42 inches outside a building, as well as all pools installed inside a building without regard to water depth.
A spa or hot tub is a hydro-massage pool typically use a filter, heater and motor-driven blower.