The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act required covers to be installed over all suction outlets and drains to prevent entrapment. The screws of the covers may be of a different color to distinguish them for inspection purposes.
It is of utmost importance to check and maintain the pump and motor because they are the heart of the system. In order to maintain the pump and motor, they must always be kept cool and dry to ensure a long life of the system.
Fencing and doors in my opinion is the most important part of any pool inspection, as a licensed home Inspector the thing that I repeatedly see missed are doors for garages and liveable spaces that are not protected, as professional Inspectors you should be recommending self closing devices and alarms.
Sticking with swimming pools I would like to talk more about pool safety,each year about 300 children die due to drowning and this should not be! The sad part is most drownings happen when one or both parents are present! As Home Inspectors we can’t fix Stupidity!! but we can recommend that the proper safety devices be installed.
My essay is over the importance of ladder maintenance. This is a very important topic because without a safe exit from the pool bodily injury could occur. The ladder needs to be inspected daily for proper anchorage. Meaning that you need to check for loose ,rusty, or damaged bolts to ensure that ladder is safely mounted.
In this particular the pool equipment valves are not clearly marked. Although easily identified this is a major safety issue. Without knowing for sure which valve you are turning costly damage could occur, but more importantly bodily injury could occur from a system failure.
Pool plumbing does not meet industry standards for swimming pool piping. Pipes are not level. Piping is running above grade and susceptible to freeze. Pool pump has rusting and moisture and is leaking. Grounding of pool equipment is not in place. Pump is cavitating and is in need of repair. Green substance on the piping from a leak would appear to be electrolysis from stay voltage in the system.
Pool plumbing is not level and is above grade. Above grade plumbing is susceptible to freeze. Pool equipment is not grounded with a #8 copper grounding wire. Green substance on the pipes would indicate electrolysis and improper grounding. Pump is leaking and cavitating. Pump seal, shaft or bearing replacement may be necessary.
My photo is of a sand filter. The majority of your commercial pool and spa filters are sand because they last a long time and are low maintenance. Sand filters are easy to clean because all you have to do is backwash them. The key thing to look for with a sand filter is for sand in the pool or spa. This is usually the sign of a broken lateral line in the filter.
My article was on Pool alarms. I did not know that these existed. They are a great idea for a backup warning system. They should never take the place of a barrier like a fence or locks and alarms on doors. they work by detecting waves in a pool or spa. you can also adjust the sensitivity on them.
Pool inspection. This pool shows signs of neglect. The algae has formed enough can’t verify the pool linings. The low water level unable to inspect pumps and other equipment due to lack of water level. The pool is considered a safety hazard due to higher risk of mosquito disease transmission the pool is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Highly suggest a qualified pool contractor fully clean and evaluate pool system.
Drain pool hazards. The pool drain can create enough suction up to 350 pounds of pulling force. The drain covers must be on and in good condition otherwise the pool is not safe. Some pools have two main drains so if one gets blocked it still sucks through the other drain lowering drowning risk. The main drain has potential to hold by the body, hair, limb or anything attached to the body the suction force can be high.
Access gates to the pool should be equipped to accommodate a locking device. Self locking device not located on pool-side at least three inches below the top of gate. Gate should open outward, away from the poll, and should be self-closing.
The important aspect of a pool inspection is to insure that the water and the parts of the pool and spa are fully operational. A detailed inspection report will outline the various things inspected of concern that was found during the inspection. My focus will be on the safety of the pool and spa equipment, the quality of the water, defects in the pool structure and the condition of the walkways.
One of the most common defects I find is pump/motor not being secured to the equipment slab. This keeps the equipment steady to prevent overworking from vibration. This also prevents leaks in PVC piping cause by vibration. Correct installation of equipment will have reach it’s life expectancy.
Maintenancing dryer vents should be done once a year. Vents should exhaust to the exterior of structure and not be longer than 25 feet in length. Lent buildup in piping could be a fire hazard. Exhaust has high levels of moister so ventilation should not be in an enclosed space.
This is the lifeguard at a commercial pool. It is always advisable to have a trained lifeguard on duty while the pool is open. It is also wise to ensure that the pool has water in it before you go swimming.
This is the lifeguard at a commercial pool. It is always advisable to have a trained lifeguard on duty while the pool is open. It is also wise to ensure that the pool has water in it before you go swimming.
This image shows a self closing gate, present at a fence surrounding a pool, that does not latch closed when operating. This condition is a defect and a safety hazard because the gate must latch closed automatically whenever the gate is used.
The image “Pool Skimmer” details the various components of a skimmer that should be inspected when evaluating a pool. The skimmer removes contaminates from the water’s surface as the weir operates at the water line. A damaged or malfunctioning skimmer is always a reportable defect