Your family and friends enjoy your pool throughout the summer and you’re proud of its beauty and the sense of community it has brought to your home. Although pool ownership comes with a lot of responsibility, you are happy to take it on. Part of that responsibility includes routine pool inspections throughout the year.

Unfortunately, past an initial inspection when reopening a pool for spring, many pool owners don’t make regular pool inspection a habit as much as they should.

Pool inspections help ensure the safety and longevity of your pool. They help identify small issues early so you can prevent accidents, reduce the number of expensive repairs, and create a space that is both safe and fun for everyone to swim in. 

In this article, we will dive more into exactly why it is important to conduct regular inspections of your pool, how these inspections help maintain the safety and health of your pool, and what to check for in a pool inspection.

 

Why It’s Important to Regularly Inspect Your Pool

It’s no different than keeping your car in good working order: You want to keep your family and friends safe. Once you have a swimming pool, you are responsible for the health and safety of everyone who uses it. And regularly inspecting your pool is a huge part of this responsibility.

There are several main reasons to carry out routine maintenance and perform regular inspections:

Preventing Accidents

This means routinely examining the pool structure, equipment, electrical system, compliance with safety regulations, and fencing. As you check, you are looking for equipment that may need to be replaced due to regular wear, like filters, drains, pumps, and electrical connections. Loose tiles or ladders can also present hazards to swimmers. You must repair or replace items like this immediately before accidents or injuries happen.

 

Prolonging the Life of the Pool

Even though your pool will provide years of enjoyment for your family, it does represent a large monetary investment. Regular inspections protect that investment. Small issues cost much less to fix than large problems that were ignored or unidentified. Inspecting all the components mentioned in this article can save you thousands of dollars over the long run and you will have peace of mind knowing major repairs can be minimized.

checking chemical levels | regular pool inspections | routine pool inspections

 

Ensuring Health and Safety

As your pool’s maintenance person, you spend a lot of time making sure the pool water is safe. The upkeep of your pool ensures that harmful bacteria are prevented or eliminated and you keep waterborne diseases from endangering swimmers. Regular inspections and maintenance mean balanced chemical levels so the water is crystal clear and sparkling clean at all times. 

 

Creating a Backyard Oasis

Your swimming pool is the centerpiece of a beautiful oasis of peace and community in your yard. The last thing you want is to destroy this sense of calm with algae, water stains, and yard debris in and around the pool. Regular inspections will keep your pool area aesthetically beautiful and pleasing to everyone who uses it.

 

Ensuring Energy Efficiency 

One of the major expenses of owning a pool is the cost of electricity to keep all the pumps working. Making sure all pool equipment is in top working order through regular inspections and maintenance contributes to energy efficiency. Over time, the cost of running your pool will be reduced, making it energy-efficient and cost-effective.

 

Compliance with Local Regulations and Insurance Requirements

All homeowners’ insurance carriers are concerned with the liability risk of swimming pools. Discuss this with your insurance agent each year; you must know if your homeowner’s insurance will cover your swimming pool and related incidents and under what circumstances.

Local, county, state, and federal regulations are in place to ensure that anyone who goes swimming in a pool or is within a pool area stays safe. Understanding and adhering to regular pool inspections and maintenance ensures compliance with local regulations and insurance requirements.

 

What to Check for In a Pool Inspection

A thorough pool inspection will cover the following key areas: 

Safety Features

Check the electrical wires and ensure all wires are located away from the pool. Verify walkways, tiles, and pavers (or any other materials around the pool) are not a hazard for accidental slips and falls.

Pool safety inspections also include fences and gate latches, when applicable, to ensure they work. Check the height of the fence to verify compliance with insurance or local ordinances that protect children from getting into the pool area unsupervised. If you have a pool enclosure, make sure it is free of holes and other access points.

checking safety features | regular pool inspections | routine pool inspections

 

Physical Conditions

Your inspection should also determine if standard wear and deterioration has progressed to the need for replacement of any item. This includes specific areas such as:

– Interior vinyl liners.

Pool lighting.

– Tile, coping, and decking around the pool.

– Pump, filter, and heater (if applicable).

Don’t forget to check anything in the yard or surrounding area that could present safety issues, like rain gutters that are sending water into the pool. This can negatively affect the pool’s water quality. 

 

Pool Accessories

Swimming pool accessories enhance the pool experience. Accessories may include a fountain, pool cover, slides, or diving board. Check all accessories for wear or damage that may affect water quality or could lead to injury to swimmers.

Check your insurance coverage for the pool and its accessories every year. For example, many insurance carriers no longer insure a pool with a diving board, so keep up to date on your coverage.

 

Regular Pool Inspections Save Money and Lives

Swimming pools add fun, peace, and community to your home. The pool’s structure, water quality, and equipment are susceptible to wear and tear, making regular pool inspection necessary to maintain a safe and healthy swimming environment. This also affects insurance liability and compliance with governmental regulations. As a pool owner, you’ll extend the life of your pool and ensure the safety of swimmers by inspecting your pool thoroughly and regularly.

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