Pool & spa inspections, checked and documented with photos.

A pool inspection thoroughly examines a swimming pool, its components, and the surrounding area. It is essential to have a pool inspection performed regularly to ensure swimmers' safety and identify potential problems that could lead to accidents or injuries. The inspection includes a visual inspection of the pool and all its components and a performance test of the equipment. A buyer's pre-purchase pool inspection ensures that your investment is safe and your future home pool is in top-notch condition.

Inspections are conducted by our trained, certified pool inspectors, who look for any signs of wear or damage across the entire pool area: cracks in the liner, leaks around the pump, skimmer, and drain covers, and any other potential hazards. The inspector also checks the condition of the deck and ladders, the filter and pumps, and the surrounding area for trip hazards and potential sources of contamination.

It's important to have a qualified inspector check your pool because they can identify potential problems that could lead to accidents or injuries. After the inspection, you get a report with findings and recommendations — and if we find problems, we'll recommend having them repaired or replaced. We inspect the pool as part of your home inspection or as a standalone visit; either way, everything is photographed and documented in the same clear report format.

What a pool & spa inspection covers

• Pool and spa structure, surface, and tile
• Vinyl liner or plaster condition
• Decking, coping, and expansion joints
• Pumps, motors, and filters
• Heater operation
• Chemical feeder operation
• Hoses and fittings for leaks
• Lights and underwater fixtures
• Electrical bonding and GFCI protection
• Skimmers, drains, and circulation
• Spa jets, blowers, and controls
• Ladders and handrails for stability
• Safety barriers, fences, and gates

Why it's worth doing

Sellers rarely know the true condition of their own pool equipment — it runs until it doesn't. An inspection catches the heater that short-cycles, the pump on its last season, and the bonding issue the last handyman skipped, while you can still negotiate instead of paying for it later.

Book it with your home inspection and we handle both in the same visit — one appointment, one report.

Pool safety

One of the most important aspects of a swimming pool inspection is ensuring that electrical wires are far away from the pool and that walkways around the pool don't pose a hazard for slips and trips. Our inspectors check fencing and latches, if present, to make sure they're in good working condition and meet local codes. We also look at the condition of the decking or patio around the pool, and recommend repairs to prevent accidents if there are cracks or uneven surfaces.

Pool interior

Vinyl liners are designed to keep water in, but they can tear. Some cracking in the pool's plaster is normal, but our certified inspector makes sure there are no cracks that could lead to a more severe issue in the future. Fittings and features are also inspected to ensure they're properly sealed and functioning.

Pool lighting

Whether older, traditional light bulbs or newer LED lights are better for your pool depends on the specific situation. Our inspectors check your pool's lighting for condensation issues and any mold or mildew problems. If there's evidence of these problems, they may recommend switching to LED lights.

Tile and decking around the pool

The area around a pool can be a tripping hazard, and one of the best ways to deal with that is coping: a 12–18 inch wide strip of hard material (concrete, brick, or natural stone) that goes around the edge of your pool, providing a safe, level surface to walk on and helping prevent accidental falls into the water.

During a pool inspection, our inspector makes sure the coping material is slip-resistant and properly installed so it doesn't become a trip hazard itself. Concrete is one of the most popular coping materials because it's durable and slip-resistant; brick and natural stone are also popular for their variety of colors and styles. Whichever material a pool has, it needs to be installed correctly and inspected so it can provide years of safe use.

Inspection of the yard

A few safety and quality issues sit outside the pool itself. We check the roof gutters' position to ensure rainwater won't drip into the pool, and we look at natural features of the surrounding land that could affect it — for example, heavy tree coverage that will drop leaves and other debris into the water.

Saltwater pool inspection

As saltwater pools have gained in popularity, so have concerns about their corrosion resistance. Saltwater pools offer the benefit of using less chlorine, but they are more prone to corrosion, which is why we check for corrosion issues as part of the routine inspection. A few things cause corrosion in saltwater pools: the type of salt used (some are more corrosive than others) and the pH of the water — water that's too acidic or too alkaline corrodes too.

Inspectors look for corrosion on the metal components of the pool, such as ladders and handrails; rust or other damage there can indicate a water-chemistry problem. Discolored or damaged tile around the pool is another sign the water is eroding it. If you have a saltwater pool, monitor the water chemistry, keep it balanced, and have the pool inspected regularly.

Pump, filters, and heater

The pump is checked as part of every routine pool inspection: when it works properly, it circulates water through the other equipment — filters and heaters — to keep the water clean and warm. Filters are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing your water, so we make sure they're in place and that the valves leading to them function properly; without working filters, a pool becomes a mess. And if your pool has a heater, it's important to verify its functionality — heaters are costly, and not every pool has one, so you want to know it's in good working order.

Accessories, automation, and remote controls

Pool accessories are checked for cleanliness and functionality — including making sure diving boards and slides are free of rust or deterioration that could lead to sharp edges and injuries, and checking for any other potential hazards to swimmers.

Most modern pools come with some form of automation: automatic pool covers, remote control of lights and pumps, even automated pH-balancing systems. Great features for pool owners — until they quietly stop working. We test the automation and remote-control functions so there are no surprises come swim season.

What's not included in a pool inspection?

When bad weather like high winds, rain, or snow is present, the pool can't safely be inspected — those conditions can damage equipment or affect the evaluation. The inspector also doesn't test the suitability of accessories like the diving board, doesn't check water quality, and can't evaluate anything that was already not working before the inspection. Anything we can't assess is called out explicitly in the report.

A pool inspection is a vital part of owning a pool. By inspecting regularly, you ensure it's safe to use and catch potential problems before they become serious.

Common questions